Encyclopedia of Furniture

The Encyclopedia of Furniture by Simon Yates, Constance King, and Mark Bridge is a wealth of information in a very readable information in a very readable format. It is laid out in sections by centuries with an introduction discussing the development of style of four major types of pieces- chairs, sofas, tables and desks. This information is conveyed by individual pieces of furniture noted with color photos, full descriptions including date, style, descriptions, materials used, and the name of the maker, if known. Enlightening details are given with these photos. Here are some examples: "Two other distinct Boston characteristics are the decorations on the knees of the cabriole legs and Rococo style made with a punch rather than carved with a chisel and the rat-claw feet, broadened to look more like a rat's paw than a lion's." With over 1000 illustrated pieces, this would be a good addition to your library.