Illus. 177.—Chippendale
Chair.
Illus. 179.—Hepplewhite Chair.
While Chippendale used no inlaying, Hepplewhite’s furniture is ornamented with both carving and inlay, as well as painting. His chairs may be distinguished by the shape and construction of the back, which was usually of oval, shield, or heart shape. The carving in Hepplewhite’s chairs is of quite a different character from that of Chippendale. The three feathers of the Prince of Wales often form a part of the back, for Hepplewhite was of the Prince’s party when feeling ran strong during the illness of George III.
Carved drapery, wheat, and the bell-flower, sometimes called husks, are other characteristics of Hepplewhite’s chairs, two of which are shown in Illustration [178], belonging to Dwight Blaney, Esq., of Boston. The Prince’s feathers appear in the middle of one chair-back and upon the top rail of the other.
Illustration [179] shows an arm-chair from a set of Hepplewhite dining-chairs owned by Francis H. Bigelow, Esq., of Cambridge. The back is carved with a design of drapery and ears of wheat.
Illus. 178.—Hepplewhite Chairs.