New England Furniture at Winterthur

Book excerpt: This volume comprehensively explores the furniture industry of New England, detailing the impact of urban communities, especially Boston, as well as the pervasiveness of regionalism, which has attracted fresh attention from scholars. The importance of the export trade and the roles of specialists, particularly the upholsterer, also receive consideration. The variety of New England furniture - in form, in origin, and in ornament - is beautifully demonstrated. By articulating the technical aspects of the style, the book lays a groundwork for future scholars and provides a springboard for cultural studies using the Winterthur furniture collection. An intriguing narrative tale as well as an essential reference, this volume presents informative essays on various furniture forms, detailed entries on 225 individual objects, and a comprehensive index. It is the collaboration of several individuals: Nancy E. Richards and Nancy Goyne Evans, Winterthur's former senior curator and registrar, respectively; curator of furniture Wendy A. Cooper; conservator Michael S. Podmaniczky; and researcher Clare G. Noyes. Their expertise and insight broaden our understanding of the artisans, networks, and products of the extensive New England furniture trade in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.