Thomas Sheraton (1751 -1806)

Thomas Sheraton was the third of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Chippendale and George Hepplewhite. Born in Stockton-on-Tees, England, Sheraton was apprentice to a local cabinet maker before becoming a journeyman cabinet maker. In 1790 he travelled to London and set himself up as a teacher of architecture, cabinet design and perspective.

The following year he published the first of four volumes of “The Cabinet Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Book” which became very influential very quickly. During this time he did not own a workshop and it is believed that he never produced one of his own designs himself. A piece of Sheraton furniture therefore refers to the design and not the maker.

Sheraton's name is associated with the styles of furniture fashionable in the 1790s and early 1800s. Many of his designs are based on classical architecture, knowledge of which was an essential part of a designer's technical education.  Some of his designs are copies of works in progress and he acknowledgd that not all his designs were original, instead were copies of work found in the workshops of apprentice craftsmen.

Sheraton style is characterized by graceful and simple design, with emphasis on straight vertical lines and inlaid decoration, reeded legs and classical motifs. He was influenced by Adam but also French style, particularly that of Louis XVI. Sheraton furniture was always soundly constructed despite it’s delicate and slender appearance

When choosing Sheraton furniture for your dolls house look out for:-

• Sideboards shaped with a single swelling or convex between two square ends, look for a suggestion of concealed boxes, shelves or drawers. Sideboards often had a brass rail along the back
• Kidney shaped desks, tables, card tables, bookcases and woodrobes
• Satinwood and mahogny, the latter particularly for chairs and veneering
• Simple ornamental features, key plates or drawer handles of simple design and fashioned from ivory or brass
• Inlays of exotic woods – kingwood, zebrawood, holly, tulip and rosewood, divided by ebony lines
• Upholstery that reveals the furniture frames instead of concealing it completely
• Slender fluted or reeded legs, either round or square but tapering down to natural or spade feet
• Chair arms that are straight or continuously curved from front to back
• Caning

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