CHIPPENDALE, HEPPLEWHITE, AND SHERATON’S GREAT FURNITURE WORKS, LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED WITH MORE THAN 900 ILLUSTRATIONS

CHIPPENDALE, Thomas. The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director. WITH: HEPPLEWHITE, A. and Company. The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide. WITH: SHERATON, Thomas. Complete Furniture Works. New York: Towse, 1938-46. Three volumes. Folio, original cloth, original dust jackets. $1850.

Modern facsimile editions of the great works by the three preeminent furniture designers, with over 920 plates of their designs and photographs of pieces exemplifying their respective styles. With an autograph presentation in one volume from the publisher to the editor, "To my friend Walter Rendell Storey, whose cooperation has made the publishing of this book possible. With best wishes, Sandy."

Each volume includes a sketch of the author's life and works by Walter Rendell Storey. Chippendale, Hepplewhite and Sheraton are the three preeminent designers of the 18th-century, each of whom continues to be enormously influential in furniture design. By publishing their own designs and making them available to the general public, they effectively "moved the authority in furniture design from the Crown to the cabinetmakers. Styles were now presented by the leading designers and makers of the day, and the success of each was determined by the market rather than by the whims of the court" (Greene, American Furniture of the 18th Century, 62-63). The volumes on Sheraton and Hepplewhite are each from limited editions of 500 copies; the inscription from the publisher is in the Hepplewhite volume.

Books about-fine, dust jackets with a bit of shallow chipping, a few small tears to extremities. Extremely good condition.