Customer Reviews

Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My sister has just bought a 1950's ranch home with some original features. I was hoping this book would help celebrate the house and give some ideas as to decor. Instead, it is a good overview of the furniture designers who influenced the furniture of the time. It's nice, but not what I was looking for, which was the physical living space/furnishings of the middle class of the 50's.

Excellent overview of 'modern' interiors- lighting, furniture, accessories; often shown in delightful period modern room settings. A great coffee table book, yet a valued reference also. Wonderful composition of color and b&w photos: book "flows" well w/ non-tedious text. Guaranteed appreciation of mid-century modern by the indifferent after thumbing through this book. One of my top three most favorites that I never tire of and return to often, (and I'm a gearhead!). A can't-go-wrong choice for anyone with even a small interest in design or collecting.

I have owned this book since it was originally published in hardcover in 1984. I have referred to it many, many times. Books with beautiful photographs on the subject of 1950's furniture are scarce, indeed, and I was pleased to see this book reemerge in softcover. I wish more books of this caliber on the subject existed. I highly recommend it.

This is a wonderful coffee table book, a joy to browse through. It is profusely illustrated and contains a wealth of information.
If you like modern design I also suggest to visit the wonderful online archive about George Nelson at WWW.GEORGENELSON.ORG and also the museum archive from Verner Panton at WWW.VERNERPANTON.COM

I too have owned this book for a number of years, and it has remained my favorite. If anyone has an interest in furniture, architecture, 50's style or just has great taste, you will love owning this book. Also would make a great gift.

If you are looking for a book on Mid Century Chairs, look no further. I however was searching for a book on furniture not exclusive of chairs. The book is well organized and informative, but it was not what I was looking for.

Not that it ever really went away, but it appears that the GEN-X crowd is interesting in filling their lofts, condos, etc. with a touch of class and history. Those in the design know have always favored the elements of design that existed in the 50's and 60's, like they say good design is truly timeless. It would have been nice to see more coverage on DUNBAR and Edward Wormley.

This is a great book - buy it!

Excellent text as well as photos. It has been a collector's reference for me for years now.
Highly recommended.

This book has a lot of favorable reviews here and desevedly so. It's an oldy but a goody. How many
newer publications have such a neat combination of text and images all done in large format? But then
again I'm biased toward organic 50s design. In many ways '47 to 60 was the design high point in the
20th Century.

This was the first book I got on modern design, recommended to me by a vintage dealer, and it's still one I refer back to regularly. There are images of many of the classics of the period, many presented in contemporary room arrangements showing how they can "work" in a real setting. I now have most of my house furnished with vintage pieces, and I have to say that this book has a lot to do with it.