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Books > Arts & Architecture > Art forms, treatments & subjects > Decorative arts & crafts > General
The materials included in this bibliography focus on the craftsmen
responsible for the creation of fine furniture. Works that give
biographical information about furniture craftsmen and discuss the
stylistic and aesthetic development of their art; works that
examine the sociological, political, economic and environmental
conditions within which furniture craftsmen worked, as well as
furniture factories and furniture retail businesses themselves; and
general works useful in the study of American furniture are cited.
The bibliography consists of four main sections, the first of which
deals with the life and work of individual furniture makers and
designers. The second section focuses on groups of furniture
craftsmen. Works of a general nature that contribute to the study
of American furniture are found in section three. The fourth
section contains furniture trade catalogs published by
manufacturers and wholesalers for salesmen and retail stores. A
two-part appendix lists furniture trade periodicals published
mainly during the years 1880-1930, and manuscript repositories
containing materials relevant to furniture. Three
indexes--craftsman, author-title, and subject complete the volume.
The wealth of surface pattern and three-dimensional ornamentation
in the many objects that enrich our lives is testament to the
inventiveness of designers and craftspeople around the globe and
throughout history. This richly illustrated, easy-to-navigate
sourcebook presents more than 1,000 historic and contemporary
examples of pattern and ornamentation from around the world, each
one succinctly identified and explained. Arranged thematically, it
is unique among pattern books, as it includes examples not only of
surface pattern but also of three-dimensional ornamentation and
embellishment. Two-dimensional pattern is ubiquitous, no matter
what the age of an object or where it was created. From Japanese
kimono and William Morris fabrics to Chinese porcelain and
contemporary furniture, such works reveal humanity's unceasing
desire to combine pattern with design. Just as prevalent are
examples of three-dimensional embellishments that go far beyond the
requirements of their practical use: an acrylic handbag has a
carved motif of insects and wildflowers, a cobalt-blue pottery ewer
has a dragon's-head spout and an early 19th-century fruit plate is
shaped like a seashell. Designers working today are as fascinated
and inspired by pattern and ornament as they have always been. This
expertly compiled selection will appeal to designers, artists,
illustrators and other creatives from all disciplines as well as
anyone interested in visual and material culture. With 1146
illustrations in colour
In this compelling book Nigel Saul opens up the world of medieval gentry families, using the magnificent brasses and monuments of the Cobham family as a window on to the social and religious culture of the middle ages.
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