"Though some of the profession have been diligent enough to represent them (espescially those after the Gothick and Chinese manner) as so many specious drawings impossible to be worked off by any mechanick whatsoever. I will not scruple to attribute this to Malice, Ignorance, and Inability; and I am confident I can convince all Noblemen, Gentlemen, or others who will honour me with their Commands, that every design in the book can be improved, both as to Beauty and Enrichment, in the execution of it, by "Their most obedient servant, "THOMAS CHIPPENDALE." [Illustration: A BUREAU. (From Chippendale's "Director.")] The reader will notice that in the examples selected from Chippendale's book there are none of those fretwork tables and cabinets which are generally termed "Chippendale." We know, however, that besides the designs which have just been described, and which were intended for gilding, he also made mahogany furniture, and in the "Director" there are drawings of chairs, washstands, writing-tables and cabinets of this description. Fretwork is seldom seen, but the carved ornament is generally a foliated or curled endive scroll; sometimes the top of a cabinet is finished in the form of a Chinese pagoda. Upon examining a piece of furniture that may reasonably be ascribed to him, it will be found to be of excellent workmanship, and the wood, always mahogany without any inlay, is richly marked, shewing a careful selection of material. [Illustration: Nᵒ XIXII. _A Design for a State Bed._ _A Chippendale Design._ _Published according to Act of Parliament 1765._ _J. Taylor sculp._ FAC-SIMILE OF A PAGE IN CHIPPENDALE'S "DIRECTOR." (The original is folio size.)] [Illustration: "FRENCH" COMMODE AND LAMP STANDS. DESIGNED BY T. CHIPPENDALE, AND PUBLISHED IN HIS "DIRECTOR."] [Illustration: Pl. XXXV. _Beds Pillars_ _A Chippendale invᵗ et delves._ _Published according to Act of Parliament._ _J. Taylor sculp._ FAC-SIMILE OF A PAGE IN CHIPPENDALE'S "DIRECTOR." (The original is folio size.)] [Illustration: CHIMNEYPIECE AND MIRROR. DESIGNED BY T. CHIPPENDALE, AND PUBLISHED IN HIS "DIRECTOR."] [Illustration: PARLOUR CHAIRS, BY CHIPPENDALE.]