Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Hundreds of examples of unusual and exotic furniture produced throughout Europe, the US, and the Far East during the 19th and 20th centuries. Each chapter is introduced by a prominent collector or expert in a particular style. Lavish color presentation. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Issued in conjunction with an exhibition at the National Academy of Design, this book is a richly illustrated selection of furniture best described as bizarre--chairs shaped like peacocks, tables shaped like dolphins, chaises made of antlers, and the like. Most of the examples come from the 18th and 19th centuries, with a few earlier examples from Venice and a few from the early 20th century. Each type of furniture--grotesque and mythological, black forest, horn and antler, etc.--is introduced by ``a prominent collector or expert'' in very few words, with a rather more detailed text by Newman and Alistair Duncan. A bemusing and visual book, but for whom? Decorators, perhaps, but after that? Not necessary.-- Jack Perry Brown, Ryerson & Burnham Libs., Art Inst. of Chicago (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.