Furniture maker David Savage has posted a review of “The Book of Plates” on his blog today.
I wasn’t sure what he would think of the book. His furniture is so incredibly contemporary, that it would be easy for a modern maker to dismiss the work of A.J. Roubo as irrelevant or obsolete.
But then David is also an artist who values highly the skill of drawing.
If you would like to read his entire entry, go here.
Here is a brief excerpt:
This book is just stunning! Why in this three-second-attention-span age should we need an American publisher to show us the work of an almost forgotten French furniture maker? We deserve the celebrity-ridden, cultural desert we inhabit – so we should celebrate and recognise the publishers who take this delightfully contrarian view. It will have taken conviction and determination to do this – this alone should be celebrated.
So what have they done, this small independent American (dammit) publisher?
They have found and published the writings of an almost forgotten and largely ignored French writer, designer and craftsman, called Andre-Jacob Roubo. This is a man who not only has the technical skill of great maker, but the illustrative ability of an artist and, to complete the circle, the communicative ability of a writer.
“The Book of Plates” is available from the Lost Art Press store, where it is shipped in a box made from baby seals who were clubbed by Festool employees. It also is available from our retailers here.
— Christopher Schwarz
Well that was a nice Christmas present for you guys.
Like David i wrapped the book and put it under the tree. Unlike David I labeled it for my dear, supportive wife and let her unwrap it to squeals of delight…from us both. T’was a lovely Christmas in our home.
A well deserved response to all of the multi-year effort that you, Don Williams,and all of the others put into this work of love and respect.
Lee (the saw guy)
If I had realized the box came from clubbed baby seals, I would have saved it instead of tossing it in the recycle bin.
Sent from my iPhone
The custom box was the least of my concerns. But some kids like the packaging more than the contents…
Lynn Bradford
The book boxes bumpers saved my one and only Christamas present from the USPS. Ocean mammals make good shock absorbers.
The book is a beautiful object, and certainly a “decadent pleasure” Thank you Lost Art Press!
What a well written and well deserved compliment.
I knew there was more to those tiny Christmas sustainers from Festool then shop aprons.
Mine to was a self-selected Christmas present! The box took a beating but AJR was fine inside! I’m sure I be perusing this book for years, thanks guys.
Nate