Google Doodle celebrates English furniture designer Thomas Chippendale

18th Century cabinet maker honoured with Doodle

Rob Williams
Wednesday 05 June 2013 09:32 BST
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Google has commemorated the 18th Century English cabinet maker and furniture designer Thomas Chippendale with a Doodle comprised of images of his famous furniture.

Chippendale, who would have celebrated his 295th birthday today, became one of Britain's most celebrated  interior designers.

His work,  in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles is highly collectible.

In 2010 The Harrington Commode, a chest of drawers thought to be crafted by Thomas Chippendale, was sold at auction for £3.8million.

Click on the image above to see a gallery of the best Google Doodles

The piece of furniture, which dates from around 1770, sold for three times its original estimate.

A previous record for most costly piece of English furniture had also belonged to Chippendale for his George II Parcel-Gilt Padouk Cabinet-on-Stand which sold for £2,729,250 at Christie’s in June 2008.

Born in Farnley near Otley into a family of Yorkshire carpenters he moved to London aged 30 and established a workshop in St Martins lane.

He published a book, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, six years later. He died in London in 1779, aged 61.

Video: Thomas Chippendale's 295th "birthday" Google Doodle

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