In the Craftsman Style (In The Style) [Paperback]

Fine Woodworking (Author), Tim Schreiner (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: In The Style | Publication Date: February 14, 2001

This comprehensive collection brings together the best of Fine Woodworking's articles on the Arts & Crafts style, one of the most enduring movements in American furniture design, with 150 color photos. It includes background on history and style, as well as a wide variety of appealing projects.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (February 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561583987
• ISBN-13: 978-1561583980
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #593,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What it is & isn't, February 12, 2001

By 

Steve, Northern Calif. "steveindavis" (Davis, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Craftsman Style (In The Style) (Paperback)

I'm new to woodworking, so am not qualified to review this book with a woodworker's eye. But I thought it was a good idea to describe what this book has and what it doesn't have, since there's the potential for some people to be misled by its cover and title.

This book is a collection of "arts & crafts furniture"-related articles from writers in Fine Woodworking. These articles are divided into three sections -- only one of which is a "project" section -- and two of which include topics such as design issues and appropriate woodworking techniques. The chapter on ammonia fuming, for example, is the most detailed I've seen in any similar book. Made me want to go out & fume something.

Also scattered throughout these three sections are many beautiful photos of finished pieces, many of which are contemporary, one-off adaptations of the arts & crafts movement. Influences include Gus Stickley, Greene & Greene, etc. The drawback for me is the lack of plans for most of the pieces pictured -- it's just not that kind of book.

The Morris chair on the cover, for example, is not part of the book's "project" section and you won't learn how to make one inside. I had been looking for project plans for this version of the Morris (Stickley's #369, I believe) and was a bit disappointed to find that this book has only some beautiful photos of this one as part of the ammonia discussion.

Experienced furniture makers should find the breadth of design in these pages quite inspiring, I think, and many will also find a wealth of good suggestions for technique. The editors' intent seems to be to arm the reader with a knowledge of techniques and examples of other craftsmen's work in this style, but not necessarily to provide a lot of projects (particularly "authentic" projects) to copy.

Those looking for step-by-step help through a gallery of accessible projects would do well to start elsewhere. This is more of a continuation of Fine Woodworking magazine -- it's written by designers/craftsmean, for designers/craftsmen.

I'm glad it's on my bookshelf; I just felt a little misled by its cover.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Guide to Building Arts & Crafts Style Furniture, January 13, 2002

By 

Vincent E. Vizachero (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Craftsman Style (In The Style) (Paperback)

This is the best introduction to building Arts & Crafts style furniture I have read.

I found it to contain an excellent balance of history, theory, project plans, and inspiration. The articles are well-written, accurate, and thorough. The photos and diagrams are crystal clear and colorful.

The first section (approx. 30 pages) introduces the Arts & Crafts style, highlights the schools of design and the designers (Morris, all the Stickleys, Greene and Greene, etc.), and showcases ways in which the Arts & Crafts heritage can be adapted for modern homes.

The second section (approx. 105 pages) contains diagrams and detailed instructions on the construction of 10 pieces of furniture, plus instructions on making Stickley-style legs and on fuming the pieces with ammonia).

The third section (approx. 20 pages) contains photos and descriptions of several Arts & Crafts-inspired pieces (though not detailed instructions on building them).

This third section seems to have upset other reviewers, either because they didn't like it or didn't expect it in this book. I found this section vitally important to the book's stated goal, which is to help the reader apply to the Arts & Crafts style to designing and building her own furniture.

In my opinion, the difference between successful Arts & Crafts furniture and cheap knock-offs lies in the subtleties of design, proportion, and details. The discussions contained in the third section of this book focus precisely on these elements, walking the reader through the often lengthy decision-making process of the furniture designer. The importance of careful attention to line, function and form are emphasized here. I might not have purchased to book just to get this section, but excluding it (or not reading it) would be a shame.

Overall, I recommend this book to anyone interested in buying or (especially) designing and building Arts & Crafts style furniture.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 20, 2001

By 

Wayne Cease - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Craftsman Style (In The Style) (Paperback)

This book covers the design elements and construction of Arts & Crafts/Craftsman styled furniture, including the design element differences between Stickley, Greene & Greene, etc. It also lightly covers the history.

There are several plans, unfortunately not the one on the cover. And chairs are not something that plans can easily be drawn, even when overall dimensions are given. It doesn't take much to make a chair uncomfortable.

Some more plans covering the gallery items, especially the cover item, would have been nice. But, overall it is a really good book.