Furniture design Books

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Book SynopsisThos. Moser Cabinetmakers has set the standard for fine woodworking and meticulously hand-crafted furniture for more than forty years. In this modern age of inexpensive mass production, Moser furniture stands out because every piece is hand-made by a master craftsman (or woman). Generally minimalist in style, the pieces are highly sophisticated in their construction. And though Moser has been influenced by Shaker and Japanese furniture makers, the elegant and graceful lines give each piece an aesthetic all its own. In Legacy in Wood, Thomas Moser reflects on his long career and offers his thoughts on creativity, inspiration, and his design aesthetic. It gives an intimate look into the life and work of a pioneering craftsman, whose example shows that you can build a career working with your hands the old-fashioned way. Thos. Moser remains an iconic Maine company and holds to its traditional Yankee origins. The shop remains a family-run and oriented company. All of Moser’s sons have worked in the shop, and all but one are still there as master craftsmen and designers. The other employees have been with the company an average of 20 years—a clear reflection of the value Moser puts on his workers and the respect and love for their work they give in return. Yet the timeless appeal of the furniture has given Moser nationwide recognition and allowed the company to open galleries and show rooms in Boston, Greenwich, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.Trade ReviewThe timeless appeal of the furniture has given Moser nationwide recognition and allowed the company to open galleries and show rooms across the US. MOSER Legacy in Wood is beautifully photographed and would appeal to experts as well as anyone interested in well-crafted furniture."The book, Moser: Legacy in Wood, provides a very personal history of the company’s development, the inspiration and evolving nature of its designs and the meticulous process used in selecting woods and crafting. Photographs throughout provide sumptuous close-ups of details and furniture set off in room settings, as well as craftsmen at work. It is a book that would be much appreciated by the fine furniture lover, whether armchair, collector or builder." * The Quoddy Tides *

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Book SynopsisExplores the origins, methods, results, and influence of the unique and highly successful furniture design and fabrication studios offered by the University of Washington Department of ArchitectureTrade Review"With 190 color photographs of student works, this charming book is a treat for the eyes. A fascinating peek into modern furniture design." * Library Journal *"Ochsner's book on just one of the studios is enough to give interested future architects the gist. But it's also written for today's architects, maybe nostalgic for architecture school, and for academics, maybe looking to start up a furniture studio at their own school." -- Lindsey M. Roberts * Architect Magazine *"[R]efreshing. . . . Ochsner’s engrossing and lavishly illustrated book. . . reminds us of the importance of craft in architecture. . . .[A]n important monograph. . . . Ochsner’s book is certainly well crafted." -- Jeremy White * Pacific Northwest Quarterly *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: The Reality of Making 2. Origins: Building a Program 3. One Quarter: Winter 2009 4. Interpreting a Pedagogy: Furniture and Architecture 5. Examples of Excellence: Selected Projects, 1989–2009 6. Beyond the University: Continuing Influence 7. The Future: Furniture Studio after 2009 Appendix A. Furniture Fest, 2009 Appendix B. Award-Winning Projects, 1990–2010 Notes General Background Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe comprehensive guide to living with furniture, no matter your style, from the author of The Interior Design Handbook. Interior-design sensation Frida Ramstedt changed how we think about designing a harmonious home with her book The Interior Design Handbook. Now she brings that same authoritative and comprehensive focus to this complementary guide that’s all about the most essential and functional items within your home. No matter your style of home, we all want our spaces to feel inviting and comfortable. And the key to that is quality furniture that supports your lifestyle. The Furniture Handbook shares the foundational rules of choosing, arranging, and caring for the furniture in every room of your home. From selecting the perfect size dining table and seating that fits your family to arranging your living room pieces for the best flow, the basic principles that interior designers use and that everyone should master are provided.• Know what to pay extra attention to when choosing and rearranging furniture and what common complaints people have so you can avoid them.• Understand the dimensions and details of furniture design that determine whether a piece is comfortable or not.• Select quality upholstery that looks beautiful and will endure wear and tear from pets, kids, and daily life.• Learn how to match the scale of different pieces and plan what goes where before you start moving your furniture, so you never regret the time and money you have invested. Complete with simple and elegant illustrations, The Furniture Handbook is your key to creating beautiful, personal spaces in your home.

