Thomas Chippendale at Harewood House. A celebration of the life and work of Thomas Chippendale - Master Furniture Maker. Presented by Harewood House Trust.

Clothes Press
c.1769-70
The Earl & Countess of Harewood, & the Trustees of the Harewood House Trust

The term clothes press generally refers to a high cupboard containing sliding shelves above a set of three drawers. In the 18th century they were sometimes called 'wardrobes' which probably dates back to the Middle Ages when the wardrobe was a special room or closet for hanging clothes. In comparison to the 16th and 17th centuries, clothes in the 18th century became much lighter and thinner and therefore easier to fold flat and store onto shelves. The result was the clothes press with sliding shelves. These shelves were sometimes made of cedar wood which gives off a very distinctive smell and is a natural moth repellent. In fact the 1797 edition of The Prices of Cabinet Work recommended that an extra 6d a shelf was included if 'Havannah cedar' was used. Cedar wood was not used for these shelves and may well be an indication that it was meant for one of the less important rooms in the house.

Made en suite with the dressing commode and two bedside, it is painted green and decorated with gilded chinoiserie scenes in imitation of the black lacquer ware imported from the East and which was highly sought after. Only two other patrons, Sir Edward Knatchbull at Mersham Le Hatch and Sir Rowland Winn at Nostell Priory, ordered similar green japanned bedroom furniture. The fashion for chinoiserie was, however, very popular and it reached it's peak in the mid 18th century with the emergence of the Rococo style and continued with the Neo-classical style as can be seen here.

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