As to Chippendale's book being 'a real original,' we may agree to that also, if the phrase does not attribute to him an absolutely fresh invention. That may be taken as an impossibility for any one furniture artist to accomplish. The ideas of Chippendale are mostly based upon the old, with the addition of his own undoubted individuality. How strong that was may easily be discerned from the delightful furniture he has left behind him.

His chairs have been sufficiently discussed. The settee next claims our attention, because in so many cases it is practically but two or more chair-backs joined together. This is the case with a very fine example formerly in the possession of the late Mr. Henry Willett (Plate cii.i), in which no effort is made to disguise the derivation. There are two bowed tops and pierced and carved jar-shaped splats above a seat supported by six straight legs joined with straight rails. Some elegant strap-work on the solid runs along the front of the seat. The least satisfactory part of the design lies precisely in the junction of the two chair-backs, which is not in the least disguised or sophisticated. Between the two uprights, which are joined only at the top, is an opening not altogether graceful, but the natural consequence of so naive a juxtaposition.

Plate CII. I - Settee, Mahogany, Chippendale 2 - " " "

CII. (1) Settee, mahogany. Chippendale. Henry Willett, Esq. (the late).

(2) Settee, mahogany. Chippendale. Designed by him for the Bury family of Kateshill, Bewdley. Mrs. Edmund McClure.

A more entirely satisfactory result is obtained when the only outer uprights remaining from the chair shapes are those at each end. The whole space between is then occupied only by splats. A most happy example (Plate cii.2) is to be found in a settee made for the Bury family, of Kateshill, Bewdley, and now the property of Mrs. Edmund McClure. This piece, which has but four legs, the front ones being cabriole on claw and ball feet, has an upper back rail consisting of the usual bow shapes, but the awkward junction of the 'two-chair-back settee' is cleverly avoided in this four-splat back. There is half a chair's back at each end, with two centrepieces which are merely splats with all the top rail to left and right cut off. The requisite connection with the ends is made by the substitution of bold C-curves with their bird-headed ends downwards, and resting upon the shoulders of the splats which they serve to bridge. All awkwardness has disappeared in this beautiful specimen of a settee. It seems curious that so clever a designer as Chippendale should not have foreseen the objections to the mere fitting together of two chair-backs, and have avoided it.

In sofas, as they have upholstered backs, Chippendale follows the French style very closely. The backs are waved in a bow shape, or consist of one long convex curve. The ends roll outwards so as often to show a decided C-curve above a cabriole leg. Of these there are generally four in front, the line of the seat being broken by the usual C-curves and 'coquillage.' Sometimes the legs are of a straighter Louis XIV. type, with a straight front to the seat. The severe lines may be broken by detached curves and festooned draperies carved in wood. 'When made large' (i.e. as much as ten feet long), Chippendale says, 'they have a bolster and pillows at each end, and cushions at the back, which may be laid down occasionally, and form a mattress. . . . Part of the carving may be left out if required.' One of the most elaborate of his sofa designs has a back tricked out with a large Cupid and a pair of eagles.

Couches he designed in similar style, with six or eight legs, but a back only at one end, the arms of which are either wood slightly upholstered or else entirely filled in like the back with stuffing. Some of his window seats are treated by Chippendale in much the same manner. One lately in possession of Messrs. Gill and Reigate has cabriole legs, waved lines on the lower side of the front of the seat, and two plain stuffed ends which roll outwards. There are, of course, no arms.