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Book SynopsisEmille Gallé was one of the great names of the Art Nouveau movement in France, and founder of the famous École de Nancy. A polymath and committed social activist, he was best known for his glasswork and faience. Furniture became his third discipline after experimenting with the manufacture of wooden bases on which he could mount his glass vases. Following the French tradition of furniture decoration known as marqueterie, his work is characterised by its meticulous decorative veneers, stained with subtle organic dyes; and panels inlaid with stunningly intricate country scenes and flowers. This important book outlines all of Galle's major works of furniture, from the pieces uniques that were designed for an exclusive clientele, to those displayed between 1889 and 1904 at the annual Paris Salons and two World Expositions. The recent emergence of many of his objets de luxe enables the reader to understand many of his pieces for the first time. Written by Decorative Arts specialist Alastair Duncan, Gallé Furniture documents the history of Gallé's furniture production from his favourite motifs to the ways in which he used furniture design to express his social and political ideals. Duncan includes an encyclopedic range of models created in the Gallé Workshops both during and after his lifetime. Beautifully illustrated, and containing translations of Gallé's 'Notes to the Juries' of the World Expositions, this stunning publication will leave the reader captivated by this remarkable expression of the new art that changed the European aesthetic forever. Forthcoming: Gallé Lamps ISBN: 9781851496716

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Book SynopsisVisionary furniture design from Vienna In 1938, Vienna lost its best and most creative minds. This rupture was manifested in all of the arts and sciences and its mark is felt to this day – not least in the field of furniture design. With inexhaustible creativity the Jewish furniture designers who were forced to flee Vienna continued to work while in exile. They taught at the best universities and spread their ideas and vision throughout the entire world. Their creations became classics of twentieth-century furniture design, the epitome of mid-century modern style. This book honors the memory of the exiled designers with a thorough overview of their work. It details their life stories and their visionary designs, which remain as relevant and contemporary as ever, and brings to light new aspects of the history of Viennese furniture design. A new history of Viennese furniture design, with 27 detailed biographies Numerous previously unpublished photographs and sketches Including works by Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, Martin Eisler, Josef Frank, Friedrich Kiesler, Richard Neutra, Bruno Pollak, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Franz Singer, Ernst Schwadron, among others

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Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive presentation of the Danish furniture designer Jakob Berg (1958–2008) and his work. As a designer, he was ahead of his time and not only continued the story of the golden age of Danish Design but, building on this legacy, fundamentally rethought the approach to seating and rest, sustainability, and the role of different wood types. Today, his furniture designs, which have enhanced home interiors around the world, are as current and relevant as ever. The reader is invited on a panoramic tour of Jakob Berg’s wonderful furniture universe, from his early one-offs, presented in art and design exhibitions during the 1980s, to his indoor/outdoor furniture and his many projects around the world. The publication is authored by leading Danish design experts and lavishly illustrated throughout, with 300 photos, as well as drawings and digital sketches. In addition to portraying Jakob Berg’s inspiring body of work, the book is in itself a piece of Danish Design — a unique experience that is not to be missed. Text in Danish.

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Book SynopsisThis publication presents a round table discussion between authors within the field of design and art history about the Russian-Danish designer Boris Berlin's works, his challenges and innovative solutions, and development of materials and production methods, which all contribute to a future focused on sustainable design. Boris Berlin's practice is based on a deep understanding of art in a wider cultural context as well as the collaboration between craftsmanship, the intellectual, and the emotional. He thus works in these many different areas alongside architects, academics, artisans, and artists. This overarching perspective seeks to set thoughts in motion and initiate discussions about the actuality of contemporary design issues.Text in Danish.

