Furniture 2000: Modern Classics and New Designs in Production (Schiffer Design Book)

Book Description

Many of the great modern classic furniture designs of the twentieth century are still in production and available to the public in America and abroad. There are also many recent designs destined to become classics, because they share many of the same qualities of modern furniture already in museum collections and sought after by collectors. This volume, with 600 color photographs and detailed captions of a representative sample of the best modern furniture available, is the first source book to focus only on designs that are currently in production, and to present them in full color. It is both a history of modern design and an international shopping catalog. The indexes of 250 designers and companies and the list of sources will enable the reader to locate each item for purchase or for additional information. This book will serve as an indispensable and handy reference for decorators, interior designers, architects, and collectors, plus acquaint the general public with extraordinary designs that are generally only known to the trade.

Average customer rating:

Buy it for the pictures
A Real Eye Opener
Strong on Art , Light on Craft
A Tansu Tribute
The cover alone should be enough to interest you

Japanese Cabinetry
David Jackson , and Dane Owen
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith, Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Tansu: Traditional Japanese Cabinetry
Traditional Japanese Furniture
The Complete Japanese Joinery
Collecting Japanese Antiques
Making Japanese-Style Lamps and Lanterns

ASIN: 1586851136

Book Description

Originating from Japan's Edo period (1615-1867), tansu refers mostly to wooden cabinets, boxes and chests. The gifted creators of this art were deservedly esteemed by Japanese society, leaving a rich and influential legacy. Their work was almost anonymous, though, and the history has remained in the shadows-until now. Japanese Cabinetry: The Art and Craft of Tansu is the first truly definitive volume on tansu, giving voice to the long-overlooked craftsmen and overdue respect for the craft itself. This book provides a broad representation of cabinetry designs along with contextual history, gleaning insights from the cabinetry itself. From trunks with wheels to shipboard safes, from kitchen cupboards to clothing chests, tansu were the receptacles of an age of economic expansion. Japanese Cabinetry chronicles not only the physical characteristics and details of tansu, but also the historical eras and societal factors that influenced the craft. David Jackson has been buying, collecting, and conserving tansu since 1990. He lives in Sante Fe. Dane Owen founded Shibui, a gallery of Japanese antique furnishings. Mr. Owen is a frequent visitor to Japan, searching for objects for his customers and his private collections. He lives in Sante Fe.

Customer Reviews:

Buy it for the pictures.......2007-03-22

This is one of the very few books with an extensive collection of tansu photos. The cabinets are well categorized by their functions. Also very nice are the enlarged photos of tansu hardwares. I find the text to be somewhat poorly written and organized, and the authors' knowledge on tansu joinery/construction lacking. The hand-colored Japanese vintage photographs are also a little distracting. If you're looking for some nice tansu pictures though, this book will probably serve well.

A Real Eye Opener.......2005-11-08

I have only been selling Japanese Antiques for a short time and I found this book is fantastic to show potential tansu customers. It has also helped us (Japanache dot com dot au) with selection when on buying trips to Japan and restoration once back in Australia.
Thanks David & Dane

Strong on Art , Light on Craft.......2005-07-07

I am biased; I am a woodworker. This is actually a terrific book offering a huge collection of beautiful photos, and an extensive commentary about the role of Tansu in Japanese lifestyle and culture. However the craft of making Tansu was not well represented. From the title I would have expected more on tools, techniques and joinery.

A Tansu Tribute.......2004-08-17

If you are fascinated by the creation of handmade Japanese cabinetry, this is one of the few books you can find on the subject because for some reason, the cabinetry of Japan is one of the least recorded aspects of Japan's woodworking history. Throughout this guide, you will find lush photographs of opaque and transparent lacquered chests, their hand-forged iron handles and the tools of the trade. I especially enjoyed the hand-colored photos of family life, rice fields and the textile sellers. Not only do you get to glimpse this magical world of Zen temples and street merchants selling sweet rice drinks, you will be able to view page after page of stunning merchant chests, bedding chests, clothing chests and mizuya-dansu (kitchen cupboards).

I've always been intrigued by chests filled with magical little drawers in which anything could be stored. This book has made me aware of the wide variety of chests that can be purchased and most of the pages are filled with pictures and descriptions so you can know what to look for online. Before finding this particular book, I was at a loss for what to look for. Now I have the names of items like the sea chest (funa-dansu) and realize the difference in the woods used. I think the cho-dansu made of keyaki with the distinctive iron fittings on page 111 is just stunning. The cho-bako funa-dansu (ship chest) is also very interesting as it features tortoise, a symbol of prosperity and longevity.

