American Furniture: Understanding Styles, Construction, and Quality [Hardcover]

John T. Kirk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

What style is it? How is it put together? Is it real or is it a fake? How can I make it look its best without destroying its value? A savvy authority answers these and many other questions about when, where, how, and even why a piece of furniture was made. And by juxtaposing genuine works with copies, he shows how to judge the quality and authenticity of antiques to distinguish a fake from the real thing.

Covering three centuries of changing styles, this handsome and useful volume details each period's essential traits, offering practical guidance to novice and seasoned collectors alike. The book moves sequentially through major design periods, including the popular William and Mary and Queen Anne styles, Rococo and Chippendale, Federal, Shaker, Modern, and Revival. Illustrations of silverwork and paintings set the furniture in context, and comparisons with European pieces point out the unique aspects of American design.

JOHN T. KIRK, Emeritus Professor of Art History, Boston University, and for many years a principal lecturer for the American Arts Course at Sotheby's, New York, has held museum curatorial positions at Yale University, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Rhode Island Historical Society. His various awards and grants include a Guggenheim Fellowship, which led to his book The Shaker World: Art, Life, Belief. He lives in Seattle.

251 illustrations, 57 in full color, 7 line drawings, 81/2 x 111/2"

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his latest work, craftsman, historian, educator, and author Kirk demystifies the complexities of identifying notable styles, trends, and techniques of American furniture. Organized by period and style, the text covers more than three centuries of the evolutionary development of furniture from the 17th century to the present, focusing on the regional movements and variations found in certain pieces. Throughout, he emphasizes both the aesthetic beauty and inherent functional quality of handcrafted furniture. Assisted by a multitude of illustrations, including both photographs and line drawings, Kirk enables the reader to distinguish European pieces from those created in the United States and to identify authentic pieces vs. fakes. This informative and instructive work can serve as a guide for enthusiasts, collectors, and students of various levels and will be a welcome addition to any library.DStephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Libs., Johnson City
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 236 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1ST edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810942208
• ISBN-13: 978-0810942202
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,241,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars comment on content, April 25, 2002

By 

W. Eberhart (Crosby, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Furniture: Understanding Styles, Construction, and Quality (Hardcover)

I do not have the knowledge of 17th/18th century museum quality furniture to properly rate this book. I just want to comment on the very misleading assurtion that this book covers furniture styles up to the present - unless you consider one 1961 furniture company ad and a photo of a Stickley bookcase as proper coverage of 20th century american furniture.