Masterpieces Of American Furniture 1620 1840

Meant for both connoisseur and amateur, this is the definitive book in its field. During ten years of research, the authors examined furniture from coast to coast, in museums and private collections. American Furniture has a running text along with its identification captions, which places furniture in its social and historical context. In its 100 color pictures and 1300 black-and-white photos, the book frequently presents furniture in the rooms they were made for. There is extensive coverage of the masterpieces from the seventeenth century to the present, many of them newly photographed for this book, but coverage is by no means restricted to these pieces. This is the first book to encompass furniture "away from the mainstream"--Pieces made away from the furniture centers of New York, New England, and Pennsylvania. Thus, there is discussion of the furniture of the Southwest; furniture made in Dutch, Spanish, French, and Norwegian settlements; and furniture made in religious enclaves or as part of social or aesthetic reform movements. Also, line drawings reveal how antique furniture was made--and therefore how to tell a genuine antique from a forgery.--From publisher description.

The Metropolitan Museum's preeminent collection of early colonial furniture is expertly documented in this long-awaited publication. It covers the full spectrum of furniture forms made during the 17th and early 18th centuries--from chairs and other seating to tables, boxes, various types of chests and cupboards, and desks. Each of the 141 objects is thoroughly described with detailed information on provenance, construction, condition, inscriptions, dimensions, and materials. Photographed anew in color for this volume, each piece is explicated in terms of the styles and craftsmanship of the period and is evaluated in light of comparative pieces in public and private collections throughout the country. One appendix contains photographic details of construction and decorative elements, and another has drawings of joints and moldings.

This publication documents The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of early colonial furniture and presents a broad spectrum of furniture forms made in America during the 17th and early 18th centuries, including chairs and other seating, tables, boxes, various types of chests and cupboards, dressing tables, and desks. The volume also includes prime examples of the different modes of ornamentation in fashion during that period. Over 140 objects are thoroughly described, with detailed information given on each one's construction, condition, dimensions, materials, and inscriptions and other marks, as well as provenance and exhibition history. Every object is explained in terms of the styles and craftsmanship of the period and evaluated in light of comparative pieces in public and private collections throughout the country. Also included is one appendix containing photographic details of construction and decorative elements, and another with line drawings explaining furniture terms and showing various types of joints and moldings. This is the first volume in a series of two that is dedicated to American furniture in the Museum. -- Metropolitan Museum of Art website.