Fellow LJ's,
I was having a discussion with a fellow woodworker the other day who is working with his boss (read:wife) to design a new coffee table for their living room. In the discussion, we were going over different traditional styles of design: arts & crafts, mid-century modern, shaker, etc.. I was trying to explain some of the notable characteristics of each type and started to realize that it was fairly difficult for me to put into words. Looking at a piece and identifying the style (or styles) it is derived from kind of just comes as second nature… but, in trying to explain it to another human being, I am coming to the somewhat uncomfortable realization that I don't know as much as I thought I did.
Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for a book that covers the differences in the popular traditional furniture design styles? I have a few on Arts & Crafts furniture specifically, but was more looking at a comparison of different styles (kinda like the much beloved Schwarz book on bench designs).
I'd settle for a few good books that cover a specific individual style in depth, but I am lazy and looking to maximize effectiveness.
EDIT: Adding a list of recommended books from all you fine folks organized by "Style"
Arts & Crafts:
- Bob Lang - Great Book of Shop Drawings
Shaker:
- Ejner Handberg - Measured Drawings Of Shaker Furniture Vol. 1-3
- John Kassay - The Book Of Shaker Furniture
Greene & Greene
- Darrell Peart - Greene & Greene Design Elements
Varioius:
- Judith Miller - Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary
- Ernest Joyce - Encyclopedia of Furniture Making
- Ernest Joyce - The Technique of Furniture Making
- Frank Gottshal - Various
General Woodworking References:
- Bruce Hoadley - Understanding Wood
I was having a discussion with a fellow woodworker the other day who is working with his boss (read:wife) to design a new coffee table for their living room. In the discussion, we were going over different traditional styles of design: arts & crafts, mid-century modern, shaker, etc.. I was trying to explain some of the notable characteristics of each type and started to realize that it was fairly difficult for me to put into words. Looking at a piece and identifying the style (or styles) it is derived from kind of just comes as second nature… but, in trying to explain it to another human being, I am coming to the somewhat uncomfortable realization that I don't know as much as I thought I did.
Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for a book that covers the differences in the popular traditional furniture design styles? I have a few on Arts & Crafts furniture specifically, but was more looking at a comparison of different styles (kinda like the much beloved Schwarz book on bench designs).
I'd settle for a few good books that cover a specific individual style in depth, but I am lazy and looking to maximize effectiveness.
EDIT: Adding a list of recommended books from all you fine folks organized by "Style"
Arts & Crafts:
- Bob Lang - Great Book of Shop Drawings
Shaker:
- Ejner Handberg - Measured Drawings Of Shaker Furniture Vol. 1-3
- John Kassay - The Book Of Shaker Furniture
Greene & Greene
- Darrell Peart - Greene & Greene Design Elements
Varioius:
- Judith Miller - Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary
- Ernest Joyce - Encyclopedia of Furniture Making
- Ernest Joyce - The Technique of Furniture Making
- Frank Gottshal - Various
General Woodworking References:
- Bruce Hoadley - Understanding Wood