1 comments about Classic Herman Miller (Schiffer Design Book).

1. WHAT A WONDERFUL NEW PUBLICATION. LOTS OF GREAT INFORMATION & PHOTOS. WE NEED MORE FINE BOOKS LIKE THIS!

4 comments about Collectors Encyclopedia of Russel Wright: Identification & Values (Collectors Encyclopedia of Russel Wright).

1. We've been collecting RW since 1998, and have hundreds of hard to find and many one of a kind pieces.
   
   Pros:
   -Some new photos.
   -The most comprehensive author of Russel Wright, covering all designs from all eras, including furniture and plastic
   -Detailed price guides
   -History and chronology of lines based on extensive research
   
   Cons:
   -Due to wide scope of the book, it is fairly easy to find incorrect information on pieces, prices, and other data.
   -Truncated some interesting information from 2nd edition, including photos of very rare items that we collect
   
   Neutral:
   -Moved prices to back (for easier reference?).
   
   Bottom line: 2 stars for accuracy, 4 stars for breadth, 3 stars for depth. Thus the average rating. If you seriously collect RW and do not have either the 2nd or 3rd edition of this book, you should buy this as without doubt this is certainly better than other RW books (and we have several others), but again not necessarily a must have for those with the 2nd edition.



2. I just started collecting Russel Wright dishes, and was looking for a definitive reference guide to help key out the pieces I had. I thought this book had a lot of helpful information about determining pattern and manfacturing locations, but I was a bit disappointed overall. Though the cover of the book features only pottery, the book itself has examples of all that Russel Wright created in his long, prolific career-- all the way down to the radios and lamps. It would be great for the diehard RW fan, but I wished it just focussed on the pottery.



3. I am so happy to have gotten this book. I knew little-to-nothing about Wright,and Ann Kerr's book lays out all kinds of information about the man, the artist, and his art. I haven't had much of a problem without an index, as she has all the information chaptered out, and it is all easy to access. The accompanying photos are excellent and there are many. She also explains any areas which may be ambiguous, such as color, size and shape anomalies. Due to getting this book, I often know more about the pieces I find than the dealers do, as she tries to fit in every piece of information that she has, on every aspect of the collectible items. I love this book!



4. Packed with information, this book is cumbersome to use since it doesn't have an index.

3 comments about Danish Chairs.

1. Siendo el diseño escandinavo un capítulo aparte (y radical por cieto) en la historia del diseño de mobiliarios, este es un excelente libro, que da una visión resumida y global sobre el tema.
   Recomiendo fervientemente ver el capítulo de Finn Juhl.
   Un comentario aparte merece la edición: un diseño gráfico que sobresale.



2. Well laid out book, with good details on a wide range of danish chairs. Clear, large pictures, excellent useful text. Valuable to any researcher. What more could one say?
   Buy it.



3. A compilation of chairs from Danish designers; Danish Chairs is an invaluable source for the Danish enthusiast. It provides multiple views of every piece and gives a short biography for each designer. It is an informative reference for any collector.

2 comments about Fifties Furniture by Paul McCobb: Directional Designs (Schiffer Book for Collectors and Designers,).

1. Very nice reference of Calvin line furnitures. Only B&W photos. No planner group line furnitures covered. If you want to know about Calvin pieces this book is for you.



2. This is an OK book, but the title is somewhat misleading to the casual reader. This book deals very specificly with the "Directional Designs" line produced by Paul McCobb - not all of Paul McCobb's "Fifties Furniture"
   
   If you are looking for information on the Paul McCobb Planner Group, as I was, you are not going to find it in this book.
   
   Apart from that, it has some great pictures of some very high-end furniture.

1 comments about Traditional Japanese Furniture.

1. This book is a wonderful exaple of Japan's funiture and art. It shows the many aspects of this oritental country's splendid decorum.

2 comments about American Furniture: The Federal Period in the Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum (Winterthur Book).

1. Winterthur is THE finest collection of American Federal Furniture in the world, it is simply a singular collection. This book is very well conceived, the text is well researched and the images are crisp. Mr. Dupont was one of the first major collectors of American Furniture of the Federal Period, and he had a great eye for the best pieces. We are so lucky that he kept his beloved collection intact and he was generous enough to create a museum to showcase this spectacular collection and allow the public to appreciate the beauty of this amazing craftsmanship. American Federal Furniture is now some of the most expensive and sought after furnture in the world, but at the time Mr. DuPont began collecting it was not sought after at all, the wealthy wanted French Furniture, this was considered beautiful and American Federal Furniture was considered too understated, Mr. DuPont, because of who he was, really changed peoples mind on this style of furniture and we owe him a debt of gratitude for this. I recommend this book to anyone with a love for beautiful things.



2. My sister in law wanted this book for her Christmas gift. She is an antique appraiser. I was a bit unsure of ordering a used book for a present but when it came I was happily surprised to see that the book was in excellent condition. I will be pleased to give the book to her at Christmas. LD

No comments about Victorian Wooden Molding and Frame Designs: The 1910 Morell Catalog (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

5 comments about Dunbar: Fine Furniture of the 1950s.

