Synopses & Reviews
Easy-to-use and brimming with color photographs, Chests, Cupboards, Desks & Other Pieces is an indispensable guidebook for novice and experienced collectors alike. Featuring 334 representative examples-from Colonial, Chippendale and Victorian Revival pieces-this volume covers the entire range of American case furniture as well as other household items such as magazine racks, umbrella stands, mirrors, and tea carts.
Expertly researched, extensive captions describe the object, its materials and dimensions, where and when it was manufactured, background information on the maker, the genre of the piece, and tips for collectors. Chests, Cupboards, Desks & Other Pieces also features a substantial reference section including, among other things, a checklist for identifying styles, a guide to furniture construction, and an extensive glossary, all illustrated with detailed line drawings. In addition, hints for buying at auction and an up-to-date price guide complete this invaluable volume.
Chests, Cupboards, Desks and Other Pieces is the companion volume to Tables, Chairs, Sofas, and Beds. Together, they cover the entire range of American furniture and are must-have reference books for anyone interested in antique furniture.
Synopsis
The history, price range, manufacturer background accompanied by a photograph of each piece of furniture allows both first-time collectors and experienced connoisseurs to identify and appraise American antique tables, chairs, sofas and beds whether they have been found in the basement, at a garage sale, consignment shop or flea market.
From Shaker to Mission to mid-century Modern, these antiques from the seventeenth century to the 1950s -- 347 in all -- are described by an in-depth text. An index, upholstery guide and list of public collections help readers evaluate antiques like pros.
Synopsis
The best, most convenient portable guides I have ever seen - a boon for he general collector. --Art & Antiques
"The best guides on the market." --Antiques and The Arts Weekly
Showcasing all types of chairs, tables, sofas, and beds made in America from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth century, AMERICAN FURNITURE contains a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in collecting furniture. In all, 347 examples are featured in full-color photographs, accompanied by extended captions detailing the maker, materials, year of manufacture, and hints for collectors such as scarcity of the piece, demand, conditions, and points to check before buying. With an extensive reference section including an up-to-date price guide, AMERICAN FURNITURE is an indispensable guidebook for novice and experienced collectors alike.
Synopsis
Brimming with photographs and invaluable information, AMERICAN FURNITURE is an indispensable guidebook for novice and experienced collectors of all types of chairs, tables, sofas, and beds. Showcasing 347 representative examples - from Colonial Revival, Chippendale and Federal pieces to Shaker, Mission and modern pieces - this volume covers the entire range of American Furniture manufactured from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth century.
Expertly researched, this handy guide features a full-color photograph of each piece accompanied by an extensive caption describing the object, the materials and dimensions, where and when it was manufactured, background information on the maker, the genre of the piece, and tips for collectors.
Extensively detailed, portable, and easy to use, AMERICAN FURNITURE: TABLES, CHAIRS, SOFAS & BEDS also features an extensive reference section that includes a checklist of identifying styles, an upholstery guide, and a glossary, all illustrated with line drawings. In addition, hints for buying at auction and an up-to-date price guide are also included.
Synopsis
This handy, authoritative guide contains over 300 premier examples of American case furniture-chests, cupboards, and desks-built from the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth. From Federal, Chippendale and Empire styles to country, Mission and mid-century modern, this splendid array of furniture has been photographed, appraised, and categorized specifically for the collector. Each photograph is accompanied by an extensive caption that examines the maker, year of manufacture, materials of the piece, and hints for collectors such as the scarcity of the piece, demand, condition, and points to check before buying. An up-to-date price guide rounds out this indispensable guidebook.
Synopsis
The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Furniture is an indispensable reference and collecting tool for novice and experienced collectors alike. Expertly researched, each of the 334 representative examples of chests, cupboards, desks, racks, stands and other pieces-from Federal to Colonial Revival to Mission to modern-are photographed in full color and accompanied by an authoritative description of the variations, materials, origin, and (if known) maker. Price listings and tips help both casual and serious collectors find great buys and identify valuable pieces. An extensive reference section includes a checklist for identifying styles, a discussion on construction and types of woods, an illustrated glossary, a list of public collections, tips for buying at auction and much, much more.
Description
1347851 Includes bibliographical references (pp. 450-452) and index.
About the Author
William C. Ketchum, Jr. has worked as a guest curator at the Museum of American Folk Art and a consultant to major auction houses. He is the author of more than a dozen books on American antiques, including The Antique Hunter's Guide to American Pottery and Porcelain.Elizabeth von Habsburg is the president of Masterson-Gurr-Johns, Inc., an appraisal and fine arts consulting firm with offices in New York and London. Marvin D. Schwartz is an expert in decorative arts and has worked with museums around the country, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is the author of many articles and books, including American Furniture of the Colonial Period.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction
Preface 8
A Simple Way to Identify Furniture 9
American Furniture Styles 10
Parts of Furniture 26
Hardware 30
How to Use This Guide 34
Information-at-a-Glance 35
Visual Key 36
Furniture
Dry Sinks, Washstands, and Commodes 1-18
Servers, Serving Tables, and Sideboards 19-38
Desks and Low Secretaries 39-76
Secretaries and Tall Desks 77-90
Cupboards, Cabinets, and Other Large Storage Pieces 91-132
Highboys and Tall Chests of Drawers 133-148
Lowboys, Dressing Tables, Dressers, and Shaving Stands 149-178
Mirrors 179-202
Chests of Drawers 203-230
Chests and Blanket Chests 231-252
Small Storage Units 253-272
Miscellaneous Furnishings 273-326
Fire Screens 327-334
Collecting Tools
Checklist for Identifying Styles 404
List of Plates by Style 408
Construction and Connoisseurship 411
General Types of Woods 421
Woods by Stylistic Periods 423
Glossary 424
Bibliography 442
Antiques Publications 447
Public Collections 448
Where to Buy Antique Furniture 450
Buying at Auction 451
Price Guide 453
Picture Credits 466
Index 469