Hepplewhite Furniture Characteristics

Though the dates are not quite clear hepplewhite became a cabinetmaker of great renown and ran a shop in london.
Hepplewhite furniture characteristics. As mentioned little is known about george hepplewhite s life beyond the fact that he ranks among the four greatest designers of furniture of all time. Hepplewhite s cabinet maker and upholsterer s guide was published posthumously by his widow in 1788. Let s take one furniture category out of the mix.
Pieces are embellished with small carvings or painted designs along with intricate inlaid patterns and veneers often in woods of contrasting colors known as marquetry. I will cover distinguishing factors in several posts. The time frame is the same.
21 june 1786 was a cabinetmaker 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 there are no pieces of furniture made by hepplewhite or his firm known to exist but he gave his name to a distinctive style of light elegant furniture that was fashionable between. Robert adam is credited with creating the style known as hepplewhite during the 1760s and leading the form. Hepplewhite pieces may feature sycamore birch or rosewood.
Inspired by adam englishmen george hepplewhite and thomas sheraton both impacted american furniture craft with their interpretations of neoclassical style. It is especially light in comparison to earlier queen anne and chippendale styles. This edition of design dictionary will focus on hepplewhite.
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. George hepplewhite along with thomas sheraton and thomas chippendale is considered one of big three furniture makers in the uk. Sheraton published the cabinet maker and upholsterer s drawing book in 1793.
A hepplewhite style foot is simple and straightforward in its design. When a piece of furniture is made in england or styled after an english example it may be known as hepplewhite. One of the most typical characteristics of a piece of hepplewhite furniture is the use of intricate inlays of contrasting woods and burl veneers.