For much of this century, people have been stripping all the old furniture they could get their hands on. Published by george hepplewhite s wife, alice, after his death, the guide was published in an exceedingly small edition in 1788. Its popularity was immediate, with a second edition published in 1789 and. The slightly older hepplewhite style tends to be more ornate, with substantial carving and curvilinear shapes in comparison to sheraton style.
Little is known about george hepplewhite, but the hepplewhite legacy in furniture design established in the book the cabinet maker and upholsterers guide. Inspired by adam, englishmen george hepplewhite and thomas sheraton both impacted american furniture craft with their interpretations of neoclassical style. Get the best deals on mahogany english hepplewhite antique furniture. Hepplewhite furniture english period furniture hepplewhite mahogany and satinwood 17601792 george hepplewhite owned his own factory and made furniture for robert adam. Shop hepplewhite furniture at 1stdibs, the worlds largest source of hepplewhite and other authentic period furniture. Painted country pieces are the darlings of the antiques show circuit, and city. As is often the case with furniture periods and design in general, sheratons styles overlap with those of george hepplewhite and the earlier hepplewhite period. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us. Of the personal history of george hepplewhite, of cripplegate, we know extremely little. George hepplewhites famous guidebook, the cabinet maker and upholsterers guide was published after his death in 1788. Cabinet furniture dining furniture wooden furniture furniture making antique furniture dining chairs furniture styles furniture design sofa design george hepplewhite gave his name to a distinctive style of light, elegant furniture that was fashionable at the end of the 18th century.
These books were important vehicles in the transmission of the neoclassical style abroad. An innovator in his own right, phyfe studied and interpreted european trends in the arts and fashion. Not much is known about his personal life, but his wife preserved a lot of his drawings and work after his death, so his artistic legacy continues. Little of his life is known and none of his furniture. Adam and hepplewhite and other neoclassical furniture. Hepplewhite combined straight lines and bold curves. Yet even the spelling of hepplewhite s name is a matter of controversy. Shop antique, midcentury, modern, contemporary and vintage furniture from the worlds best furniture dealers.
As is often the case with furniture periods and design in general, thomas sheratons styles overlap with those of george hepplewhite and the earlier hepplewhite period, an era influenced by neoclassicism and characterized by soft, elegant touches, tapered legs, and contrasting veneers with inlay work. Many cabinetmakers and furniture designers still use it as a ready reference for making period furniture or designs inspired by this era. Hepplewhites cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide was published posthumously by his widow in 1788. The design of this chair was especially popular in new york. He had a fondness for the curved line and introduced this into his design wherever possible.
The person of george hepplewhite comes very near to being a myth. Cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide work by hepplewhite. In 1788 she posthumously published a book with about 300 of his designs, the cabinet maker and upholsterers guide. Later he carried on a cabinetmaking business in redcross street, parish of st. Any piece of work may be easily found by thomas fl 1788 shearer, george 1786 hepplewhite, et al. Hepplewhite furniture created by george hepplewhite, about whom little is known, ranks with thomas chippendale as a designer and creator of a unique and meritorious style which took hold in 1770 and extended through 1790. To our surprise we found kavanagh auctions, a small auction house in montreal that we fell in love with and wished we had a trailer to bring back larger furniture items next trip. His most sought after design was in the form of hepplewhite chairs. Calculated for the convenience of cabinetmakers in general, whereby the price. Styles from civilizations like ancient greece and contemporary japan contributed to the evolution of british furniture during the 18 th, 19 th, and 20 th centuries especially, resulting in a wide array of designs and techniques. The eighteenth century was a golden age of books illustrating architecture and furniture design in england. English furniture pattern books in eighteenthcentury america. The plates in the guide are unsigned, but 10 designs signed hepplewhite or heppelwhite are included in the cabinetmakers london book of prices 1788. If george hepplewhite had been the building genius it would seem natural that there should have been at least a passing reference to his skill and ability.
There are no pieces of furniture made by hepplewhite or his firm known to. The practical book of period furniture, treating of furniture of the english, american colonial and postcolonial and principal french periods 1914 14592447749. Mahogany english hepplewhite antique furniture for sale ebay. George hepplewhite died 1786 was an english furniture designer whose name.
