Thomas Chippendale Sr & Jr 1718-1779

The cabinet-maker whose name is now so celebrated was born in Otley, Yorkshire, on 5 June 1718.  Apart from this, relatively little is known of his early years, but he certainly trained as a cabinet-maker.  Chippendale's competent drawing skills suggest that he may also have trained as a draughtsman at some stage.  Following his apprenticeship, he would have worked, like all other cabinet-makers of his time, for several years as a journeyman before starting up his own workshop.

Chippendale moved to London some time prior to 1748, and in that year he married his first wife, Catherine Redshaw, with whom he had nine children.  The eldest son, also called Thomas was to work with his father until the older man retired, when he took over the business.