The Story of Western Furniture

As well as fulfilling a functional need, furniture has always been an index of status. From the throne of Tutankhamen or the bed of State of Louis XIV to the austere Shaker chest or the Charles Eames chair and later modern pieces from Europe, the Far East and the United States, the style of each piece tells much about the outlook of the makers and the needs and skills of the time. This absorbing history traces the development of furniture design and production, from the days of ancient Egypt to the present, describing what articles were made in each period, how they were made, and what were the social and economic conditions that affected style and finish. The author discusses techniques such as joinery, turning, veneering, marquetry, polishing, upholstery, bentwood work and lamination. Many examples are shown in the illustrations, which are invaluable recognition sources and a lively visual accompaniment to the text. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication Page 6 Table of contents 8 1: Egypt, Greece and Rome 10 2: Byzantium, Early Medieval and Gothic Europe 33 3: The Renaissance 54 4: Baroque Grandeur 80 5: Rococo and Palladian Elegance 106 6: Neo-Classicism 134 7: The Nineteenth Century-Age of Diversity 156 8: Aestheticism and Reform 181 9: The Modern Movement 205 10: The 1940s Onwards 225 Select Bibliography 244 Index 246 " A well organised survey of a facinating subject." David Pearce, RIBA Journal