China Shelf, from Chippendale Drawings, Vol. II by Thomas Chippendale

China Shelf, from Chippendale Drawings, Vol. II 1754

drawing, print

drawing

aged paper

toned paper

homemade paper

print

furniture

sketch book

incomplete sketchy

personal sketchbook

storyboard and sketchbook work

sketchbook art

design on paper

watercolor

This 1754 pen-and-ink drawing by Thomas Chippendale, titled "China Shelf," depicts a design for a three-tiered display cabinet, possibly for porcelain. Chippendale's designs are known for their elegance and incorporation of elements from various styles. The "China Shelf" features a pagoda-like roof and intricate fretwork inspired by Chinese decorative arts, a popular trend in 18th-century European design, known as Chinoiserie. This detailed drawing, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Chippendale's meticulous craftsmanship and enduring influence on furniture design.