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

'India Picture'
c.1770
The Chippendale Society

The 1795 inventory of Harewood House describes this framed collage of hand painted oriental wallpaper as an 'India Picture over the Chimney'. It was intended for the Yellow Chintz Bedroom in the private apartments and was probably designed to be a cheaper version of the more expensive Oriental chimney glass supplied by Chippendale for State Bedroom.

The Yellow Chintz Bedroom was reserved for family and close friends and so it was unnecessary to furnish the room with the same extravagance as was bestowed upon the State Bedroom. It was important however that it was furnished fashionably and Edwin Lascelles' status and wealth apparent to the guest. Oriental wallpaper imported from the East was very expensive to obtain in this country and a framed piece of this was probably enough to provide such a message to the visitor.

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