Written with great verve and in a highly accessible style, The History of Furniture conveys a vast knowledge of history, style, and design with great intellectual clarity. Surveying the development of furniture from antiquity to the present day, John Morley discusses the Western tradition and includes the outside influences of China, Japan, India, Egypt, and Africa. The more than 600 illustrations not only include photographs and drawings of the furniture itself but also highlight the furniture's links to architecture and the fine arts. The History of Furniture is a complete examination of the 2,000-year tradition of furniture and a captivating tour de force of scholarship.
This outstanding publication could serve as a primer for the history and development of furniture. Organized by overlapping and common styles rather than chronologically, it explicates the use of various design features, motifs, and ornaments throughout history. The 12 broad sections, which focus on such categories as antiquity, classicism, neoclassicism, eclectic revivalism, functionalism, and non-Western styles, are subdivided into individual chapters. While the highly informative text is sometimes dense, the use of illustrations is excellent, tying in themes and examples from the other decorative arts as design supplements. The illustrations feature exquisite details in ornamentation and serve to highlight unusual features and materials. This book is invaluable to most reference collections focusing on the decorative arts. Highly recommended for all types of libraries. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
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