The exhibition’s two parts run simultaneously within the dates of the fair (June 28–July 4) and include 35 key pieces ranging in price from £8500-£1.2m. It includes some of Thomas Chippendale’s (1718-79) important commissions as well as the range of styles published in his The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director (1754).
Several exhibits in the show exemplify the designs, including a George III black ‘lacquer’ side cabinet, an elegantly inlaid marquetry serpentine commode supplied by Chippendale for Harewood House. A ‘Chinese Chippendale’ china cabinet on offer adheres to the original design.
“Public knowledge of Chippendale is wide but not wide enough. The anniversary and the celebrations are quite exciting. This will help raise interest in English furniture,” says the gallery’s Simon Phillips.
“His name is the only name that really means anything in English furniture. It has become increasingly difficult in recent years to find great pieces of Chippendale furniture, but within this selling exhibition there is a wonderful cross-section of important and rare pieces.”
The show is accompanied by a catalogue which includes information about the historical time period in which the pieces were made and the techniques used to make them.