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Book SynopsisAdd a touch of retro appeal to your stationery rotation with this off-beat refrigerator journal, featuring classic-cool colors, adorable illustrations, and a split binding that gives two distinct areas for writing! Everyday tasks, notes, and to-do lists can be recorded in the lower refrigerator section, while long-term plans and goals can be kept on ice in the freezer compartment. Show off your mid-century aesthetic and keep everything organized with the cheeky, on-trend Vintage Refrigerator Journal.This journal features: Split hardcover binding treatment; journal cover and interior pages are divided into two distinct sections that can be opened independently. Full-color illustrations throughout the interior. Matte laminate cover with spot gloss on metal elements.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of twenty years of design, philosophy, and inspiration from the renowned American furniture brand Blu Dot.Blu Dot is an American pioneer of democratic design, and winner of the 2018 National Design Award for Product Design from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Founded and run by its principal designers, the company is celebrated for its minimal and innovative design, and its mission to make modern design accessible to a wider audience. Published to coincide with the brand's twentieth anniversary, this carefully produced book collects two decades' worth of ideas, inspiration, designs, and products that chronicle the evolution of one of the most iconic names in contemporary American design. Illustrated with stunning photography of Blu Dot's best-known pieces, the book includes everything the brand has ever produced, from the very earliest designs like the Chicago 8 box shelving system to the ubiquitous and iconic Real Good Chair.Supplemen

