Google Doodle celebrates English furniture designer Thomas Chippendale

18th Century cabinet maker honoured with Doodle

Rob Williams
Wednesday 05 June 2013 09:32 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Google has commemorated the 18th Century English cabinet maker and furniture designer Thomas Chippendale with a Doodle comprised of images of his famous furniture.

Chippendale, who would have celebrated his 295th birthday today, became one of Britain's most celebrated  interior designers.

His work,  in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles is highly collectible.

In 2010 The Harrington Commode, a chest of drawers thought to be crafted by Thomas Chippendale, was sold at auction for £3.8million.

Click on the image above to see a gallery of the best Google Doodles

The piece of furniture, which dates from around 1770, sold for three times its original estimate.

A previous record for most costly piece of English furniture had also belonged to Chippendale for his George II Parcel-Gilt Padouk Cabinet-on-Stand which sold for £2,729,250 at Christie’s in June 2008.

Born in Farnley near Otley into a family of Yorkshire carpenters he moved to London aged 30 and established a workshop in St Martins lane.

He published a book, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, six years later. He died in London in 1779, aged 61.

Video: Thomas Chippendale's 295th "birthday" Google Doodle

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in