1718-1799

British furniture-maker whose folio work, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, published in 1754, was the first comprehensive book on furniture. The book contained illustrations of every conceivable type of furniture, made Thomas Chippendale famous, and led to his becoming the best known of all such English craftsmen and designers. The book also resulted in Chippendale's name becoming synonymous with many types of eighteenth century English furniture.