Furniture Books

A must-have reference book for designers, design enthusiasts, or fans of French Art Deco. Ruhlmann was one of France's most prolific furniture designers, and one of the greatest artistes of our time.

Although he was criticized for creating objects only for the elite, everything he created is museum-quality and will be forever coveted by anyone with an appreciation for true Art Deco design. His use of rare and luxurious materials such as ebony and other rare woods, vellum, ivory, bronze, tortoise-shell, shagreen, doeskin, morocco, and eggshell lacquer only highlighted the beautiful forms he imagined, and pushed the boundaries of cabinet-making skills to have created. His invention of the `fuseau' leg enabled his craftsmen to make some of the most elegant furniture ever produced.

The many photos and sketches included of furniture, lighting, rugs and interiors of his design are invaluable to anyone in the trade. A true bible in every sense of the word and a great source of inspiration.

This book is a must for any collector or fan of French art deco/art moderne style. The photography is superb, and the text is wonderfully informative.

This book is a must for designers. The best book i have seen on the Deco Style. A fantastic artists shows his best work. Sketches and photos are perfect.

June Sprigg's great introduction to the Shakers has happily been reprinted. It is a most beautiful book.

It's rare that something that looks at first glance like a "coffee table book" that should be admired largely for its pictures but that also contains such a thoughtful and illuminating text.

There is no other book that shows as clearly how the Shakers connected practicality and simplicity with elegance and harmony of design. The photographs are subtle, understated but quite lovely to linger over.

It's easy to dismiss the Shakers as a fringe group, and few up us would embrace their doctrine of celibacy. But June Sprigg documents the appeal of their fundamental values: Do all your work as if it was to last for 1,000 years, but live your life as if you knew that the Judgment Day was coming tomorrow. Her ability to articulate this apparent paradox makes this a spiritually moving book.

Buy it as a gift for anyone interested in design, or with a serious interest in religion. And be sure to order two copies--you'll want one yourself.

Shaker: Life, Work and Art is a beautiful book. I first saw acopy several years ago and was disappointed to learn that thehardcover version was out of print. The book has short narrative sections that provide insight into Shaker history, work, and communal and spiritual life. One section captures a "typical" day in the life of the Brethren and Sisters. The enlarged font is easy on the eyes and the top of each narrative page is headed by the famous Shaker wall pegs. The narrative sections are separated by numerous pages of high quality, well-captioned color photographs of Shaker crafts, furniture, and architecture. Lots of beautiful pictures! The Shakers legacy still seems to have a profound impact on our contemporary lives in spite of (or perhaps because of) the simplicity of their work and their unusual communal way of life. Although this book does not present a comprehensive history of the Shakers, it does an admirable job of providing an insight into the lives of these interesting people. This book is deserving of any coffee table and should get a lot of attention in your household. END

June Sprigg's great introduction to the Shakers has happily been reprinted. It is a most beautiful book.

It's rare that something that looks at first glance like a "coffee table book" that should be admired largely for its pictures but that also contains such a thoughtful and illuminating text.

There is no other book that shows as clearly how the Shakers connected practicality and simplicity with elegance and harmony of design. The photographs are subtle, understated but quite lovely to linger over.

It's easy to dismiss the Shakers as a fringe group, and few up us would embrace their doctrine of celibacy. But June Sprigg documents the appeal of their fundamental values: Do all your work as if it was to last for 1,000 years, but live your life as if you knew that the Judgment Day was coming tomorrow. Her ability to articulate this apparent paradox makes this a spiritually moving book.

Buy it as a gift for anyone interested in design, or with a serious interest in religion. And be sure to order two copies--you'll want one yourself.

I first checked out this book from the library, and after having to renew it a couple times, decided to purchase it. I made beautiful curtains for my daughter's bedroom. Even though I am a novice at sewing, the instructions were easy to follow, and I learned a lot of stitching techniques that got me real excited about moving on to my next project. I think Katrin Cargill is very knowledgeable and at the same time keeps the novice sewer in mind.

The book has wonderful ideas that seem easy to follow beginning with measuring windows to how much fabric you will need. Each curtain has a page that opens up to show detailed directions. The color photos are great! There are even template designs to copy that help design a more creative curtain. The book truly teaches you how to sew simple and easy to make curtains. I am looking forward to getting started sewing curtains for every room in my house.

This is the best book on curtains that I have seen - and I've looked around quite a bit. I was looking for several things to help me make curtains for my new home. Although I have some sewing experience I would not call myself an expert sewer. Many of the books currently available are really geared towards people with my level of experience or less, including this book. I wanted good pictures of the end product, so that I could really see what I was going to be making. Again, this is something most books on curtains have. However, the two things I wanted but which I only found in this book were: cool modern ideas (no ruffles or huge jabots, please!) and great instructions.

