Irish Country Furniture, 1700-1950 (Paperback)

by Ms. Claudia Kinmonth (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This splendid book explores a wholly different furniture landscape, that of the rural population... [It] bristles with sharp insights into the social history of furniture." Christopher Gilbert, Country Life "This is a welcome addition to the small collection of works on Irish material folk culture. It is beautifully illustrated and will be of interest not just to folklorists but also to anyone who has an interest in history or antiques." Timothy P. O'Neill, Irish Arts Review [Kinmonth's] is a sympathetic and deeply committed account of a fast-disappearing victim of contemporary Irish culture to which she does full and fitting justice." Nicola Gordon Bowe, Journal of Design History "Kinmonth's champion study of Irish vernacular furniture is strong on social history and literary allusion, over and above its engagement with craftsmanship and aesthetics... A pioneering book,... full of riveting details." Patricia Craig, Times Literary Supplement "Not only an informative history and gazetteer of a subject we all know about and may not adequately appreciate, but thanks to the energy of the author, it does convey a very vivid sense of how life was lived in rural Ireland." Milo Drummond, Irish Sunday Independent"

Product Description
This book-the first study of vernacular furniture in Ireland-investigates the origins and distribution of the common furniture of the Irish people. A fascinating and lavishly illustrated exploration of a material culture that is fast disappearing, the book makes a significant contribution not only to the history of furniture but also to Ireland`s cultural history.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 259 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (July 26, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300063962
• ISBN-13: 978-0300063967
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,111,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the definitive reference book of Irish Furniture., October 21, 1999

By	Anthea Conlon (Bethesda, Maryland) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be a wonderful resource detailing Irish Furniture and it's place in the cultural history of Ireland. There are numerous photographs which are very helpful in realizing the variety of styles within a given category of furniture.

4.0 out of 5 stars Academic but useful- Irish Country life as well, April 29, 2008

By	J. A. Cuming "Anthony Cuming" (Roscommon, Eire) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This fat book not only is encyclopedic in its range, but covers the settings that beds,chairs, dressers were created for and were used in.
Sadly it reflects a vanishing world, where hand crafted domestic furniture was to be found in most country homes. The march of the 'South Fork' home and Hacienda style bungalow has meant much of what is recorded here is vanishing fast.