Pictorial Dictionary of British Eighteenth Century Furniture Design: The Printed Sources

This text examines the published drawings which were influential in determining design details during this century. Pattern books and printed sources of information on furniture design and details of decoration increased rapidly on as the 18th century progressed. Chippendale, the best known name, was one of the earlier sources, but it is typical of the difficulties which this book unravels that a revival of interest in this work in the 1820's resulted in the plates being republished. Communication of ideas to craftsman blossomed under Chippendale and soon dozens of books were published so that by the end of the century design had become an important craft in its own right.