Extraordinary furniture

Extraordinary Furniture presents some of the world's most opulent, inventive, skillfully made, and unusual pieces of furniture. Author David Linley has compiled a magnificent array of objects that span the history of furniture design and craftsmanship, from the medieval period to the present day. Viscount Linley, son of England's Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon and nephew of Queen Elizabeth II, is a furniture maker and designer of international renown. He introduces the book with an essay on the strong connection between handcrafted furniture and the people who have commissioned, designed, owned, and loved it, and discusses the influence of earlier designers on his own work. Five lavishly illustrated chapters divide the furniture according to the feature that makes each piece extraordinary: extravagance, design, craftsmanship, mechanical complexity, or eccentricity. Organized chronologically to highlight the evolution of styles and manufacture, each chapter offers a series of thought-provoking combinations: the gilded elegance of Empress Josephine's bed forms a striking contrast to the purity of Shaker work; both illustrate extraordinary design. The superb photographs show the pieces in full and in close-up details, and often in their original settings. Many are from England's Royal Collection, a superb assemblage of rare and exceptional furniture. Other works are from important European and American sources, including the noted contemporary furniture designer Wendell Castle. A listing of the houses, castles, and museums where some of the furniture can be seen by the public adds to the book's value.