3 comments about French Furniture : From Louis XIII to Art Deco.

1. I'm an interior designer who collects important period 18th century French furniture. This book IS THE MOST EFFICIENT general reference to the particular periods covered and a minute step beyond the basics and generalities. For serious collectors & those who have already done their major homework - it is doubtful that you would attain additional knowledge from this book.



2. If you only have one reference book in your library on French Furniture, this is the one. For the beginning collector, the book provides clarification on terms and furniture types. For an appraiser, it's a great resource to help with identification of those forms which you do not see very often. There are only sketches, but they are clear, and provide very good detail. For those who simply want a better understanding of French furniture, this book is put together very well, and is easy to follow.



3. I am new to the techniques and methodologies of identifying French furniture. This book provides a good glossary of French terms which describe the characteristics of pieces and it provides a modest description for the common pieces made in the various styles. Line drawings and sketches provide examples of the characteristics described in the text. There are no photos, but the sketches are quite good. I'm rating the book a four because I think there should be more sketches. Not all the items described are exemplified with a drawing. Otherwise, this is a great book for getting started. The content is clear and does not bog down in minutia.

2 comments about The Encylopedia of Shaker Furniture.

1. I'm obsessed with Shaker furnitue and architecture. I'll get around to reviewing all of my books in time. I think I have every Shaker book printed!
   
   This one isn't "Complete" but there's an aweful lot in here. I look at "complete" more or less as meaning "most" variety of furniture. I didn't take it literally.
   
   This is one book that gives a lot of weight to Shaker built-ins as well. Of which I'm trying to re-create so I've been referencing this book a lot lately.
   
   I do have other books, some of which focus more on details and drawings with potential variety in drawer configurations for example, others more on color and simple photos etc.
   
   So far it 's been one of my favorites in terms of the wide variety of material it contains. An overall wonderful photo and text reference to existing furniture.



2. Probably because it is one of the newer books on Shaker furniture, this one seems to be the most accurate on the provenance of the many surviving Shaker items. It appears they have done an excellent job of deciphering where a piece was made regardless which village it was found.

   THERE IS WARNING HOWEVER! Don't be fooled by what they mean by "The Complete Book." They use the word complete to mean, that in addition to covering the "Shaker Golden Years" of 1830 to around 1850, they have included items from the 18th to the 20th century.

   With approximately 400 beautiful illustrations, they can't possibly cover every important piece of Shakerdom. To my disappointment, they did not discuss the particular 12 to 20 foot benches of two slightly differing styles that I have seen pictured in the meeting room at Sabathday Lake. Nor did they show the small wall clock at Sabathday Lake that I wanted to know about.

   The authors certainly accomplished their goals of descibing the various, differing forms used by the different locatations over the approximate 150 years covered.

   For me the final test is, would I buy it again -- Abosolutely.

2 comments about The Windsor Style in America: The Definitive Pictorial Study of the History and Regional Characteristics of the Most Popular Furniture Form of 18th Century America 1730-1840.

1. I didn't know much about Windsor Chairs, and now probably won't find much more than is here in this book.



2. This book on the Windsor style was an easy-to-read reference on identifying Windsors. Other books on the subject are simply too "heavy" for enjoyment. The Windsor Style in America both enjoyable to read and very informative. I feel that it is an excellent resource for both collectors and those who simply enjoy antiques.

1 comments about Heywood-wakefield Blond: Depression to '50s.

1. On first glance, this looked like a near copy of the green Rouland & Rouland Heywood Wakefield book. It does not have the history of Heywood Wakefield like the green R&R HW book, which makes that book also worth owning. It is the same size as the green R&R HW book and includes many of the same catalog photos. This contains some nice original color catalog photos that were not in the green R&R HW book.
   
   This is the ONLY Heywood Wakefield book with accurate prices for mint and refinished pieces. The green R&R HW book is way off and Harris Gertz's Heywood Wakefield book contains values for furniture found in well used condition. Harris's book has the best photos of Heywood Wakefield furniture.
   
   Buy the books. Buy the furniture. You'll love it.

No comments about Frames & Framing (Ashmolean Handbooks).

No comments about Antique Vienna Bronzes.

1 comments about Warm & Snug: The History of the Bed (Sutton History Classics).

1. Though it seems to have been well researched, this is not a scholarly work, at least not the usual kind. It is, rather, an informative, offbeat, and (at least to my mind) very funny account of humankind's efforts over the centuries to get a decent night's sleep. The arrangements, contraptions, and methods employed have been astonishingly varied and mostly unsatisfactory. Mr. Wright (a onetime R.A.F officer as I recall) is a graceful and witty writer, joining a somewhat Will Cuppy-ish sensibility to a smooth and civilized style. This has been for many years one of my favorite books (in the 1962 Routledge & Kegan Paul hardcover edition), and I'm delighted to see it back in print.

No comments about Conservation of Furniture (Butterworth - Heinemann Series in Conservation and Museology).

1 comments about Hickory Furniture.

1. Another Beautiful and informative book by the World's Authority on this Style and its manufacturers. Learned much and enjoyed the rare items even more!!

1 comments about Warman's Arts & Crafts Furniture Price Guide: Identification & Price Guide.

1. This book has some fantastic examples of Craftsman and Arts & Crafts furnishings. Great to look at for reference material or styles that you may wish to emulate as a designer, furniture maker, or decorator. If you are a fan of the arts and crafts or Craftsman style, this book has plenty to drool over. The book has excellent photography and lots of examples of many different furnishings.
   
   Why this book doesn't get 5 stars: Like many "price guides", much of what is contained in this book are period pieces in excellent condition and will rarely, if ever, be seen by the average person at an auction or flea market. The prices generally have the feel of the highest estimate available. On the low end are simple, framed mirrors for $500 to the high end Harvey Ellis bookcase/desk for $115,000. Don't buy this for a price guide unless you like paying for your furniture what the most expensive antiques dealer would like to charge you.