Many of my friends know that I am a huge fan of furniture, specifically historical furniture. Luckily for me, there isn’t a shortage of beautiful specimens tucked away in museums and historical homes. What originally made me fall in love with historical furniture was the use of unique styles and woods to transform something so common as a storage cabinet or chair, into an incredibly unique and sumptuous piece of art. For those who aren’t familiar with the furniture world, it can all feel a bit daunting. To get you started in the right direction I’ve created a small list of furniture makers worth knowing, along with resources should you wish to learn more. This is not a comprehensive list, so if you feel I have missed anyone please let me know so I might add them in.
1642-1732
French (fig. 1)
*Translated: Cabinetmaker to the King, it was a prestigious title given to only one cabinetmaker by French kings
1718-1779
English (fig. 2)
**Deemed the most important furniture makers in English history, comprised of Thomas Chippendale, George Heppelwhite, and Thomas Sheraton
1635 - 1704
Italian
1833 – 1886
English (fig. 3)
c. 1620 – 1684
Flemish/French (fig. 4)
c.1727-1786
English (fig. 5)
1729-1807
French (fig. 6)
1661 - 1752
French
1721-1763
German/French (fig. 7)
1734-1806
German/French (fig. 8)
1751-1806
English (fig. 9)
1730-1798
French
Dampierre, Florence de. Chairs: A History. New York: Abrams, 2006.
Hough, Romeyn Beck & Klaus Ulrich Leistikow. The Woodbook: The Complete Plates. Rev. ed. Cologne: Taschen, 2002.
Kisluk-Grosheide, Daniëlle O. French Royal Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006. [link]
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), Daniëlle O. Kisluk-Grosheide, Wolfram Koeppe, William Rieder, and Joseph Coscia. European Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Highlights of the Collection. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006. [link]
The Furniture History Society [link]
The V&A Furniture Collection [link]
The Wallace Collection [link]
fig. 1 Cabinet on Stand, Attributed to André Charles Boulle, 1679, The J. Paul Getty Museum [link]
fig.2 Chair with Lascelles crest, Thomas Chippendale, 1700s, Harewood Housed [link]
fig. 3 Sideboard, 1867-1870, Edward William Godwin, V&A Museum no. CIRC.38:1 to 5-1953 [link]
fig. 4 Writing desk, Pierre Gole, c. 1680, ebony, rosewood, fruitwoods, gilt wood, pewter, brass. California Palace of the Legion of Honor [link]
fig. 5 George III mahogany dining chair in the Hepplewhite style, c.1790, Attributed to George Hepplewhite, private collection [link]
fig. 6 Secrétaire à abattant, Jean-François Leleu, c.1770-1780, Musée Nissim de Camondo [link]
fig. 7 Secrétaire à cylindre, Jean-François Oeben, c.1775, Musée Nissim de Camondo [link]
fig. 8 Chest of drawers, Jean-Henri Riesener, 1776, Waddesdon Manor [link]
fig. 9 A chair attributed to Thomas Sheraton of England, with a rectangular back [link]