Thomas Sheraton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Sheraton
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| Born | 1751  Stockton-on-Tees |
| Died | 22 October 1806 (aged 54–55) London |
Thomas Sheraton (born 1751 – died 22 October 1806) was a very famous furniture designer from England. He is known as one of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 1700s. The other two were Thomas Chippendale and George Hepplewhite. The "Sheraton style" of furniture is named after him. This style is known for being very elegant and refined. It became a huge inspiration for furniture design in the late 1700s.
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About Thomas Sheraton
Thomas Sheraton was born in Stockton-on-Tees, a town in England. When he was young, he became an apprentice to a local cabinet maker. An apprentice learns a skill by working closely with an expert.
After his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman cabinet maker. This means he was a skilled worker who might travel to different places for work. In 1790, when he was 39 years old, he moved to London.
Sheraton's Work in London
In London, Sheraton became a professional consultant and teacher. He taught craftsmen important skills. These included perspective, which is how to draw things to look three-dimensional. He also taught architecture, which is the art of designing buildings, and cabinet design. We don't know exactly how he learned all these skills, but he became quite successful.
His Famous Books
Starting in 1791, Sheraton published a very important book called The Cabinet Maker's and Upholsterer's Drawing Book. It came out in four parts. Many cabinet makers and joiners bought his book. It quickly became very influential across England.
It's interesting to know that Sheraton himself probably never made the actual furniture pieces shown in his books. He didn't have his own workshop. So, when you hear about a piece of furniture being "by Sheraton," it means it was designed in his famous Sheraton style, not that he built it himself.
In 1803, he published another book called The Cabinet Dictionary. This book was full of instructions on how to make cabinets and chairs. Just a year before he passed away, in 1805, he published the first part of The Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and General Artist's Encyclopaedia.
The Sheraton Style
Sheraton's name is closely connected with the furniture styles that were popular in the 1790s and early 1800s. Many of his designs were based on classical architecture. Knowing about classical architecture was a key part of a designer's training back then.
Not all the drawings in his books were his own original ideas. He even said that some designs came from furniture being made in other workshops. However, he was an amazing artist and draughtsman. He became so famous that the elegant style of that time was named after him.
See also
- Luke Vincent Lockwood
- Lyre arm
