Lost Art Press

Recommended Reading: Butler’s ‘Field Guide’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

Almost every week, someone on the LAP Open Wire asks what book they should read to learn about the different furniture styles. To be honest, I haven’t had a good answer because most of the guides to furniture styles are terrible and not worth buying for $1.

So I took some time to see if I could hunt up a decent one. During my search, I thought: Dang. I sure wish there was a book like Virginia McAlester’s “Field Guide to American Houses.” It is clear, concise and does not turn its back on vernacular forms.

Turns out, there is a similar book for American furniture styles: “Field Guide to American Antique Furniture” by Joseph T. Butler (1985, Henry Holt).

The book is exactly what we would publish here at Lost Art Press. The first section contains a short overview of the major American styles, from the 17th century to the early 20th century. How did the styles emerge? What influenced them? What are their major features?

The bulk of the book is devoted to showing you illustrations of different furniture forms in all of the American styles.

Chairs

Tables

Beds

Daybeds, Sofas, Benches, Settes

Lift-top Chests

Chests of Drawers

Desks and Bookcases

And Miscellaneous

So you’ll learn – through illustrations – what are the differences between a Queen Anne candlestand and a Chippendale one. Or a William and Mary cupboard compared to a Victorian one.

It’s fun to browse through. And is a great reference. There’s even an excellent glossary of furniture terms at the back.

So there you go. Buy that book. Read it. Memorize it (there will be a quiz). And only then can you bug me about a book on European furniture styles.

— Christopher Schwarz

18 thoughts on “Recommended Reading: Butler’s ‘Field Guide’”

    1. I hear there is an addendum in the back with plans for a live edge plywood and dyed epoxy wall shelf for displaying collectible American cups as well as cups in Welsh chair seats.

  3. I loved looking at the number of used copies on Amazon go from 53 to 41 in the twenty minutes after the post’s email went out and then down to 19 an hour later. If you were wondering if anyone pays attention to the blog, the answer is yes.

    1. Yes, I thought the same thing. I saw the reference to this book in the comments in Saturday’s Open Wire. I ordered my (hardback) copy on Tuesday for $10. I was surprised there were any still available but I guess the comments don’t get the following like posts. When I saw this post today I knew what the impact would be to used inventory. You’ve documented it well. Glad I got in in front of the wave.

  4. Thanks, I just ordered a used copy for four bucks. I’m sure the price will see a 500% increase by the end of tomorrow. Just do us all a favor and don’t start posting stock picks. The market is unstable enough as it is.

    1. I got one at AbeBooks minutes after the post for $5. Looked in my email today and the order was cancelled. Back on AbeBooks, they’re $50+. Cool!

        1. What’s crazy are the LAP books on the used market that are going for higher than retail and those books are available new at the retail price.

  6. I haven’t read the book, but even I can tell the difference between chippendales. To be fair, I’ve only seen a pair of chippendales. And they were Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley. But there was a noticeable design-aesthetic difference.

  7. another good reference book on furniture is called The Knopf Collectors Guides to American Antiques: Chests, Cupboards, Desks & Other Pieces. I bought it at an antique show and is filled with hundreds of pieces along with descriptions, materials and dimensions, and comments on the piece. Well worth getting if you can find it.

    1. Thanks for that bit of info Jonathan. I’ve already complied a library that will probably hit the Goodwill upon my passing.

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