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Book SynopsisThe comprehensive guide to furniture design expanded and updated Furniture designers draw on a range of knowledge and disciplines to create their work. From history to theory to technology, Furniture Design offers a comprehensive survey of the essential craft- and practice-related aspects of furniture design. Generously illustrated with photographs and drawingsincluding a new color sectionthis Second Edition features updated coverage of material specifications, green design, digital design, and fabrication technologies. It also features twenty-five case studies of furniture design that represent a broad selection of works, designers, and techniques, including recent designs produced within the last decade. The book explores: Furniture function and social use Form, spatial organization, and typological orders Structural integrity and composition Accessibility, universal design, human factors, and ergonoTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xvii Foreword xix Foreword to the First Edition xxi Chapter 1 Introduction to Furniture Design 1 Furniture 2 Design 8 Furniture + Design + (X) = Furniture Design 10 Data Visualization: Mapping Data from Research 12 Chapter 2 Function and Social Use 19 Human Body Supports 20 Sitting, Working, Resting, and Sleeping 20 Squatting and Sitting 23 Activities: Eating, Reading, Typing, and Writing 25 Containing: Storing, Displaying, and Organizing 27 Defining Space: Enclosing, Shaping, and Partitioning 28 Classifications Based on Social Use 29 Health-care Furniture: For Those Who Need Assistance 30 Hospitality Furniture: Restaurants, Lobbies, and Reception Areas 32 Institutional Furniture: Education 34 Multifunctional Furniture: Sit-Work, Sit-Sleep, and Store-Display 35 Office Furniture: Ergonomic Seating, Workstations, and Systems Furniture 37 Recreational Furniture: Play, Leisure, and Outdoor Furnishings 38 Religious (Liturgical) Furniture: Altars, Arks, and Minbars 40 Residential Furniture: Social Gathering, Resting, Dining, and Organizing 43 Retail Furniture: Displaying, Storing, Transactions, and Sales 46 Storage Furniture: Containing, Organizing, and Accessing 47 Chapter 3 Form, Spatial Organization, and Typological Orders 51 Form 51 Angular 56 Composite 56 Curvilinear 57 Orthogonal 58 Sectional/Modular 58 Spatial Organization 60 Centralized 61 Clustered 62 Grids 63 Linear 64 Radial 65 Typological Orders 66 Assembly Required (Ready-to-Assemble and Knock-Down) 66 Built-In/Stationary 67 Freestanding 67 Inflatable 68 Mechanical (Transformative Pieces) 69 Movable 72 Summary 74 Chapter 4 Furniture Case Studies 75 Overview of Furniture Case Studies 75 700–400 BCE Greek Klismos chair 76 1200–1800 CE European coffer 78 1745–1750 French Rococo commode 80 1754–1780 Chippendale chair 82 1855–1859 Café chair, Model No. 14 84 1917–1918 Red-Blue chair 86 1922 Blocs Screen 88 1925 Wassily club chair, Model No. B301 90 1928 Siège à Dossier Basculant (B301) 92 1932–1933 Stools 60/65 94 1949–1950 Eames Storage Unit (ESU) 96 1950–1954 Antony chair 98 1951 Wire side chair 100 1968 Action Office 102 1987 Ghost chair 104 1992 Cross Check armchair 106 1993 Trinidad chair 108 1994 Living units 110 1994–1995 Aeron chair 112 1999 The Block 114 2000 Pathways 116 2003–2004 Jimmy’s Buffet 118 2004 Knit chair 120 2006 Araneae coffee table 122 2011 Modular Vitrine System 124 Lessons from the 25 Furniture Case Studies 126 Chapter 5 Furniture Design Theory 129 Inquiry 129 Systems Theory 131 Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas 133 Firmitas 133 Utilitas 137 Anthropometrics 139 General Body Characteristics and Dimensions 141 Ergonomics 142 Posture 145 Proxemics 147 Venustas 150 Beauty 150 Geometry 152 Proportion 152 Modernism 154 Built Form and Culture 155 New Formalism: Theories of Digital Form 158 Chapter 6 Design 161 Design Principles 163 Balance: Structural and Visual, Symmetry and Asymmetry 163 Continuity, Unity, and Variety 165 Dynamism and Stasis 165 Hierarchy and Emphasis 165 Juxtaposition 167 Rhythm and Pattern 167 Scale and Proportion 168 Design Thinking 171 Construing and Constructing 172 Bold Studies 172 Making Prototypes 174 Scaled Models 175 Design Ethos 177 Accessible Design 177 Codes, Guidelines, and Standards (Health, Safety, and Welfare) 177 Green Design 178 Universal Design 181 Design Processes 182 Schematics: Sketching, Drawing, Computer Rendering, and Model Making 182 Design Phases 190 Predesign, Research, and Programming 190 Schematic Design 192 Design Development 192 Fabrication Drawings 193 Pricing and Contract Negotiation 194 Shop Drawings, Templates, and Working Prototypes 195 Fabrication 195 Delivery and Installation 196 Professional and Disciplinary Boundaries 197 Chapter 7 Materials 203 Material Matters 205 Material Properties 210 Absorptive Quality 211 Aging and Weathering 212 Cellular Structure (Open-Cell or Closed-Cell) 212 Compressive and Tensile Strength 213 Density 214 Dimensional Movement 214 Ductility 216 Durability 217 Elasticity 217 Expandability 217 Haptic Sensations 218 Stability 219 Surface Qualities 220 Visual Aspects of Finished Wood Surfaces 220 Visual Aspects of Unfinished Wood Surfaces 221 Volatile Organic Compounds 221 Workability 222 Other Aspects 223 Materials: A to Z 224 Adhesives and Glues 224 Composite Boards 226 Fabrics and Leather 229 Finishes 232 Glass 235 Metal 237 Paper 240 Plastics 240 Rubber and Elastomers 245 Stone 247 Woods and Grasses 248 Chapter 8 Processes and Methods of Fabrication 255 Preparing Shop Drawings and a Materials Takeoff List 256 Securing Materials, Equipment, Supplies, and Hardware 257 Bending 260 Carving 262 Cutting, Drilling, Milling, and Planing 263 Assembling and Gluing 264 Joinery, Mechanical Connections, and Fasteners 265 Upholstery 275 Sanding 277 Finishing, Painting, Sealing, Staining, and Surfacing 278 Wood Finishing 278 Delivery and Installation 280 Repairing, Restoring, and Resurfacing 281 A Chronological Overview of Tools 281 Hand Tools 281 Machine Tools 282 Hand Tools Used Today 282 Power Tools Used Today 283 Digital Tools 285 Technology: The Art and Science of Fabrication 287 Craft (Workmanship of Risk) 288 Machine Production (Workmanship of Certainty) 289 Chapter 9 Professional Practice and Marketing 291 Industry 294 Green Marketing 295 Retail and Wholesale 296 Design for Less 298 Alternative Retail 298 Industrial Entrepreneurs: Silent Heroes 300 Furniture Epicenters 301 Paris 301 Northern Italy 301 Scandinavia 302 Other Epicenters 304 The Business of Furniture Design 304 Chapter 10 Historical Overview 307 How Societies Have Thought about Designing, Making, and Using Furniture 307 The Earliest Cultures 309 Ancient Nomadic Societies 309 Prehistoric World Settlements 309 Prehistory to Antiquity 310 Ancient Egypt 310 Archaic and Classical Greece 313 Etruria 315 The Romans 315 Early Christian and Islamic Cultures 316 Emergence of Islamic Furniture (circa 610) 317 Medieval Societies 319 The Rise of Europe 321 The Renaissance 321 Baroque Period 327 French Rococo Period 329 England in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries 331 The American Colonies and the Emerging United States 333 The Classical Style 336 The Industrial Revolution 337 Eclecticism 339 Revivals 339 Craft and Design 341 Arts and Crafts in Europe 342 Arts and Crafts in the United States 343 Art Nouveau 345 Modernism and the Machine Age 346 The Bauhaus 348 Rising Heroes of Evolving Modernism 350 Craft versus Design 356 New Craftsmanship 356 The Twenty-First Century: The Digital Age 358 New Digital Tools, New Synthetic Materials, New Design Opportunities 359 Appendix: References and Sources 361 Industry Sources 362 Museums, Galleries, and Exhibitions 365 Glossary 367 Bibliography 381 Index 385

