Lost Art Press

Update on the Book Formerly Known as ‘The Furniture of Necessity’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

MarriageMark

Almost every book I’ve written has started out as one thing (a manual on how to use crappy store-bought workbenches) and ended up as something else (“Workbenches: From Design & Theory to Construction & Use”).

My latest book is no different. It began as examination of furniture forms that have remained unchanged for the last 500 years, what I call the “furniture of necessity.” And at its core, the book is still that.

But as I dug further back into the historical record I began to see a bright string that begins with the furniture of the 12th century, snakes through every century and is tied with a bow to Danish Modern – then it unravels and falls apart with Bauhaus and biometric forms.

Most of all, I found the writing of this book has given voice to my own furniture designs, something I’ve been reluctant to do as a magazine editor or book publisher. (As an author with more guts than brains, however….)

Anyone who has ever visited my house knows that it is filled with many pieces that reflect my stripped-down aesthetic. I don’t like ornamentation. And I try to remove myself as much from the piece, paring things down until I get some heavy Buddhist feedback.

(By the way, I also own some historical pieces – I was an Arts & Crafts collector back in the early 1990s. And I have things that friends have made – potters, painters and other furniture-makers. So it’s not like a scene out of “2001: A Space Odyssey” but in wood.)

I’ve now written this book three times in its entirety and thrown out my two early versions (please don’t ask for them; they are the same place as my first novel). Each time, my point of view shifted as I was willing to walk out a little further on the ledge. When I was in England for 16 days in August, I started rewriting the opening line of the book and didn’t stop until… well, I haven’t stopped.

I have only two short chapters to write. Briony Morrow-Cribbs is working on the copperplate etchings. And then I’ll design the book. It might sound like a lot of work, but this is the easy part.

The most recent thing I’ve been working on is the book’s title and the cover logo. One evening in Sheepwash, Devon, I realized the name of the book I was writing was “The Anarchist’s Design Book.”

And so it is.

— Christopher Schwarz

P.S. Expect this book in January 2016.

46 thoughts on “Update on the Book Formerly Known as ‘The Furniture of Necessity’”

  3. I have followed your journey on this book through this blog. I eagerly await its completion, as the content I have seen thus far appeals to me.

  4. As with the others I am eager to read this tome! I have followed it through all your blogs and even as close as yesterday looked up an old blog of yours to get some reference for something I am working on now….and crossing my fingers that you will still have that in the book too!
    If it matters for anything I do like the name!

  5. So looking forward to the finished product. I know it has been a long time in the making.
    Thank you for your continued support of the craft. I am building quite the library to pass down to my grandchildren.
    All the best Chris

  7. Love the stylized french triangle as the next ‘A’, where has that been this whole time? Brilliant, simple, unadorned, perfect. So excited for this project.

  8. You know, that would make a great hat. (Just in time for Christmas too!)
    (Please.)

  9. Very much looking forward to the book. I’ll be the curmudgeon and say that the title feels a bit like a cop out, however.

    1. Joe,

      After four years of writing this thing, I honestly don’t give a crap what anyone else thinks about the title — especially those who haven’t read it.

      So I see your curmudgeoness and raise you.

      1. don’t judge a book by its title………..I am all in.
        been looking forward to its release.

      3. Curmudgeonly humbled and I love it. Call it what you will, I’m just glad you are writing it.

  12. Excellent Chris… you got there in the end – to the design book to follow on where you left off with the Anarchist’s Tool Chest… can’t wait to read this one!

    And I agree with your sentiments on the title TOTALLY!

  13. Call it anything you like, it’s your book. I will pre-order as soon as that option is available. The designs and prototypes created as the book evolves are heading in a new direction. It should be a great book.

  14. Been waiting for this one since you announced it. Don’t care if you call it “Arky piddling in the dark”, I would still buy it. If you call it that, it won’t go on the good bookshelf though…

  15. Another vote firmly in the ‘can’t wait to pre-order it’ camp. And I love the name!

  17. First novel? How many have you written?

    I read Roy’s over the weekend; great fun, thank you.

  22. I like it. I like “furniture of nessisity” better based on what I know of the book. That having been said , the new title makes more sense. Build a chest snd fill it with tools. Build furniture with those tools. Wait, arent we missing a book? One about builing a small cabin workshop by hand? The Anarchists Cabin. Lol. No matter the title im in, and im shure after reading it will make all the more sense. You all do excelent work

  25. Knowing your work I’ve been following with you for years and I always try not to judge a book by its cover!

    Keep it up,
    Paul F

  26. I like the new title, especially since it seems to me that the direction the book has been taking lately is, at least philosophically, a continuation of the ideas in the ATC. I’ll definitely need a copy.

    2. No, but you will get two birdhouses in exchange. 😉

      Totally kidding, of course, since I have no idea what is in the book. Projects alluded to on the blog include a coffin, six board chest, and Pleistocene pie safe (made popwood cover earlier this year–Aubry, ambrey, gah gotta go to Google). Aumbry, February 2015 edition of Popular Woodworking–precursor to modern carcases. http://www.shopwoodworking.com/popular-woodworking-magazine-february-2015-download

  29. I gotta admit, “The Furniture of Necessity’ never really grabbed me. I was even thinking I was going to sit this one out. No chance now, I’m all in.

  30. Excellent title. It has sounded for a while that the book had gone from a study of historical vernacular styles and construction to a design book based on them. Buried the lede though 😉 “One evening in Sheepwash, Devon, I realized … ” Wonderful.

  31. Any chance of a “Name that book” competition, with free T-shirt to the winner? Looking forward to January, and thanks for your work.

      2. Ha! Sorry…I missed that last paragraph. That’s much better than my “Furniture Essentials” idea. Guess I’ll be buying my own LAP T-shirt when I order the book!

  32. When I was studying journalism I was tought to use as few words as possible to convey a thought. So I deleted my prior paragraph …

    Perfect!

Comments are closed.