Furniture and Interiors of the 1960s [Hardcover]

Anne Bony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2004

Think plastic. Think inflatable PVC chairs and TV tables. It must be the 1960s, when radical furniture designs "popped" next to new art, traditional designs were recast with new materials, and the results were often mixed in one room. One of the boldest decades of design in the twentieth century, this a decade of contradictions in styles that only Anne Bony could capture all in one book. Furniture and Interiors of the 1960s pays homage to the vibrancy and buoyant energy of the decade's design trends and influences in 300 key designs that attract enormous interest and command unprecedented prices today.

For the first time, America was leading a design revolution with Wendell Castle's Molar and Castle chairs, Estelle Lavergne's lucite furniture and the experiments of Ray and Charles Eames. Warren Planter, Hans Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Alexander Girard, and Robert Propst were world-ranked designers who pioneered new directions in furnishings and accessories that appeared in trendy homes and offices in Europe and Asia.

This book is a new and well-timed resource for any 1960s enthusiast who seeks to recreate this innovative, and once again extremely cool look in their own retro home.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anne Bony is the author of a widely acclaimed series of books that look at key features of world design and culture by decade, from the 1930s to the 1990s.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Flammarion; English-language Ed edition (May 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2080304461
• ISBN-13: 978-2080304469
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 1.1 x 12.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have., July 14, 2004

By 

Manon Kavesky (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Furniture and Interiors of the 1960s (Hardcover)

During the 1960's there was an explosion in the creation of furnishings for the mass market especially items made from plastic. Anti-materialist youth consumers desired items that were expendable, impermanent, and fun. Furniture and Interiors of the 1960's is a colorful and exciting look at the creative endeavors of designers during this time.

Not a punch list of must have pieces needed to attain a "look", Furniture and Interiors of the 1960's puts chairs, lighting fixtures, tables into historical context and fleshes them out with the ideas that surrounded their creation. The biggest names are included: Ray and Charles Eames, Joe Colombo, Verner Panton, and David Hicks. Happily, there is also a significant emphasis on lesser-known designers and their products from France, Italy, and Japan.

Furniture and Interiors features more than 300 images, many in color, including: original photos, magazine layouts, catalogs, advertisements as well as contemporary photographs. The text is thoughtful, very informative and a pleasure to read. It also features a thorough index, well-identified photos, interesting captions, and designer bios.

Time has passed and many throwaway items have attained the highest regard, and are now on display in major museums and sought after by collectors. This book too will withstand the test of time and I strongly recommend it and the other volumes available in this series.