1. This is basically a reprint of the 1950 catalog --- OK for collectors, but you can get the new color version at the dunbar website www.collectdunbar.com Wormley was a great
   furniture designer -- nice to see the designs are back in production.



2. During the 50's & 60's , Ed Wormley and Dunbar were leaders in the fine furniture industry. Leslie Pina's reprint of one of the catalogs from that period gives collectors a nice reference point. The company is about much more than what is presented in this basic presentation, hopefully someone will write a more comprehensive reference on the entire collection. I've heard word that the company is coming back and going back into production with some of the primary pieces. That would be great! The book on Edward Wormley is also worth checking out.



3. Great starting point on Dunbar.. I agree with the review that said they miss some key points about the company and the top designs, but this is only a reprint of one of their catalogs, not the definitive story of Dunbar.

   Enjoy it for what it is.




4. Edward Wormley and Dunbar have much more to offer than what is presented in this snapshot... nice to see the copies of the breakout advertising campaigns that Dunbar invested in to promote the product launches.... Check out the Edward Wormley profile book by Judith Gura and Chris Kennedy - its very good.

   It would be nice to see some of the Dunbar pieces back in production... quality pieces are hard to find and often expense because of the auction setting.




5. This is a remarkably disappointing book on an outstanding furniture company.

   To have missed the opportunity of including many of Dunbar's most important pieces is not just negligent, but a crime. Missing are classics like: the rolltop desk, the famous contemporary wing chair, the bentwood chaise and the elegant upholstered model 971 chair series.

   This should not be confused with a collectors reference book, as it isn't one.

   The illustrations consist solely of muddy, fuzzy, apparently unresearched reproductions of old Dunbar catalogs.

   Also missing is a proper account of the lore of the company.

2 comments about Complete Kagan: Vladimir Kagan--A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design.

1. Fantastic book on the life and work of a great artist of modern furniture. Well written, lush with photos and perfectly laid out. If you are a serious student of mid-century modern you need to own this book.



2. Highly recommended book for coffee table or reference! Kagan's New York Collection is stunning, but the Classic pieces are simply awe inspiring. Vladimir Kagan should be respected not only for his legendary furniture designs, but for his extremely kind and grounded personality. To know such a person is a rare occurance. Buy his book, buy his furniture.

5 comments about Furniture Hot Spots: The Best Furniture Stores and Websites Coast to Coast.

1. The Washington, DC section is only 14 pages which is short considering only 1 store is on each page and she omitted suburban MD and VA. In the intro she mentions that Bethesda and Alexandria are just a short distance away, but she doesn't list any stores. The big furniture stores are only found in MD and VA, not within DC.



2. I sat down with this book last night expecting to start the first of several nights of reading. I threw it aside about 15 minutes later surprised that I had reviewed every part that was relevant to me.
   
   I think the problem lies is the nature of furniture selling. Furniture is primarily sold by local retailers, rather than big chains, so this book only has a small amount of relevant information for any single individual.
   
   I live in Boston, so I'm not interested in the best places to buy in Atlanta or Washington DC, and what was included for me was a pretty small sample. I was surprised that none of the major local stores were there, like Jordan's Furniture and Bernie and Phyl's. Even some of the national chains were not mentioned, like Thomasville and La-Z-Boy.
   
   These are the places where my family and friends actually buy furniture. I assume they were eliminated because of space, which underscores the key problem here. She's trying to cover so many regions that none get covered very deeply at all.
   
   I don't have a problem with the information that is included (hence the two stars rather than one). The author clearly put a lot of effort into compiling all this. I just think the main idea behind the book was flawed from the outset. I wasn't expecting the book to be comprehensive. It's just that there simply isn't very much useful information in it for me, and that therefore doesn't make this book very valuable to me.
   
   I think this is ideal material to be covered by a local newspaper or magazine.



3. I thought this book was excellent and helpful. It really made furniture shopping fun and efficient. The guide really gives a vaid and useful description of everything you need to know to have a successful experience. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to refurnish their home and it also makes a great gift! Loved it



4. This is an essential guide for anyone who wants to furnish their dream home but has no idea where to start. Not only is the book practical and useful, it is entertaining because of the anecdotes based on Litwin's own furniture buying experiences that are interspersed throughout the book. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever left a furniture store feeling like they could have gotten something better.



5. While furniture shopper expect Jennifer Litwin's Furniture Hot Spots: Best Furniture Stores And Websites Coast To Coast could easily have been featured under our consumer's reviews, it's featured here so homeowners won't miss what might be the most valuable consideration of a home: its furniture choice. Learn where to locate the best furniture, how to identify the best, and how to bargain for it in a guide which reviews hundreds of furniture stores in 12 major cities across the nation: stores which specialize in unique, fine pieces from antique to modern, low end to high. Her excellent, candid assessment offers 'chair' ratings by quality, price, personnel and ambiance.