The detailed descriptions of the lockplates are presented with photographs. If you are a student of this craft (or looking for pictures of things like a cherry blossom motif), the pages on the components of a tansu will encourage you to explore all the essential details in your own selections. They also explain how all the L braces and iron-edge strapping are not only decorative, but highly functional.

As a person who has refinished a desk upon which I am typing, my appreciation for furniture went through an entire renewal process while reading "Japanese Cabinetry."

Contents:

The Realm of Tansu: An Introduction
Tansu and Allied Trades
The Craft of Tansu
Tansu for Mercantile Use
Tansu for Household Use
Tansu for Personal Use
Living with Tansu
Collecting and Restoring Tansu

Not only does this book present early mercantile tansu designs, there are pictures of contemporary desks and even a section about books, magazines and catalogues for further research. The index, glossary of terms and chronological list of exhibitions make this book very easy to read and understand. There are also ideas for how to set up your tansu collection in your bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and kitchen. You might even want to put a kitchen chest (mizuya) in your living room. This book also features entry tables, entertainment centers, coffee tables and bookcases and so much more.

Back to dreaming of owning the cho-dansu from the late Edo period (1615-1868). Not only can you view items from this period, you can read about the history and lifestyle of the people living in this era. This book would make a perfect gift for anyone who has lived in Japan or is interested in Japanese history. It would also be an amazing gift for anyone interested in Japanese movies. I have often wondered about various items and this book has provided more information than I could have ever dreamed about finding.

A note about the authors: David Jackson has been collecting tansu since 1990 and has studied sculpture and woodworking. He developed his passion for Japanese woodwork and then was involved with one of the first exhibitions of tansu in the United States. Dane Owen founded a gallery of Japanese antique furnishings and is also a frequent visitor to Japan. He can be found searching for objects for his customers and his own private collections. Together they have written the ultimate book on the Japanese craft of tansu. If you love tansu, your heart is going to beat a little faster while reading Japanese Cabinetry. I am beyond appreciative of David and Dane's knowledge of this subject. If you own one book on tansu, this would be an excellent choice.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

The cover alone should be enough to interest you.......2003-02-17

Not even sure where to begin other than to say that as mentioned above, the cover alone should be plenty to strike your interest. As a true lover and collector of Japanese art, this book goes above and beyond to show just exactly why it could be labeled as a "coffee table book". It has been on mine for weeks now. It is such a great sourcebook for Japanese cabinetry/tansu and goes even further to show pieces actually used for daily use in people's homes. The size of the book and the photography are SO worth the price. It truly is a fabulous book. I strongly recommend it. Whether you are an obsessed collector of Japanese art or not, it is definitely a great book to have in your collection.

Average customer rating:

Should have been better
Philadelphia Empire Furniture

Philadelphia Empire Furniture
Allison Boor , Christopher Boor , John William Boor , Jonathan Boor , and Peter Boor
Manufacturer: Boor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

American Furniture 2006 (American Furniture)
New York Furniture: The Federal Period, 1788-1825
Classical Norfolk Furniture: 1810 - 1840
American Federal Furniture and Decorative Arts From the Watson Collection
American Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: I. Early Colonial Period: The Seventeenth-Century and William and Mary Styles (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

ASIN: 0977781607

Book Description

This volume looks closely for the first time at Philadelphia Empire furniture and the development of decorative arts in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1840. The authors explore Neo-Classicism, contemporary history of Philadelphia, the emergence of Greek-Revival architecture, and the cabinetmakers of Philadelphia Empire furniture. The furniture illustrated in this comprehensive catalogue comes from various sources, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Atheneum of Philadelphia, the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The White House Historical Association, and from many private collections.

At the beginning of the 19th century Greek-inspired architecture gained popularity in Philadelphia and the city became known for its classically-inspired monumental buildings. Newly designed structures of ancient inspiration were decorated with classical furniture that became the prevailing style in private homes as well as public buildings.

The arrival of immigrant craftsmen from Europe in the early 19th century and their subsequent collaboration with American furniture makers produced highly sophisticated Empire designs. Neither French nor English, the designs incorporated purely American elements and became known as American Empire. Nineteenth-century Philadelphia Empire craftsmen were particularly well-known for their extensive motif carving, which often has a fluid, three-dimensional character.

Philadelphia Empire Furniture illustrates in color and describes in detail hundreds of Philadelphia decorative art forms from this period, including wood types, dimensions, and maker (if known). Chapters are dedicated to each of the following forms: card tables, platform pedestal tables, pier tables, worktables, sofas, chairs, sideboards, secretaries, chests, bedsteads, looking glasses, clocks, and other decorative elements. A separate chapter is devoted to the previously unpublished sketchbook of accomplished craftsman Anthony G. Quervelle. Besides Quervelle, other talented and successful Philadelphia furniture makers included Michel Bouvier, Charles White, Cook & Parkin, and Joseph B. Barry, among several. This book provides historical data about their lives and careers.

Customer Reviews:

Should have been better.......2007-05-19

I agree wholeheartedly with the other review of this book. This book contains a large number of photographs, and for that it can be a useful database, but the book contains no new scholarship in an area in great need of it. American classical/empire furniture is fairly underresearched and documented by comparison with other styles and epoques of American furniture making, and it would have nice -- particularly given the list price of this work -- to have had this book contribute additional learning to the field. Those wishing to learn more about this era of American furniture and cabinet making would do better to consult Wendy Cooper's works such as "Classical Taste in America", Peter Kenney et al's reference on Honnore Lannuier, "Duncan Phyfe and the English Regency" (although this reference is hard to find, very expensive in first edition, and covers more of the federal/empire transition period), or "Classical Maryland". Hopefully, scholars will continue to produce works of the caliber of those, but containing the generous, excellent photographic resources of "Philadelphia Empire Furniture".

Philadelphia Empire Furniture.......2007-05-07

I found this book full of wonderful information but little original writing by the authors, and alot coming directly from the advertisements or catalogues where the furniture had been illustrated and described before the issue of this book. What original material there was was not in depth but a cursory description of the piece, rarely including any provenance, no condition reports, and poor descriptions of the woods the furniture was made of. I expected scholarship and really it is an elaborate and beautiful picture book. Any nucnces are lost.
Overall it is a fun coffee table book, but does not add much to the knowledge of Philadelphia Classical or Empire Furniture. It is a good start, very good, and a big undertaking to gather all the photographs, but as far as becoming a standard reference on the subjject I was sorely dissapointed, especially at the price.

Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary

Average customer rating:

The Definitive Book on Period Furniture
A Must Have
Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary
Beautiful book!
Good

Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary
Judith Miller
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Antiques & Collectibles | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

Art | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Encyclopedia of Furniture: Third Edition - Completely Revised
Designers Guide to Furniture Styles, Second Edition
The Bulfinch Anatomy of Antique Furniture: An Illustrated Guide to Identifying Period, Detail, and Design (Bulfinch Anatomy of Antique Furniture)
The Style Sourcebook: The Definitive Illustrated Directory of Fabrics, Wallpapers, Paints, Flooring and Tiles
Furniture: A Concise History (World of Art)

ASIN: 075661340X

Customer Reviews:

The Definitive Book on Period Furniture.......2007-08-12

This is the most thorough, extensive, well-organized, beautifully photographed book on period furniture and interiors on the market today. It should be a required text for all design schools as well as a treasured resource for collectors, historians, and lovers of furniture of all kinds. Well worth it at twice the price.

A Must Have .......2007-05-13

This book is amazing, and needs to be on your shelf if you are involved in Interior Design, Historical Renovation, miniatures construction, film making, etc., etc! What I like best is that it treats less-expected styles, such as Scandinavian and Russian, which are often difficult to locate. The photos are outstanding. The quick Elements of Style at the beginning of each chapter are nut-shell explanations of how to identify a piece as belonging to a certain era. Well worth the price.

Furniture: World Styles From Classical to Contemporary.......2007-04-05

I am an interior design student, and have found this book to be a quality 5 star reference. The book is stunningly illustrated with furniture styles co-ordinated in easy to follow chronological order. This book has obviously been compiled with abundant thought and passion. I am thrilled with this book and highly recommend it!

Beautiful book!.......2007-03-10

This book is stunning! It is full of color photos of every type of furniture from Anciet Egypt to Modern designers. Each period is also divided into countries, so it is easy to find specific information. I highly recommend this book.

Good.......2007-03-09

Item in good condition. Book has lots of useful info! recommend to anyone. Shipping was not a good experience. Didnt recieve my item on time because it was lost or forgot to ship it. Called back and recieved a new one a month and a half later after ordering! Overall; good item, not great shopping experience.

Tiffany Lamps and Metalware: An Illustrated Reference to Over 2000 Models

Average customer rating:

The new referrence guide to the works of The Tiffany Studios
The Most Complete Reference on Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany Lamps and Metalware: An Illustrated Reference to Over 2000 Models
Alastair Duncan
Manufacturer: Antique Collectors Club Dist A/C
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Precious Metals | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall: An Artist's Country Estate (Metropolitan Museum of Art Publications)
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Tiffany by Design: An In-depth Look at Tiffany Lamps (Schiffer Book for Designers and Collectors)
The Lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis C. Tiffany Garden Museum Collection: Garden Museum Collection

ASIN: 1851495177

Book Description

The ultimate pictorial reference work for both enthusiasts and collectors of Tiffany. There is a comprehensive index that cross references the firm's original model numbers to the illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

The new referrence guide to the works of The Tiffany Studios.......2007-05-07

With the advent of Duncan's new book 'Tiffany Lamps and Metalware' we have a NEW referrence guide that will surely replace 'Tiffany At Auction', also by Duncan. This will take place for two reasons - first - the cost of 'Tiffany At Auction' has become, like the lamps themselves, out of the reach of many prospective buyers and students of the Art Nouveau movement in America. Second - the new volume offers far more pieces to see so that those just getting into the collecting or the study of 'Tiffany' will be able to have a greater number of examples - both common and rare - that the individual may not have seen prior to this publication. A wonderful effort on the part of Mr. Duncan. And, at an affordable price!

The Most Complete Reference on Tiffany Lamps.......2007-04-06

This book is a stunning follow-up to Mr. Duncan's incredible "Louis C. Tiffany, The Garden Museum Collection". As a 30 year collector and enthusiast of the works of Tiffany I can confidently state that this volume will become an essential reference guide to any collector in this field and dramatically expands upon his "Tiffany at Auction" which was published over 25 years ago and is a highly sought after collector's item. The world of Tiffany collectors owes Mr. Duncan a huge debt for bringing us a seemingly endless series of spectacular books on this subject.
~Allen Michaan
President, Auctions by the Bay, Inc.

Furniture in History: 3000 B.C. - 2000 A.D.

Average customer rating:

Excellent service

Furniture in History: 3000 B.C. - 2000 A.D.
Leslie Pina , and Leslie Piña
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Professional Practice for Interior Designers, 3rd Edition
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ASIN: 0132610418

Book Description

Capturing the lively and dynamic nature of the history of furniture—with a focus on innovation and change (the key moments and connections in the evolution of style)—this book combines coverage of early periods and later periods in one comprehensive, authoritative volume. Features an abundance of illustrations with detailed captions. Ancient and Classical. Middle Ages. Renaissance and Baroque. Eighteenth Century. Neoclassical. Victorian Historic. Victorian Modern. Arts and Crafts. Modern Moments. Art Nouveau and Art Deco. European Modernism. Industrial Design. Postwar Modern. The Office. A Round 2000. For Interior Designers, Architects, Historic Preservationists, Museum Curators, Modern Dealers, Gallery Operators.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent service.......2007-03-12

The book I ordered arrived on time, in a quickly manner. It was in excellent condition- brand new. I will use this service again.

Average customer rating:

Lamps of Tiffany Studios
William Feldstein
Manufacturer: Harry N Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0810912813

Average customer rating:

Classic in the field

Furniture Treasury (2 Volumes in 1)
Wallace Nutting
Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0025909800

Customer Reviews:

Classic in the field.......2000-03-03

If you want to see what collectors of American antique furniture could find in the first half of the 20th century, this is a great book. It contains many, many (black & white) photos of wonderful pieces in all major categories of furniture. Each category is chronologically organized from the Puritan period up to late Federal (nothing really from Neo-classical on however). Note that there is very little data provided for each item - this is really a photographic reference. Even so, for the novice this is a great book because it provides so much variety to view in one place. For the expert it is a great place to see rare and highest quality pieces. No collector of American period furniture should be without this book.

Average customer rating:

A Simply Fantastic Book!
the ultimate book on chairs
Interesting read, elegantly illustrated
A Great Read
Chairs; A History

Chairs: A History
Florence de Dampierre
Manufacturer: "Harry N. Abrams, Inc."
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Furniture Design | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Rooms

ASIN: 0810954842

Book Description

Henry David Thoreau wrote, “I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.” In Chairs: A History, furniture historian Florence de Dampierre presents a wonderfully readable and visually stunning exploration of chairs and their place in culture through the ages. Along with hundreds of gorgeous photographs—many taken specifically for this book—de Dampierre fills these pages with fascinating information and anecdotes, tracing the chair's emergence in ancient Egypt and examining various forms of seating from classical Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Renaissance era, to the classic designs of today.

From thrones to divans, straightbacked to overstuffed, Baroque to Bauhaus, this beautiful volume will delight anyone who's ever taken a seat and wondered where it came from.

Customer Reviews:

A Simply Fantastic Book!.......2007-05-12

No one who has seen my home would expect me to have anything to do with a furniture book. But some perceptive friend gave me this book and now I get it! Under Ms. de Dampierre's tutelage, I have grown to understand how pieces of furniture are a reflection of the times in which they were created. This study of chairs is no less fascinating than any great work of art history and the author does an incredible job of detailing changes in social and political currents which impact the design and use of each chair in her exhaustive chronology. As importantly, the pictures are beautiful; the book is worth buying for them alone.

the ultimate book on chairs.......2007-05-11

Florence de Dampierre has produced what will certainly be not only the definitive guide to the chair itself but also a witty and learned look at how modes of communication in differing cultures governed the kind of furniture people invented for themselves. The scope of the book is huge, ranging from the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia and Africa to the chair as modern art. I recommend it highly, both for serious collectors as well as anyone who has ever thought twice about the provenance of the place they've just sat down in. The book is copiously and beautifully illustrated, so it makes a lovely gift.

Interesting read, elegantly illustrated.......2007-05-11

In this fascinating book, De Dampierre brings a fresh perspective to world history by describing it through one of the most ubiquitous items in our daily lives: chairs. In doing so, she has produced a highly enjoyable read for both the sophisticated antique collector and the general student of history.

A Great Read.......2007-05-10

A very well written book with lovely and truly beautiful illustrations. Highly recommended!

Chairs; A History.......2007-05-09

I have read Chairs; A History and find it to be fasinating from two view points. One is that it is more than a history of furniture, it is a social history of the people who sat in the chairs and their times and their culture. Secondly I will retain it for years as one of the most complete reference books on the cultural periods discussed. Finally it is beautifully illustrated and written and should be in everyone's library.

Made for Maharajas: A Design Diary of Princely India

Average customer rating:

Fascinating
"Made For Maharajas" is especially recommended for academic library collections

Made for Maharajas: A Design Diary of Princely India
Dr. Amin Jaffer
Manufacturer: Vendome Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0865651744

Book Description

The Indian princes of the British Raj lived lives of unparalleled opulence and luxury. Made for Maharajas returns readers to that resplendent era, presenting a selection of one-of-a-kind objects crafted to order by the outstanding European luxury goods manufacturers, fashion houses, and decorators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are the custom-designed cars, jewelry, and extraordinary objéts d'art commissioned by maharajas, nawabs, nizams, and sultans from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Harry Winston, and others, accompanied by anecdotes that illuminate this sumptuous way of life. Many of the illustrations in this book have never been previously reproduced outside of India, making this not only the first volume of its kind, but a remarkable keepsake that may never be duplicated in our lifetime.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating.......2007-10-10

This book is fascinating. It is a very complete study of the influence of europen culture, art and crafts on the Maharajas of India, encompassing all forms of consumer goods... cars, jewels, trains, etc, etc. All these works of art are the result of intense cultural and economic exchange between both worlds and the book emphasizes this very well. A scholarly publication well served by wonderful photographs.

"Made For Maharajas" is especially recommended for academic library collections.......2006-12-09

Dr. Amin Jaffer is a curator in the Asian Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where he specializes in Indian art and culture during the era of European influence during the British Raj period (1857-1947). With "Made For Maharajas: A Design Diary Of Princely India", Dr. Amin has compiled with narrative commentary an impressive historical overview of art and luxury goods in all manner of media and associated with the aristocracy of the maharajas during these centuries. Superbly illustrated with 290 images (150 of which are in full color), the representative and custom-made artifacts range from private airplanes and luxury cars, to chandeliers, gold dinnerware, couture fashions, fine leather goods, houses, furniture, jewelry, and more. Dr. Amin drew upon the archives of firms that included Louis Vuitton, Boucheron, Chaumet, Cartier, and Hermies, he had access to palace and private collections, and employing his own extensive expertise, has written a text that is as entertaining as it is informative in revealing the extraordinarily varied works commissioned by princes whose personal wealth was exceeded only by their eccentricities. As an impeccable work of scholarship in a coffee-table art book format, "Made For Maharajas" is especially recommended for academic library collections and would make a superb choice as a community library Memorial Fund acquisition.

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