Furniture Books

I bought this as a gift for my son and daughter-in-law as they live in a Cliff May that they need to update. They need to make changes to the kitchen but want to maintain the integrity of the design. They have both told me that this is a wonderful book and it has given them many good ideas. So, based on their recommendations, I would have to rate this highly. I am looking forward to a visit with them so I can actually see the book in person!!

Deborah Lambert is the Senior Academic Consultant for Christie's Education in London, England.

There are many books on the history of furniture and its styles; there are many important documents that provide information about furniture makers and the periods in which they lived. But however valuable these may be, to me they only tell part of the story. the other part is told by the pieces of furniture themselves. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity, over the last 20 years, to listen to David Hawkins talking about antique furniture and watching him work. Most of what I understand about how period furniture was made I have learnt this way, and questioning and sometimes arguing a point. There is no doubt that David is a masterly restorer, but he is much more than that. One of the most remarkable things about this book is that it is like having David in the room with us. He works and talks, as it were, in front of us making us see, making us think, and telling anecdotes that prove a point or enhance knowledge. He claims there have been many people with similar skills, but despite his protestations I find this quite hard to believe. He mixes practical common sense, and sound commercialism, with an innnate feeling for what is right, he probes and questions, showing all the time a deep respect fot those from whom he learnt his trade, and for those that taught them, and the traditions of the workshop. But perhaps more than anything, he is passionate about it all. The practises and conventions of the workshop that were responsible for the production of all the furniture we now collect, the tradition to which David belongs, no longer exist. By sharing his life time's experience and knowledge he has helped capture it for us and for the future generations. It will I am sure, change the way many of us look at and think about period furniture by opening our eyes, sometimes to the obvious. With or without any practical knowledge, anyone with a serious interest in antique furniture will find this book fascinating.

5th August 1999

Coca-Cola bean bags are instantly recognizable by their bottle of Coke. But while Polar Bears are obvious, it's harder to distinguish Jaguars from Cheetahs. Luckily, this handsome book contains large, colorful photographs and pertinent details to help a collector manage a wide variety of Coca-Cola bean bags critters. And, the comprehensive list of all Coca-Cola bean bags in Appendix A is a very useful feature to track what's in your collection.

The chapter on tags is especially helpful, with highly readable photos of the in's and out's of the authentic tags. It's too bad the country flags were not similarly illustrated for the International sets so we could learn more about the country each critter came from. Still, it's a great book to show kids what different animals look like in all the countries where Coca-Cola is sold.

This book is more than just veneer. It has the look and feel of a coffee table book. There are glossy pictures and plenty of diagrams. However after the shock and awe, you will find this a great overview of many wood working disciplines. This book has information on everything from the history and makeup of various woods to tools used in various types of wood working.

My interest is mostly in turning and turning tools. There a tab in the margin of the book page that leads you to similar information on the subject. This is the in print version of a Hyper Link.

After absorbing this book you will have a better feel for what how you want to proceed. Then the book is still useful for a reference. If you do not actually indulge, at lease you can hold an intelligent conversation.

I have a copy in front of me, and it's lacking the publishers cover copy, so here's what's on the back cover.

"A complete and comprehensive guide to the history of furniture, focusing on the four major furniture groups - chairs, tables, sofas, and desks.

Looks in detail at the period between 1600 and the modern day, with each century analyzed in turn.

Includes a lof at furniture created in the pre-1600 period, from Tutankhamun's ornate state throne to the much simpler furniture created in the 1500s

Includes hundreds of full-color pictures"

That's from the back of the book. Looks like an interesting study of what we have done for furniture, but I'm a futurist and more interested in what will be the furniture after the Singularity.

Unbeliveable!!
Wealth of information contained in this book is beyond the scope of this page!

Ultimate bed building handbook by which others SHOULD be judged!

Just about every bed (futon, waterbeds, Bunk, cribs & childrens beds, Custom beds, Even a bed of nails!)are covered in this 8" x 5" handbook.

If that is not enough, DETAILED bed illumination (lighting) is also covered!!!

If it's not in here, this book will direct your custom desires!

Try & find a bed construction manual this detailed & consise!

Buy it from Amazon and their sellers at a nice price!!

I heartily recommend this book as your first stop before embarking into the world of furniture restoration. The book assumes that the reader has no prior experience with antique furniture, and the first chapter is devoted exclusively to the history of the prevailing styles encountered during specific reigns/periods. This introduction to the history of furniture is too cursory to be of any practical value, and the scope of the subject is far too large to be adequately addressed in a single chapter.

Where this book shines, however, is in its spirit of independence. It is old school restoration at its finest, and the emphasis is focused exclusively on the use of old world techniques and materials. The thought of sprayed lacquer and auto body filler is anathema to this author, and examples of 20th century methods and materials are conspicuous by their absence.

The spirit of independence can be found in the plethora of homemade tools suggested throughout the book. I was first introduced to the Scratch Stock in another excellent book devoted to the antique furniture restoration called "Discovering and Restoring Antique Furniture" by Michael Bennett. The Scratch Stock is one of several examples of tools presented in this book that are easily made, and all-but indispensable in the workshop. The Scratch Stock takes the place of the router in modern parlance, and the degree of cutting precision, ease of use, and extremely small fabricating cost makes the scratch stock the tool of choice over the clumsy and expensive router. Instead of searching for ages for a router bit that will make a cut identical to the curve found on a broken piece of cockbeading, a scratch stock can be custom fabricated to deal with any curve encountered however elaborate.

A large portion of the book is dedicated to wood identification, and the accompanying pictures show the wood unadorned, and with a coat of shellac. In order to affect accurate repairs, it is imperative that the would-be restorer have an encyclopedic knowledge of wood and how it finishes. Again, the book emphasizes old world finishing techniques using linseed oil as a colorant, and shellac as the finish of choice.

The benefit of old world methods and techniques, apart from the obvious need to maintain the historical accuracy of your piece, is in their reversibility. Shellac is a fragile finish, but repairs are simplicity itself. Hide glue is not as strong as its modern equivalent, but you'll develop a whole new appreciation for the stuff if you ever bugger-up a veneer repair using contact cement.

Having been exposed to both worlds, I find the old methods infinitely preferable; the old methods transform wooden furniture into a work of art. The modern world of poisonous spray finishes and noxious adhesives is not conducive to the longevity of your person, or your piece of antique furniture.

This book has lots of great decorating techniques and different ideas for different home styles. Beautiful pictures!!:)

My husband got this book from the library and liked it so much that he had me order him his own copy.

He is at an intermediate level of woodworking and liked how they have pics for many of the steps of the projects featured. I doubt he'll make any of the projects shown as they are, but he can use the techniques shown to come up with his own furniture.

The author gives a thourough treatment of the art of spindle turning. Hugh O'Neil, the author, in England, covers important material about grain, tool basics, 7 basic spindle cuts, lathe equipment, and much more. He covers theory and practices in spindle turning. I was impressed with the book because it answered many of my questions as I am a beginning wood turner.