Thos. Moser: Artistry in Wood

by Thos. Moser, Brad Lemley (With)

Feted by aficionados of woodcraft for his reverence of historical forms and traditions, attention to elegant proportions, and devotion to exquisite detail, Thomas Moser has achieved the highest quality in the creation of fine furniture. Here, in his own words, the world-renowned woodworker recounts the history of his workshop, Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers, and provides insight into the philosophy, materials, and processes that are the foundation of his style. Moser furniture references Arts and Crafts, Mission, Shaker, and Japanese styles, but is always completely original and meticulously hand-finished. Lavishly illustrated with over 300 full-color and black-and-white photographs and shop drawings, this is a sumptuous celebration of a master artisan and his oeuvre.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2002

Reviews

[Elisabeth Moser Katt · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK so maybe I read this book at first because of the artists last name but I was pleasantly pleased with the excellent quality of his work

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this one felt more like an advertisement for his company. However, I did enjoy his descriptions of his inspirations and how the Moser design aesthetic developed over time. His advice to study historical furniture design rather than just trying to come up with something brand new out of nothing was impactful and I will try to apply it in my own woodworking.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this.

[Lorenzo Diaz campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justo en la intersección entre la historia y el presente de la producción del verdadero mueble americano encontramos a personaje chapado a la antigua, Thomas Moser. Esta es su historia.
La historia del mueble en madera de la costa este de los Estados Unidos es fascinante. Con orígenes, por razones obvias, en la tradición de la ebanistería inglesa se ha ido enriqueciendo y amalgamando con tradiciones provenientes de innumerables rincones de Europa.
Hojear el catálogo de Thos. Moser, a mejor aún tocar y disfrutar sus muebles en alguna de sus salas de exhibición es comprender los valores más profundos de un oficio de antigüedad bíblica. La primera vez que conocí sus sillas y bancos quedé prendado, entendí inmediatamente que estaba de frente a un mueble contemporáneo que llevaba adoso toda la historia del mueble americano, decenios de tradición y técnica depuradas.
Este singular volumen, escrito de puño y letra del mismísimo Thomas Moser, detalla su aventura. Una vida que nos deja un legado rico y valioso a todos aquellos que entendemos el arte de la ebanistería y que vemos en los muebles a compañeros de vida. El libro acompaña al lector desde los orígenes de la empresa, su exitosa carrera y su visión actual. Lo que lo hace muy valiosos es que la historia está contada en primera persona.

[Larry Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Thomas Moser by accident. During a humid August day in Boston, I ducked into an air conditioned furniture store to peruse the pieces and cool down. It was a Thos. Moser gallery. His book was on display. As both a scholar and a woodworker, I was captivated by his journey from college professor to professional furniture maker. My sweetie thoughtfully found a copy of the book and bought it for me as a gift.

[Kamal · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, this book seems more like the Thos. Moser Catalogue in narrative form, but only a few pages in you realize Moser's ability as a storyteller. The book is full of gorgeous photos of Shaker-inspired furniture but it also harbours several anecdotes about Moser, his family and their hard work over three decades to produce and maintain an extraordinary company that still operates today.

[Anna Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heaps of similarities.