Some of the grandest pieces of 18th century furniture ever created are included in a landmark Thomas Chippendale sale at Christie’s in London on July 5. A George III mahogany and Indian ebony commode by Thomas Chippendale, supplied to Sir Rowland Winn between 1766 and 1769, is estimated at £3-5 million. This lavish neoclassical piece, a masterpiece of English design, broke the world auction record for his work when it was sold from the Messer Collection in 1991.
Chippendale was master of many mediums and there are works in giltwood, mahogany, marquetry and lacquer as well as his game changing book The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director first published in 1754. The dedicated London auction will present 22 lots with estimates from £5,000-5 million. Tradition has it that Chippendale designed Christie’s original rostrum for his friend James Christie, the model for which is still in use today. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2018.