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Book SynopsisJoanne Turney is Professor of Fashion and Textiles at the Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, UK.

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Book SynopsisChristina M. Anderson is Principal Research Fellow, SELCS-CMII, University College London, UKElizabeth A. Carroll is Lecturer in the Department of Art and Art History, San José State University, USA

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Book SynopsisCatherine L. Futter is Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, Brooklyn Museum, USAChristina M. Anderson is Principal Research Fellow, SELCS-CMII, University College London, UK

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Book SynopsisBuild stylish and functional furniture from salvaged materials. This innovative guide presents dozens of strategies for upcycling scrap cardboard, metal, plastic, or wood into dependable shelving units, sturdy tables, and fun lamps. With directions for 35 easy and inexpensive projects that include a Cardboard Cantilever Chair, a License Plate Bowl, a Conduit Coatrack, and much more, you’ll be inspired to start filling your home with unique high-style furniture that makes sense for both your wallet and the environment.

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Book SynopsisFrom the white plastic bed for the Prisunic catalogue (1966) to the Culbuto armchair issued by Knoll, and from the Lip watch to the private apartments of the Elysee Palace, Paris, (1983), the furniture and objects conceived by Marc Held have been emblematic of the renewal of French design, following the line of Scandinavians such as Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen...With his gallery L'Echoppe on the rue de Seine, Paris, and then with his agency, the designer and architect Marc Held also took part in major projects for IBM and Renault. This book traces fifty years of design, whose success with the public at large has contributed to a great liberation in our style of life. The generosity of his vision has remained faithful to the humanist values that guided his childhood in Bagnolet, where he was born in 1932. Having settled in Greece, on the island of Skopelos, over twenty years ago, Marc Held still continues to build houses and furnish them with his creations, working closely with Greek craftsmen.

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Book SynopsisVisionary furniture design from Vienna In 1938, Vienna lost its best and most creative minds. This rupture was manifested in all of the arts and sciences and its mark is felt to this day – not least in the field of furniture design. With inexhaustible creativity the Jewish furniture designers who were forced to flee Vienna continued to work while in exile. They taught at the best universities and spread their ideas and vision throughout the entire world. Their creations became classics of twentieth-century furniture design, the epitome of mid-century modern style. This book honors the memory of the exiled designers with a thorough overview of their work. It details their life stories and their visionary designs, which remain as relevant and contemporary as ever, and brings to light new aspects of the history of Viennese furniture design. A new history of Viennese furniture design, with 27 detailed biographies Numerous previously unpublished photographs and sketches Including works by Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, Martin Eisler, Josef Frank, Friedrich Kiesler, Richard Neutra, Bruno Pollak, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Franz Singer, Ernst Schwadron, among others

