Chinese railings were largely based off of the furniture designs of the influential English furniture maker Thomas Chippendale (ca. 1718-1779), who incorporated fanciful patterns designed to represent Chinese originals in the backs of several of his chairs.  These patterns, which reflected a mid-18th and 19th century vogue for Chinese-based designs, also influenced architectural design in the United States.  The Chinese railings were perhaps first used for garden elements, such as the bridge in the William Paca Garden in Annapolis, Maryland, but by the end of the 18th century the railings were starting to appear on buildings.  Mainly associated with the designs of President Thomas Jefferson, Chinese rails would become a signature element in the buildings designed by both President Jefferson and the workmen he trained.  Later, in the early 20th century, these rails would also make a minor comeback as an element occasionally used in Colonial Revival style designs.