"Instilling a cultivated taste for all authentically creative furniture! From ancient Greece and Rome, through medieval times, and up to the present day, domestic furniture has been an integral part of civilization, and its study reveals much about our history and culture. This classic guide to furniture styles discusses the development of domestic furniture in Europe, America, and China, detailing the great periods of French and English furniture from the Renaissance through the Empire and Regency periods. Furniture from every age is represented in over 600 photographs of pieces from major collections throughout the world. The book's highly readable style and extensive coverage make it a valuable resource for interior designers."--Amazon.com

For courses in the history of interiors, history of furniture, and furniture design and construction. This image-rich text introduces significant movements in the evolution of the decorative arts, including furniture, design motifs, and accessories related to interior design and architectural settings from the Neolithic Age to the 21st century. It augments the study of art and architectural history by discussing the function and aesthetic purpose of furniture, pottery, glassware, lighting, textiles, mirrors, metalworking, clocks, and wallcoverings; as well as their integration into interior design. The author presents crucial contextual information on political and social events and the technological advances that influenced each period's design trends, and compares objects from different periods, demonstrating how ideas and concepts progress through their stylistic development. Descriptions of period room settings show how the decorative arts complement architecture and interior design. Valuable websites and bibliographic information are provided for further exploration, and a glossary highlights key vocabulary.

Over 1700 of Skibinski's line drawings present a visual approach to the identification of antique furnishings. The book is arranged in chronological sequences (17th century through the early 20th century) by type of furniture, from tables and settees to desks and bookcases. Butler and Johnson have included some important information for the novice and the experienced collector: the sources of furniture used as models for the illustrations; lists of museums, art galleries, and special displays of outstanding collections of furniture; a selected bibliography and a glossary; the anatomy of a piece of furniture; and a brief history of the periods of furniture and furniture makers. Highly recommended for public libraries and other subject collections.

Written by a woodworker for fellow woodworkers, this book will teach how to get great designs out of readers' heads and into working drawings. They will create original furniture that is strong, attractive, and well-proportioned. Includes information on how to develop a design philosophy; how to apply standards of size, shape and style; how to select the proper materials and tools; and more.

An Illustrated Guide to Furniture History provides upper-level students and instructors with an alternative visual analytical approach to learning about furniture history from Antiquity to Postmodernism. Following an immersive teaching model, it presents a Nine-Step Methodology to help students strengthen their visual literacy and quickly acquire subject area knowledge. Moving chronologically through key periods in furniture history and interior design, such as the Renaissance, the Arts and Crafts Movement, and Modernism, it traverses Europe to America to present a comprehensive foundational guide to the history of furniture design. Part I addresses furniture within the context of the built environment, with chapters exploring the historical perspective, construction principles, and the categorization of furniture. In Part II, the author visually depicts the structural organization of the methodological process, a three-category framework: History, Aesthetics, and Visual Notes. The chapters in this part prepare the reader for the visual analysis that will occur in the final section of the book. The book is lavishly illustrated in full color with over 300 images to reinforce visual learning and notation. A must-have reference and study guide for students in industrial and product design, interior design, and architecture.

If you're one of the many people who like to buy and restore antique furniture, then this is the book for you! Brimming with tips and advice from a skilled craftsman and teacher, this profusely illustrated woodworking guide will enable you to determine the age of an antique, assess its quality, and learn how to restore and preserve it effectively and profitably. Focusing on American furniture made between 1750 and 1850, the author explains how to repair construction joints, replace lost hardware, strengthen fractured parts, cover damaged areas, and much more. In addition, readers will find clear, step-by-step instructions for restoring an early rocker and chest of drawers, repairing a table leg, constructing a drawer using a dovetail joint, replacing the swing rail on a gateleg table, forming a molding, and more. Numerous examples, with over 250 illustrations and photographs, include such restored pieces of furniture as a Shaker tilt-top table, c. 1810; a cherry chest of drawers, c. 1800–20; an American Empire secretary, c. 1825; a primitive chest, c. 1840; and a country cupboard, c. 1850. Hobbyists, collectors, dealers, and woodworkers will find this excellent guide contains not only the clear, practical directions they need, but also indispensable advice on avoiding mistakes commonly made in the restoration process.