Hepplewhite Sold at Auction Prices

The English cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite (1727-1786) was an influential designer responsible for developing some of the most popular technical and artistic innovations in English furniture of the last quarter of the eighteenth century. Harmonizing the neoclassical and modern fashions of its day, Hepplewhite provided a calmer, more relaxed alternative to the prevailing styles of Thomas Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton, who designed furniture for more formal interiors. While few details can be agreed upon about the historical Hepplewhite himself, the term "Hepplewhite" is synonymous today with chairs, tables, cabinets, consoles and other wood furniture characterized by light, graceful lines that reflect a simple domestic aesthetic. Hepplewhite chairs commonly feature oval, shield or heart backed splats, and, are especially associated with the Prince of Wales' feather design. Hepplewhite furniture has been produced since the late eighteenth century into the present day, and is commonly made of solid Mahogany, Rosewood and Walnut, though excellent examples have been produced in Maple, Birch and other woods in the United States.