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Interiors: The Home Since 1700
The development of the domestic interior is a history of consumption and taste. In this book, for the first time, this story is set against the cultural and industrial changes taking place in the western world since the seventeenth century.
Unlike almost all previous histories, this book does not deal exclusively with the grand houses of the Steven Parissien's masterly text concentrates rather on the homes of the merchants and middle classes, who have been the first to take advantage of new technologies to furnish and decorate their homes.
Fully illustrated with contemporary plates from catalogs and books, as well as paintings and photography, this beautiful book traces a constantly absorbing and often surprising story, as it took place all over Western Europe and North America. Ideal for all students of and enthusiasts for the domestic interior and period settings. Steven Parissien's strongly narrative text explains not simply what happened, but why.
Unlike almost all previous histories, this book does not deal exclusively with the grand houses of the Steven Parissien's masterly text concentrates rather on the homes of the merchants and middle classes, who have been the first to take advantage of new technologies to furnish and decorate their homes.
Fully illustrated with contemporary plates from catalogs and books, as well as paintings and photography, this beautiful book traces a constantly absorbing and often surprising story, as it took place all over Western Europe and North America. Ideal for all students of and enthusiasts for the domestic interior and period settings. Steven Parissien's strongly narrative text explains not simply what happened, but why.
- GenresArt
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 2008
17 people want to read
About the author
Steven Parissien
35 books5 followersDr Steven Parissien is an internationally-renowned author who has written extensively on architectural and cultural history. He is the director of Compton Verney museum and gallery in Warwickshire.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2025
A good historical book about interiors.
The author knows all the cool furniture you've probably seen in your life by it's original name. I had to Google a lot of the stuff he'd mention, and then I'd say: 'Oh! That thing!?'.
He really demystified a lot of design things by placing them in their historical context.
Modernism is basically a century old. Very confusing name, and also I had no idea. Oh and Applied Art is a thing that exists. Also had no idea about that. I only knew of Fine Art.
I'd love to see what this guy's house looks like though, to see if he himself walks the talk.
Anyways that's my review. Thanks!
The author knows all the cool furniture you've probably seen in your life by it's original name. I had to Google a lot of the stuff he'd mention, and then I'd say: 'Oh! That thing!?'.
He really demystified a lot of design things by placing them in their historical context.
Modernism is basically a century old. Very confusing name, and also I had no idea. Oh and Applied Art is a thing that exists. Also had no idea about that. I only knew of Fine Art.
I'd love to see what this guy's house looks like though, to see if he himself walks the talk.
Anyways that's my review. Thanks!
August 27, 2018
I would possibly revisit when I had more time as it is quite a detailed text book, I didn’t get to read it all, only flick through every page. I enjoyed the old advertising images and watercolour designs of interiors in bygone eras.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews