An Illustrated Guide to Furniture History

An Illustrated Guide to Furniture History provides upper-level students and instructors with an alternative visual analytical approach to learning about furniture history from Antiquity to Postmodernism. Following an immersive teaching model, it presents a Nine-Step Methodology to help students strengthen their visual literacy and quickly acquire subject area knowledge.

Moving chronologically through key periods in furniture history and interior design, such as the Renaissance, the Arts and Crafts Movement, and Modernism, it traverses Europe to America to present a comprehensive foundational guide to the history of furniture design.

Part I addresses furniture within the context of the built environment, with chapters exploring the historical perspective, construction principles, and the categorization of furniture. In Part II, the author visually depicts the structural organization of the methodological process, a three-category framework: History, Aesthetics, and Visual Notes. The chapters in this part prepare the reader for the visual analysis that will occur in the final section of the book. The book is lavishly illustrated in full color with over 300 images to reinforce visual learning and notation.

A must-have reference and study guide for students in industrial and product design, interior design, and architecture.

Part I: Furniture and the Built Environment Chapter 1 A Historical Perspective Chapter 2 Construction Principles Chapter 3 Piece Categorically Part II: Understanding the Piece Chapter 4 The Analysis of Form Chapter 5 A Graphic Narrative Part III: Object of Desire Part III Introduction Chapter 6 Antiquity: Egypt, Greece and Rome Chapter 7 Renaissance: Italy, France and England Chapter 8 18th Century: Italy, France and England & America – Late Colonial Chapter 9 Precursors to Modernism: Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Viennese Secession American Arts and Crafts – Prairie Style & Craftsman Style Chapter 10 Modernist Movements: Deutscher Werkbund, Bauhaus, De Stijl, International Style Chapter 11 Early Modernist Designers and Architects: Pierre Chareau (1883–1950), Eleen Gray (1879–1976), Jean Prouvé (1901–1984), Charlotte Perriand (1903–1999) Chapter 12 Modernism in America and the European Connection Chapter 13 Movements after Modernism: High-tech, Postmodermism, Deconstructivism Chapter 14 Conclusion

Joclyn M. Oats is a tenured Associate Professor in the Design Department at Columbia College Chicago, USA. Joclyn has practiced architecture and interior design and served the College in an administrative capacity as coordinator and director for the BFA, Interior Architecture, MFA, Architectural Studies, and the MFA, Interior Architecture Programs for over a decade. Her teaching has covered a wide range of courses for both graduate and undergraduate levels: studio courses, technical courses, and architecture and design history surveys.