The majority of the curtains in this book were really neat ideas that would fit in really well in homes today. If you have very traditional tastes or have a very formal decorating style, you probably wouldn't find much in this book. I wanted something less formal and some unusual/different ideas and definitely found that in this book.

The best aspect of this book was that the instructions were written really well and were completely designed for customization (different window sizes, different material use). Material use, how to's, and general sewing instructions were all included. There is also a great section at the end of the book (referred to often in the instructions) going over the common techniques used in the book and how to do them (with illustrations).

This will be released by Taunton Press, supposedly October 2005. Good thing I didn't win one on ebay. Wait for the new one, or wait for used prices to drop.

November 2005: Now Taunton tells me they will only release this book with the slipcase set that contains all three volumes. That's disappointing. Still, I guess that they will eventually release this book by itself. Probably sometime after the holidays.

This is a great beginner level to intermediate level book for building furniture. Lots of photos of different ways to make joints. Although this book is short on words, it makes up for it by showing how to make joints and furniture. Tage Frid is a master craftsman and this book is a no nonsense guide on woodworking.

...that provides solid information on building and designing furniture. This focuses more on the design part while the first two books in the series focus on basics and techniques.

I'm an artist with a particular interest in the decorative arts - and, while I can't say much about the text (I haven't read much of it), the artwork shown in this book is exquisite. I purchased this book for the eye candy - and there's quite a bit here to be had.

The book focuses on hand-painted Tibetan furniture, and it's the highly stylized, decorative, and "folky" painting which I find so appealing in the work presented. The book is richly illustrated with many examples, the examples are well photographed, and the printing is high-quality.

If you're an artist, it's a great reference book - there are many decorative motifs and design ideas from which you can "steal", "borrow", "adapt", or otherwise use as inspiration in your own work.

This beautiful book offers much more than a generous selection of wonderful photographs! It is historically informative and well organized so that it is easy to read for both the professional and collector. If you are interested in Tibetan antique furniture-this is the publication for you!

This is an early book--one of only two at the present time--focusing on Tibetan furniture from the perspective of the antiques field. Tibetan furniture is an area that will surely find a wider, recognized place given the growing role of some Asian countries, especially China and India, in global political and economic affairs. Already one sees a growing interest in Chinese antiquities and art. As Buckley notes, the time when a survey of ancient and older Tibetan furniture including many photographs such as found in this book is possible is likely passing because many of the finer pieces of Tibetan furniture are already scattered in private homes and museums throughout the world and there is already considerable interest in this field among Hong Kong and other regional dealers. Although the author admits he is "biased toward chests," these serve sufficiently for instruction and examples on the construction, materials, dates, and carvings, illustrations, and other decorative and symbolic features of all Tibetan furniture. "The echoes of contacts with peoples all over Asia can be traced in the designs found on Tibetan furniture." Yet the furniture and its designs are not a simple imitation or composite of forms, designs, etc., of other cultures, but shown the stamp of the "unique identity" of the Tibetan people and culture so that Tibetan furniture is unmistakable. The illustrations and symbols of Tibetan furniture are usually related to the Tantric Buddhism of Tibet. Buckley's book is not only a guide to identification of the desirable antique Tibetan furniture, but it also relates the historical and cultural context of the furniture. The author is a recognized expert on antiques and collecting currently living in Beijing.

FINALLY! A BOOK THAT REALLY EXPLAINS BOWL TURNING

For anyone seeking puidance on bowl turning, this is the book for you. The problem for most wookworkers is that we work along. We need the advantage of a master craftsman and good teacher to set us on the right path. In that respect, this book is a treasure. It will start anyone off soundly, so that they wil be able to take advantage of the excitement that comes from creating something of value out of a piece of wood. The color photographs are clear, sharp and upclose guides that go along with a well written text so that even a beginner can get it right the first time.

I am wanting to get into wood turning and while at the used bookstore last week I found and bought a copy of this book. After spending the weekend looking over it, my buying a lathe and making woodchips is quickly approaching.

About the only thing I really knew about turning wood was what I saw Norm do on TNYW and from reading a few magazine articles. That ain't a lot of information. Mr. Conover does a fantastic job at presenting all the main aspects for making a bowl and even I, a lowly guy who has not even bought a lathe yet, feel like I can do this stuff and do a decent job of it.

This is a terrific book and the information in it is going to be put to very good use.

