PLATE XLI
China cases on which to place the china are most elaborately carved; one of these in the Chinese style “may be soft wood and japanned, or painted and partly gilt.” A china case very proper for a lady’s dressing-room may “be made of any soft wood and japanned any colour.”
Hanging shelves for china are shown in Nos. 3 and 4 on Plate [XLII.] The latter is confessedly “in the Chinese taste.” In some of his highly ornamental cabinets the ornaments are intended to conceal the joining. He says: “They may be brass or silver finely chased and put on, or they may be cut in filligree work in wood, brass or silver.”
Chippendale fills four plates with a variety of Chinese railings, “very proper for gardens and other places, and may be converted (by the ingenious workman) to other uses.”
It is not likely that any confessed admirer of the French would neglect the commode. Sometimes he labels them “buroe dressing tables,” “commode bureau tables” and “French commode tables.” This is what he calls one design, dated 1753, which appears on Plate [XLII.], which has drawers at the top and in the middle and doors at the ends. “The ornaments should be carved very light,” he remarks, and these are a delicate kind of fret-work below the three top drawers and a profuse display of dripping water with leaves in the ovals of the doors, while the bottom is ornamented with leaves and the feet are leafy scrolls. Nos. 6 and 7 (Plate [XLI.]), are also portions of French commode tables, the former has drawers at the side and is enriched with the rocaille work of which Chippendale was so fond and the favourite dripping water. No. 7 shows only the leg.
The lady’s dressing-table received much attention from Chippendale. As a rule, he made it of rosewood ornamented with rich brass-work, and further decorated it with festoons of drapery. One, dated 1761, is described as a kind of commode. On top was a glass that came forward on hinges, on either side was a cupboard plain or silvered (i. e. quick-silvered); inside were drawers and pigeon-holes. “Two have been made of rosewood, which have given entire satisfaction,” adds Chippendale. All the ornaments were gilt and the dressing-drawer was full of compartments for all the little trinkets that are so necessary to women.
A Toilet, or Dressing-Table, for a lady is described as follows: “The Dressing Drawer under the glass should be divided. On the top is a large looking-glass which comes to the front with joint hinges, and over it a compartment, and on each side, and parts with doors that represent drawers. The ornaments should be gilt in burnished gold, or the whole work may be japanned and the drapery may be silk damask with gold fringe and tassels.”
PLATE XLII
Another toilet for a lady’s dressing-room is thus described: “The glass, made to come forward with folding Hinges, is in a carved frame, and stands in a compartment that rests upon a plinth, between which are small drawers. The drapery is supported by Cupids, and the Petticoat goes behind the Feet of the Table, which looks better. The ornamental parts may be gilt in burnished gold or Japanned. A China case in the Chinese style, may be of soft wood and Japanned, or painted and partly gilt.” A china case “very proper for a lady’s dressing-room may be made of any soft wood and Japanned any colour.” Chippendale’s convenient shaving-tables, and basin-stands, dressing-boxes and all other furniture for the dressing-room with their folding glasses and compact arrangement of drawers and partitions, prove that many years before Sheraton’s time there was a demand in England for such articles. Clothes-presses, wardrobes, chests, etc., also show that in Chippendale’s book nearly every article of furniture for every kind of a room is to be found.