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Book SynopsisThis publication presents a round table discussion between authors within the field of design and art history about the Russian-Danish designer Boris Berlin's works, his challenges and innovative solutions, and development of materials and production methods, which all contribute to a future focused on sustainable design. Boris Berlin's practice is based on a deep understanding of art in a wider cultural context as well as the collaboration between craftsmanship, the intellectual, and the emotional. He thus works in these many different areas alongside architects, academics, artisans, and artists. This overarching perspective seeks to set thoughts in motion and initiate discussions about the actuality of contemporary design issues.

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Book SynopsisAn extensive illustrated survey of one of the most inventive design minds of the twentieth century. Combining whimsy and elegance, Piero Fornasetti transformed everyday objects like cups, scarves, and plates into much sought-after works of art with his idiosyncratic motifs, such as the hand, the female face, and luminescent fish. His dazzling pieces of trompe l’oeil furniture, created in collaboration with Gio Ponti, are also highly prized by collectors worldwide. Fornasetti’s boundless imagination is celebrated here in a book published to document a major retrospective exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. The first half of the monograph is organized by type and includes Fornasetti’s paintings, drawings, and furniture. The second half focuses on favorite themes: his use of trompe l’oeil, architectural drawings, and his variations on the face of a famous operatic beauty. Featuring 400 illustrations covering almTrade Review"Piero Fornasetti is a comprehensive introduction to the work of Fornasetti. . . This book is an excellent addition to the literature on design. It is a must-read for students and experts of design alike." -THE WASHINGTON BOOK REVIEW"I love [Piero Fornasetti: Practical Madness]. I don't know how you couldn't."-INTO THE GLOSS BLOG

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Book SynopsisIn line with the works on decorators of the 1940s, '50s, '60s, and '70s, this book plunges us into the world of '80s and '90s. These have witnessed unprecedented experiments in the world of design and architecture. Composed of a rich introduction which gives a synoptic vision and 38 monographs that describe its many faces, this book makes and exceptionally creative period intelligible, and reveals through an abundant iconography, often unpublished, its formidable aesthetic richness. A new generation of designers stands out; among them Shiro Kuramata, Philippe Starck, Ron Arad, Bob Wilson, Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. All regenerate creation by refusing the elitism of their predecessors and by favouring the use of new materials. Some turn to recovery, such as the Creative Salvage group, and offer inventive and provocative furniture thanks to welding and assembly. Others, gathered in Italy around Ettore Sottsass and Memphis, combine unexpected colours and patterns to the playful use of plastic laminate. Sliding until the end of the '90s, the achievements presented in this book mark the desire for a dialogue between artistic references with a new relationship to the industrial aspect, at the dawn of the 21st century and its technological innovations. Text in English and French.

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Book SynopsisRooms Studio Book serves as a visual narrative of the story that has been weaving around the creations of Rooms Studio since its inception in 2007. It is rich with captivating imagery showcasing the Studio's works till the present day.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“an invaluable catalog.”—Edward Rothstein, Wall Street Journal“[The book] serves as both an introductory text and, for those well-read on the movement, one offering new dimensions to this vast subject”— Roger Dunn, Art Newspaper“This book is the catalogue of an exhibition at the Harry Ransom Center, a great repository, likened to ‘an old attic filled with the most wondrous things’, at the University of Texas in Austin. It starts with the British origins of the Arts-and-Crafts movement, but the greater part describes its (to British readers) less familiar flourishing in the USA.”—CountryLife“It serves as both an introductory text and, for those well-read on the movement, one offering new dimensions to this vast subject”— Roger Dunn, The Art Newspaper“It is not a conventional catalogue, but the extended captions form a record of an exhibition and most of the contributions add usefully to discussion of how the Arts & Crafts Movement evolved in the 20th century” —Annette Carruthers, DAS

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