Townsend family

U.S. cabinetmakers in Newport, R.I., of the 17th–18th century. The brothers Job (1699–1765) and Christopher (1701–1773) were the first generation involved in furniture making. Job's daughter married his apprentice John Goddard (see Goddard family). Five of Job's sons and two of Christopher's sons became cabinetmakers. The Goddard-Townsend group was best known for case furniture characterized by block fronts (divided into three panels, with the central panel recessed) and decorative carved shell motifs, frequently in the graceful and somewhat ornate style developed by Thomas Chippendale.

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