Sheraton

Thomas Sheraton (1751 – 1806) was a renowned English cabinet maker and a leading exponent of Neoclassicism.

His name became synonymous with a style of furniture that was characterised as a feminine refinement of the later Georgian styles. His work was the most influential source of inspiration for furniture in the latter part of the 18th century.

Sheraton started out by being apprenticed to a cabinet maker in County Durham, and then moved in 1790 to Soho in London at the age of 39 where he set up as a professional consultant and teacher of perspective, architecture and cabinet design to craftsmen. He went on to become better known as an inventor, artist, mystic, and religious controversialist. He started by writing on theology, describing himself as a “mechanic, one who never had the advantage of collegiate or academical education.”

He supported himself mainly as an author and wrote his ‘Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterers Drawing Book’ published in four parts from 1791. The first part comprised essays on perspective, geometry and architecture which were verbose and somewhat naive. The second part comprised plates that displayed admirable draftsmanship with excellent form and proportion and form the basis of his reputation.

The book immediately garnered over 600 cabinet maker and joiner subscribers and was very influential. During this period he didn’t have his own workshop and there is no evidence of him having actually made the pieces that appeared in his plates. Some of his designs were unconventional and probably helped set the agenda for the Regency style which was to come after his death.

Sheraton was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1800. In 1803 he published his ”Cabinet Dictionary (with plates)”, containing ”An Explanation of All Terms Used in the Cabinet, Chair and Upholstery Branches with Dictionary for Varnishing, Polishing and Gilding”.

Sheraton’s influence was not as an actual maker of furniture but as a designer and his name has become synonymous with a large quantity of late 18th century inlaid satinwood and painted furniture which he undoubtedly influenced.

He died in 1805 having set his name on the style of the era.