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Styles of Chippendale Upholstered Chairs

Designed by cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale, Chippendale chairs are one of the most famous furniture designs of the 18th century. These original chairs are famous for their artistic Rococo and Gothic characteristics and have been mimicked by many chair-makers around the world. The patterns in the original chairs make them valuable antiques. Although only one style of the Chippendale chair is fully upholstered, all styles feature upholstered seats.

Chinese-Inspired
- Featuring upholstered or removable cushioned seats and a mahogany frame, the Chinese-inspired style of the Chippendale chair is very ornate. Characteristics include an open back of Chinese lattice work, a crest rail, quadrangular legs and a can-shaped seat. Lattice work can also be found in sections throughout the frame of the chair. Meant mostly to be used as a decorative piece in bedrooms, some styles of this Chinese-inspired chair feature a lacquered coating for elegance.
French-Inspired
- The French-inspired style of the Chippendale chair is the only style in which the chair is fully upholstered. This style of chair features mahogany legs, French whorl feet and a combination of open and padded arms. In addition, the chair, meant to be used as a side chair in a formal space, features detailed Rococo carvings, especially on the legs, which makes the chair very ornate and different from the typical French-style chair.
Gothic
- Also mahogany in the frame, the Gothic style of the Chippendale chair features an open back of carvings in English Rococo and Gothic designs, making this style of chair very artistic. Some chairs produced in this style were made to resemble a Gothic-style window. Chairs made in the Gothic style are also armless with quadrangular legs and a simple, upholstered seat.
Cupid's Bow
- Designed by Chippendale as a side chair or dining room chair, the Cupid's Bow chair features a crest rail that symbolizes a Cupid's bow. In addition, the chair features a top rail in the shape of a serpentine, quadrangular legs, an upholstered seat and French whorl-style feet. Chippendale produced several variations of this style.
DIrector (Ladder-Back)
- The Director style of chair, also known as the Ladder-Back chair was also made of mahogany. The chair features a top rail in the serpentine style followed by three pierced cross rails. In addition, the quadrangular legs of the chair have more of a straighter appearance than the other styles of Chippendale chairs. Some Director chairs built in the later portion of the 1700s feature Neo-Classical carvings.

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