Collector Books
Early American furniture; a guide to who, when, and where.
Several US colonies can lay claim to producing Chippendale furniture, and the same can be said for a variety of other styles also sure to confuse novice collectors. Obbard works from the originals and from a variety of primary sources, including period catalogs, to place pieces of all sizes and shapes squarely within their proper geography. He begins with the all-important evidence offered by varieties of wood and their treatment, then moves through the colonies of New England, the Middle Atlantic and the South to find major themes and trends. He then describes various pieces ranging from a range of chairs to sofas, chests, desks, serving and dining tables, cupboards, wardrobes, tea and card tables, stands for candles and work tables, daybeds, bedsteads, and furniture peculiar to certain regions. The illustrations are well-rendered and detailed and the references are comprehensive and accessible. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
