American Furniture Designers

Beginning with inspirations from the Arts and Crafts movement and continuing through the second decade of the 21st century, Fitzgerald provides a detailed look at the designers, those who influenced them, and those who were influenced by them. This grants the reader a good insight into the designers' thinking about and response to the cultural expectations of the era.... The book is not only rich in illustrations (color and black-and-white depictions of various pieces of furniture), but it provides a clear understanding of the spaces in which they may have resided. Highly recommended. All readers.-- Choice Reviews Decorative-arts consultant Fitzgerald profiles 20 key American furniture designers and a handful of notable designers for Knoll International and Herman Miller. Sections organized by movement/era (Arts and Crafts; mid-century modern; 21st-century design) include introductions that contextualize how design was influenced by worldwide events, advancements in production, and shifting U.S. tastes and living habits. Nearly 300 photos, mostly in color, add interest. A readable volume, most useful for designers, researchers, and collectors interested in identifying and dating design trends and individual designers.-- Library Journal Oscar Fitzgerald is a highly regarded scholar of American furniture who has written a number of books on the subject, including the important publication Four Centuries of American Furniture. His commitment to teaching design is reflected in these books, which provide a thorough and valuable survey of major figures and movements in American furniture design.--David Hanks, curator, Stewart Program for Modern Design