This is one big, beautifully done book. Judith Miller’s annual antiques price guides are well-known for their thorough and organized presentations. This sumptuous history, covering furniture from ancient Egypt through today’s important pieces, is no exception. Miller divides history into chronological periods, then within each period covers styles that evolved in different countries and across many continents.

Looking at how furniture is made, which materials are used, and for whom it was produced is key in putting pieces in historical context. This book also traces civilizations via their furnishings. Queen Anne’s claw-foot cabriole legs, Chippendale’s Gothic revival ogee curves and Pop’s organic forms are all included.

More than 3,000 color photos of breathtakingly gorgeous antiques illustrate 3,000 years of history. Some pieces have famous provenance; others simply represent a style. Sidebars and charts offer background information, biographies, and definitions. A masterpiece.

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 29th, 2006 at 6:05 pm and is filed under Furniture, Reviews. Tags: Antique, Arts, Color, Egypt, Furniture, Judith Miller, law, Price, Today, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.