Without a doubt thomas sheraton was the last and perhaps the best of english furniture designers and makers, adding his name to the top four along with thomas chippendale, george hepplewhite and robert adam. Cabinetmaker and furniture designer, hepplewhite linked the ornate style of chippendale and the severer lines of sheraton. The sheraton furniture style dominated the years between 1790 and 1806. In 1788 his widow published a book of his designs the cabinet maker and upholsterers guide, which had a big influence on regency furniture. George hepplewhite was a georgian cabinetmaker and furniture designer whose designs become so sought after, they are still copied today. Artists and designers are often inspired by one another, thus familiar design elements exist in the timeline of antique history. The adam style or adamesque and style of the brothers adam is an 18thcentury neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practised by the three scottish brothers robert adam 17281792, james adam 17321794 and william adam, of whom robert and james were the most widely known. George hepplewhite died in 1786 but it is believed that his wife kept his business running and published books. George hepplewhite died 1786 was an english furniture designer whose name has become synonymous with grace and elegance.
George hepplewhite a biography from millington adams. The cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide hepplewhite, george on. The published guide books that claim george hepplewhite as their author were released after his death by his widow. His book of designs was released two years later in 1788, by his wife, alice hepplewhite. The plates in the guide are unsigned, but 10 designs signed hepplewhite or heppelwhite are. Guide, or, repository of designs for every article of household furniture, in the newest and most. Have you ever wondered just what george ii or chippendale period actually mean. There are no known pieces of george hepplewhite furniture in existence, rather his name lends itself to a style of light, elegant furniture favoured in the last quarter of the 18th century.
It is a neoclassic style and falls within the federal period in. He was apprenticed to robert gillow of lancaster, then opened a business in london about 1760. He produced a book of designs the cabinetmaker and upholsters guide. George hepplewhite and his widow alice by hannah crouthamel on jul 21 in furniture designers. His work was instrumental in disseminating the neoclassic style of robert adam. Shop hepplewhite furniture, decor and art at great prices on chairish. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. George hepplewhite project gutenberg selfpublishing.
George hepplewhite, english cabinetmaker and furniture designer whose name is associated with a graceful style of neoclassicism, a movement he helped to formulate in the decorative arts. Whether the designs were those of george or alice hepplewhite is a fine point that must remain unsettled save for the unexpected discovery of. George campbell tinning art is highly collectable and is exhibitedin many canadian art galleries. Hepplewhite buffets, dressers, and hutches are among our most popular pieces here at megmade. Sheraton gave his name to a style of furniture characterized by a feminine refinement of late georgian styles 1 and became the most powerful source of. It is a neoclassic style and falls within the federal period in the united states. The cabinetmakers london book of prices and designs of cabinet work. Get the best deals on english hepplewhite antique furniture when you shop the largest. The third edition of hepplewhites book included some 20 designs for chairs in.
Help with reading books report a bad link suggest a new listing. He is regarded as having been one of the big three english furniture makers of the 18th century. He served his apprenticeship with gillows in lancaster and then moved to london where he opened a shop in the parish of st. However, it must be noted that hepplewhites style was a complete revolution from that of his predecessors, including chippendale. Hepplewhite and sheraton designs continued to be used in america through the regency period 18111820 which itself was based on late sheraton drawings. James craik, a longtime friend of george washington. Hepplewhite sideboards are often bowshaped, bombayshaped or serpentined curved in form. Inlaid mahogany hepplewhite, george iii demilune side table l 4 ft. Named after london designer and cabinetmaker george hepplewhite. He was, however, an individual to be reckoned with in any study of the development of style in furniture. The cabinetmakers london book of prices and designs of. Antique english george iii mahogany sideboard circa 1790. It was not until years after his death that his designs started to receive recognition. See more ideas about furniture styles, furniture and antique furniture.
The plates in the guide are unsigned, but 10 designs signed hepplewhite or heppelwhite are included in the cabinetmakers london book. Hepplewhite mirrors, hepplewhite chests and other case. Sheraton published the cabinetmaker and upholsterers drawing book in 1793. British furniture is widely collected today for its elegant appearance and important ties to british history, culture, and taste. As with any furniture, be sure you know the value of your hepplewhite furniture before you refinish your furniture. The guidebook sparked a period of popularity for the furniture designs, forms, and motifs known to the world as hepplewhite from circa 17801810. No 1 george randwell hepplewhite born 3101872 horsley park east plumstead. George hepplewhite 1727 june 21, 1786 was a cabinet maker.
George hepplewhite died june 21 1786 was a cabinet and chair maker. Published 179194, the cabinetmaker and upholsterers drawing book was his first and most successful book. This section is from the book the practical book of period furniture, by harold donaldson eberlein and abbot mcclure. He is mentioned in a estate document i have from a doctor hepplewhites estate in 1931 as a beneficiary issue of his father george robert hepplewhite who had deceased. How to identify hepplewhite style antique furniture. So synonymous with excellence in design and craftsmanship was his name that it has been given to one of the most influential styles of english furniture. Hepplewhite s style and reputation rest on his cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide 1788, which contained nearly 300 designs for furniture and other furnishings. Sheraton, the furniture period, is a neoclassical style within the federal period in the u. As no piece of furniture designed by hepplewhites firm has survived, the guide is the sole accurate source of information about his style.
