The House of Miniatures

THoM Product # 40028 - Chippendale Straight Leg Chair

Catalog Description: The straight leg is not usually identified with Chippendale, but he used it often, as in this exquisite side chair. 3 3/8"h x 1 7/8"w x 1 3/4"d.

Circa: 1770

Style: Chippendale

Period: Colonial

Design © 1977

The straight leg chair was somewhat of a departure from Chippendale style, or at least the style most commonly identified with Chippendale. The absence of the cabriole leg and the ball-and-claw foot sometimes leads to the lack of recognition of his touch in this style of chair. In reality many of Chippendale's furniture designs featured straight legs, block feet, and bracket feet on his chairs, beds, and chests respectively. The straight legs were seldom rounded except perhaps slightly on the front and rear edges. The stretchers were relatively thin, but added considerable strength to the chair since they were always dovetailed into the legs and the median stretcher was dovetailed into the side stretchers. The overall design, of the straight leg chair, showed little variance, other than the presence of stretchers, from the cabriole leg chair until later in the Chippendale period when his designs exhibited strong Chinese influence. Chairs of this type were most commonly found in the dining room but were also utilized in many rooms of the home, at desks, writing tables, or in hallways. The elegance of their rich carving and beautiful upholstery were appreciated wherever they were used.

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