The Story of Western Furniture

This digital edition of The Story of Western Furniture offers a comprehensive history of furniture design from ancient Egypt to the late twentieth century. Written by Phyllis Bennett Oates and illustrated by Mary Seymour, this classic survey is available as an instant PDF download.

Beginning with the earliest surviving pieces and continuing through gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, Victorian, and modern styles, the book provides a clear and informed account for designers, collectors, and students.

Book Overview

The Story of Western Furniture traces the evolution of furniture design across ten chapters, from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to Byzantium, medieval Europe, the Renaissance, and the major movements that followed. The text examines how materials, techniques, and social conditions shaped furniture through the centuries.

This edition was first published in Great Britain in 1981, with a paperback edition in 1993, and this printing from New Amsterdam Books in 1998. It includes numerous illustrations by Mary Seymour and an index and select bibliography.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• Furniture of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome
• Byzantine, early medieval, and Gothic Europe
• The Renaissance and its innovations
• Baroque grandeur and Rococo elegance
• Neo-classicism and Palladian taste
• The nineteenth century’s diversity and Aestheticism
• The modern movement and the decades after 1940

Why This Book Matters

With its straightforward narrative and detailed illustrations, this book has served as a reliable introduction to Western furniture history for decades. It connects artistic periods with domestic life, showing how furniture both reflected and influenced broader cultural changes.

For students, dealers, and design enthusiasts, the volume offers a valuable chronological reference that remains useful in both academic and professional settings.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download product, so there is no physical shipping. After purchase, access is available immediately for download. The PDF works with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and standard reading applications.

FAQ

How soon will I receive the book? You will receive instant access after purchase and can download the PDF from your account.

Is a physical copy shipped? No. This listing is for a digital file only, so no printed book will be mailed.

Which devices are supported? The PDF is compatible with most e-reader apps, tablets, smartphones, and computers.

Explore the full story of Western furniture with this digital reference edition.

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