Estraallane

Hepplewhite

George Hepplewhite (1727 – June 21, 1786) was a cabinetmaker. He is regarded as having been one of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Sheraton and Thomas Chippendale. There are no pieces of furniture made by Hepplewhite or his firm known to exist but he gave his name to a distinctive style of light, elegant furniture that was fashionable between about 1775 and 1800 and reproductions of his designs continued through the following centuries. One characteristic that is seen in many of his designs is a shield-shaped chair back, where an expansive shield appeared in place of a narrower splat design. Simplicity, elegance, and utility characterize the designs. Many pieces were intended to be made in inlaid satinwood, others in mahogany or with japanned decoration. Chairs with straight tapered legs have shield-, heart-, and oval-shaped backs, incorporating urns, festoons, cornhusk chains, and other typical Neoclassical motifs. Upholstered settees of serpentine form, window seats with scrolled arms, and small square- and circular-topped inlaid tables and bookcases with delicate tracery in the glass doors also characterize the graceful Hepplewhite style. 

Hepplewhite Leg Styles: In contrast to the popular cabriole legs of earlier styles, such as Queen Anne, Hepplewhite pieces usually have straight legs. These can be square or tapered, and often have reeded or fluted edges, in imitation of Classical columns. Some chairs and sofas have H-stretchers, reinforcing pieces of wood that connect the legs to form the shape of an H. The backs of these chairs were often adorned with festoons of wheat-ears or pointed fern leaves, or with decorative use of the Prince of Wales's feathers. The general effect of these chairs was of extreme fragility. The painted and japanned satinwood pieces lacked decorative permanence entirely; with little use, the paint wore off, and had to be renewed.

Hepplewhite Style Feet: Complementing the plain, straight legs of a chair or table, Hepplewhite-style feet are usually simple: a rectangular spade foot or a tapered arrow foot. Bracket feet are common on heavier pieces, such as chests, desks and bookcases.

Woods Used in Hepplewhite Style Pieces: Because Hepplewhite furniture is characterized by contrasting veneers and inlays, pieces often contain more than one type of wood.For the base, mahogany was the wood of choice, but satinwood and maple were also popular. Other woods include sycamore (especially common for veneers), tulipwood, birch and rosewood. Since craftsmen frequently used the local woods at hand, American versions of Hepplewhite's designs can be made of ash or pine as well. Where carving was a part of his design, he clung to mahogany; but satinwood, sycamore for fancy veneering, white holly for inlay and division lines, and others more unfamiliar were used by him. On his satinwood panels appeared the decorative paintings of Angelica Kauffman, Michael Angelo Pergolesi, and other Italian artists. Sideboards and desks were decorated with carved rosettes, festoons and medallions, employed with chaste restraint. For upholstery, horsehair stuffing came in, covered with satins, silks and other fine fabrics.

This has the usual arrangements of legs, four in front and two at the rear,