Ernie Conover is a well known figure in the world of woodworking. It is a good book, but I was disappointed in the quality of the material that he chose to use as his examples. Wood with bark running through it, or discolored can be exceptional, but these pieces are simply diseased wood that is not attractive. To sign pieces that are less than stellar is a head knocker. Their are other books where the author has chosen to use some exceptional woods, that nature has invaded, and left a mark of beauty. Bowls with exotic colors running through them, and a natural bark edge, but these are not examples of that.
It is just my opinion, because I know that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, so I should be open minded.
The plus side of the book is that it shares with you some wood turning techniques that are exceptional. A lot can be learned here, so I do overall highly recommend the book. I just have a hard time getting past the attractiveness of the examples used.

What a find! Great history, very informative and the photography is outstanding. Such a wonderful book on the Arts & Craft movement. I would imagine it's a must-read for interior design students.

If you appreciate anything to do with the Arts & Crafts movement, you'll really like this book -- even if you look only at the pictures. It's separated into sections on exteriors and gardens; interiors (architecture); decorative patterns (wallpapers and woven fabric); furniture; softer elements (curtains, rugs, carpets, etc.); finishing touches (ornament, tiles).

Each has plenty of detail: you see the overall effect (the entire wall of wallpaper) and the specific design (a zoom in on the wallpaper's design). Even if you care about only one element (you're into fabric for instance) you'll get plenty out of this book.

William Morris changed people's attitudes towards architecture and interior decoration when Victorian excess was at it's height. I love the use of wood in an Arts and Crafts house. For others who feel this way, this book is a treat. At the back are two useful sections: Where to See Arts and Crafts Homes and a listing of Specialist Supplies for anyone renovating an Arts and Crafts Home.
You might also want to read The William Morris Stained Glass Pattern Book and The Life and Works of William Morris. Take a look also at Craftsman Homes: Architecture and Furnishings of the American Arts and Crafts Movement.

I realize this is what you are looking for, but speaking of looking for; I've been trying to get Nutshell News phone number or address. I paid for my subscription in December (check has been cashed) but never received my subscription. Can you help? Please and Thank you!

the nutshell news is now dollhouse miniatures, they have a website if you search for nutshell news or new name you can find their website and then email them thats how i get a hold of them.

This little book is the icing on the cake for anyone doing a dollhouse or just wanting minis to display with a doll collection. So many nifty tips and tricks to create very real looking items from household junk and odds'n'ends, and do a little recycling at the same time. The crafting tips are all neatly catagorized ,so finding specific things is easy. Most of the tips are very cost effective ,and are a treasure trove for anyone with a mini mansion to furnish and a tight budget. It is worth every bit of its' cost; as someone who has been crafting with junk since childhood, I highly recommend it.

I loved this counting book that combines the French number names (1-10) with French culture in the form of period furnishings. It is simple enough for a child who knows no French to enjoy the book but if someone is available who can also teach the French aspects, then all the better! It is very difficult to find good books that allow multiculturalism to be a part of a math class for elementary students. I use this with my classes for prospective elementary teachers and they love it!

ForeWord magazine calls this book "delightful": "the extravagant Louis XIV is the lesson master that showcases the Getty Museum's fine collection of eighteenth century French furniture...This is a companion to the Los Angeles museum's 1997 preschool alphabet book A is for Artist, which showcased its collection of painted masterpieces. Both are excellent guides to introduce children to the beauty of art while practicing basic skills."

100 Masterpieces is a complete portfolio with pictures and information on virtually all pieces of furniture designed as "chairs" since the early nineteenth century.

It embraces all "masterpieces" of any style, material and shape, presenting each one within its historical framework, and "profiling" it with really interesting details relating to the inspiration/source and the novelty of the idea behind it, the designer's intentions, the functionality, materials as well as interesting specifics on the construction itself.

Íext to each full page colour picture, the item's name, the name of the Designer, Dates (year) of design and production, Manufacturers, and information on material and size, and smaller interesting pictures illustrating the historical text, make it a higly visual guide.

100 Masterpieces is more than a comprehensive directory on the subject. Concrete and well-organized, it is an essential reference for anyone studying, practicing, or just being interested in, interior and furniture design.

100 Masterpieces is a complete portfolio with pictures and information on virtually all pieces of furniture designed as "chairs" since the early nineteenth century.

It embraces all "masterpieces" of any style, material and shape, presenting each one within its historical framework, and "profiling" it with really interesting details relating to the inspiration/source and the novelty of the idea behind it, the designer's intentions, the functionality, materials as well as interesting specifics on the construction itself.

Íext to each full page colour picture, the item's name, the name of the Designer, Dates (year) of design and production, Manufacturers, and information on material and size, and smaller interesting pictures illustrating the historical text, make it a higly visual guide.

100 Masterpieces is more than a comprehensive directory on the subject. Concrete and well-organized, it is an essential reference for anyone studying, practicing, or just being interested in, interior and furniture design.