The Gentleman's and Cabinet-Maker's Director
Medium
furniture
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-450-160
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Thomas Chippendale (1718–1779), one of Britain's most celebrated 18th-century furniture designers, published *The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director* in 1755 as a groundbreaking pattern book. This influential volume served as a visual catalog of ornate furniture designs, blending Rococo elegance with Gothic and Chinese motifs, catering to the tastes of affluent gentlemen and aspiring cabinet-makers. Its publication marked a pivotal moment in the Georgian era, democratizing high-style furniture by providing detailed engravings that workshops across Europe and America could replicate. House...