Two further editions were published in 1789 and 1790. Furniture page 10 of george washingtons mount vernon. The mystery that has surrounded this unique design within the history of furniture is still a mystery that is yet to be solved. In essence, hepplewhite and sheratons books, as well as the style elements that bear their names, became popular during the same time frame. He died before his works could be published but his wife, alice, following in the footsteps of the commercial success of thomas chippendale and thomas sheraton published his drawings some two years after his death. In george hepplewhite and reputation rest on his cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide 1788, which contained nearly 300 designs for furniture and other furnishings. George hepplewhite, like thomas chippendale, opened a furniture shop in london.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. He became so well known that he gained the prince of wales as a client. Little of his life is known and none of his furniture survives. George hepplewhite was one of the most prominent furniture makers in the 18th century, alongside thomas sheraton and thomas chippendale. His style is characterized by light, curvilinear forms, painted or inlaid decoration, and distinctive details such as slender tapering legs plain, fluted, or reeded and the spade foot. George hepplewhite died 1786 was an english furniture designer whose. As his reputation as a designer and creator of furniture grew so did the prominence of his clientele. After he died in 1786 the business was carried on by his widow, alice.
Get the best deals on mahogany english hepplewhite antique furniture when you shop the. A wikipedia article about this author is available. George hepplewhite antique furniture 17271786 ronald. Hepplewhite style often overlaps with that of british designer thomas sheraton, whose 1791 guidebook, like hepplewhite s, documented popular furniture designs of the day. English ornament prints and furniture books in eighteenth. Crafted with simple lines and minimal decoration, this chair, one of a set of four at mount vernon, reflects the neat and plain aesthetic common to virginia furniture of the eighteenth century. Published by george hepplewhites wife, alice, after his death, the guide was published in an exceedingly small edition in 1788. Feb 07, 2014 he did not design unique furniture that challenged previous styles like hepplewhite and chippendale or publish books on the topic like sheraton. The published guide books that claim george hepplewhite as their author. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. History and values of hepplewhite furniture and how to identify hepplewhite. George hepplewhite was born no one knows just where, at some time during the first half of the eighteenth century, and was apprenticed to the gillows at lancaster. Dover publishes an impressive variety of traditional woodworking and wood carving books including works by william bemrose, thomas chippendale, george hepplewhite, gustav stickley, and others.
Baker furniture hepplewhite style inlaid mahogany bow front sideboard credenza. The plates in the guide are unsigned, but 10 designs signed hepplewhite or heppelwhite are included in the cabinetmakers london book of prices 178. This form became known as a trait of high style hepplewhite furniture. Grab your tools and get started with titles on easytobuild birdhouses and feeders, action whirligigs, ship models, outbuildings and log cabins, boomerangs, dollhouses, cabinets, figure caricatures. George hepplewhite british cabinetmaker britannica. As no piece of furniture designed by hepplewhite s firm has survived, the guide is the sole accurate source of information about his style. Design for a sofa by george hepplewhite, engraving from his book, the cabinet. He is regarded as having been one of the big three english furniture makers of the 18th century, along with thomas sheraton and thomas chippendale. Thomas sheraton 1751 22 october 1806 was a furniture designer, one of the big three english furniture makers of the 18th century, along with thomas chippendale and george hepplewhite. English hepplewhite antique furniture for sale ebay. He was an apprentice with the firm of gillow in lancaster and then moved to london, where by 1760 he was. Classicism and neoclassicism, in the arts, historical tradition or aesthetic. The book influenced cabinet makers and furniture companies for several generations.
Of course, the guide was also excellent advertising for the handsome furniture that could be purchased at the redcross street shops bearing the name hepplewhite. Had it not been for alice hepplewhite, the widow of george, it is doubtful that anyone would be aware of this 18th century english cabinetmaker. Cabinetmakers pattern books were again influential, particularly george hepplewhites cabinetmaker and upholsterers guide, published in 1788, and thomas sheratons cabinetmaker and upholsterers drawing book 1791. Many students of the history of furniture believe that hepplewhite was heavily influenced by the brothers adam as there is a great similarity between the two styles. When we speak of hepplewhite furniture, therefore, we really mean furniture of the type to which, in the course of years, the patronymic of that designer has become attached. Displaying a great variety of patterns in the plainest and most enriched styles.
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