Matthias Lock 1710-1765

Matthias Lock was the first woodcarver to master the exuberance of the French rococo, which swept through Britain after the austere earlier style of William Kent, successfully imparting an 'English' flavour to his designs.

Lock published a series of designs prior to Thomas Chippendale’s renowned Director of 1754; these included designs of sconces in 1744, tables in 1746, and the ambitious Book of Ornaments in 1747.  Many of these original drawings are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

Although little is known about Lock himself, we do know he was a close follower of Thomas Chippendale and they are believed to have worked alongside each other on some of his larger projects.  Lock had an extraordinary imagination; he was a clever and skilled draughtsman and holds a distinct place among English furniture designers of the mid 18^th century.