White House Collection of American Crafts [Hardcover]

Michael Monroe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1995

This is a survey of the first official White House crafts collection, assembled with encouragement from President and Mrs Clinton, and features the work of more than 70 of America's leading craft artists. The objects, made of glass, ceramic, metal, wood and fibre, are presented as a celebration of American craftspeople, and a tribute to the country's long-standing craft heritage. The book has been published to coincide with an exhibition opening in April 1995 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art, and illustrates the pieces in colour, some shown in the private quarters and public spaces of the White House, and accompanied by brief individual commentaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Just as some people dismiss antiques and collectibles as secondhand recyclables, many others perceive American crafts as newfangled objects. But a thing of beauty, regardless of origin, is a joy forever, and preserved for generations to come in this paean to U.S. artisans represented in the White House Collection of American Crafts. Seventy-seven practitioners in glass, metal, ceramic, fiber, and wood were asked to contribute a piece or two illustrative of their repertoire. Informative essays by Monroe, Barbaralee Diamonstein, and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton set the stage for a dazzling array of color photographs showcasing 72 items, from a clock and teapots to a fabric sculpture ("man in lion costume" ) and quilts. For each object, Monroe provides a brief description of the artist's intent as well as of the piece's medium, dimensions, etc. Barbara Jacobs

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (April 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810940353
• ISBN-13: 978-0810940352
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)