A Mahogany China Case, c. 1755
Mahogany China Case, c.1755, after a design by Thomas Chippendale. Ronald Phillips Ltd. One of the highlights of this year’s catalogue from London dealer Ronald Phillips Ltd is this mid-eighteenth century mahogany China Case, whose design corresponds closely to plate CVI of the first edition of Chippendale’s Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director (1754). The China Case... Continue reading→
Chippendale Society visit to Levens Hall
Our first destination was Levens Hall, a house built around a pele tower erected by the Redman family about 1350. It was greatly extended by the next occupants, the Bellinghams, and in 1689 was sold to James Grahme, Keeper of the Privy Purse to James II. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688 Grahme thought it... Continue reading→
Chippendale Society visit to Sizergh Castle
We were welcomed in the forecourt of Sizergh Castle by the House Steward who gave us an excellent history of the Strickland family who have lived at Sizergh since at least the thirteenth century. He explained that the castle had begun as a pele tower, was enlarged with three new wings in the 1560s and... Continue reading→
Three Day Visit to Oxfordshire and Warwickshire
Our three day visit to Warwickshire and Oxfordshire was organised by Tony Mills and James Lomax and was based at the comfortable Charingworth Manor Hotel near Chipping Campden.Ragley has a long history of alternating activity and atrophy. The Robert Hooke house of the 1680s was never completed as planned, was continued by the elderly James... Continue reading→
Chippendale Society Visit to Raby Castle
Seen from the short approach road, Raby is a formidable sight, a grey stone medieval fortress rising from green parkland. But the view is deceptive, because it never was a castle in the true sense of the word. Rather, it was a very substantial defensible house, built in the 14th century by the Nevill family... Continue reading→
Chippendale Society Visit to Rokeby Park
In the afternoon we proceeded to Rokeby, a quintessential neo-Palladian house built by an amateur architect for himself. In order to understand the arrangement of the house we gathered in front of the south façade where Sally Davies, the current administrator of the house, introduced the physical architecture and the personalities, Sir Thomas Robinson, J.... Continue reading→
Chippendale Society AGM and Lecture
The AGM will be held at Temple Newsam (in the Still Room) on 30th April at 11.30. Coffee will be served from 11.00. It will be followed by an optional lunch in the Dining Room, and a lecture at 2.00 from Dr Lucy Wood: Thomas Chippendale’s Rivals in the London Furniture Trade. This is a... Continue reading→
Chippendale Marquetry Research
This pier table was originally made for the Circular Dressing Room at Harewood House, north of Leeds. It was purchased by the Chippendale Society in 1976 following a sale of a number of items from Harewood. The room that it was made for is no longer in existence. The table was in a much damaged... Continue reading→
Society Visit to Lyme Park
Visit to Lyme Park 10th May 2016 Our arrival at this palace on the edge of the Pennines took place in driving rain but this did not dampen our enthusiasm for enjoying its treasures. Having been given to the National Trust by the 3rd Lord Newton in 1946 the house stood almost empty and bereft... Continue reading→