Encyclopedia of Furniture Materials, Trades, and Techniques

[referencebooks]

Encyclopedia of Furniture Materials, Trades, and Techniques

By Clive Edwards

Published by Ashgate, 2000.

This is a black, clothbound book measuring 10" by 10" and running to 254 pages including the bibliography. The printing and paper stock are very fine. The middle of the book has a section of beautiful color plates.

What the title doesn't say is that the book is primarily about the history of furniture making, rather than about contemporary techniques that a modern-day furniture maker would use (unless they are attempting to duplicate authentically an historical style), though some modern techniques are included. The introduction makes this clear, and also makes clear that furniture design is not covered, only furniture manufacture. The result is a very limited and specific reference book of use to a pretty small group.

For an idea of what is covered, here are the first fifteen entries in the "T" sequence, "see" reference excluded:

• Tabaret (Tabouret/Tabourette/Tabaray)
  
• Tabbinet
  
• Tabby
  
• Table opening and extending mechanisms
  
• Tacking
  
• Tacks
  
• Taffeta
  
• Tambour
  
• Tammy
  
• Tape joint
  
• Tapestry
  
• Tasmanian Oak
  
• Teak
  
• Templates
  
• Tension top
  

Entries range in length from a few lines to a few pages, but are mostly on the shorter end. The prose is clear, informative, and very British.

This is a valuable reference book with a very narrow focus.