Irish furniture and woodcraft - John Teahan

Irish Furniture and Woodcraft examines the development of Irish furniture and woodcraft from prehistoric times to the present day. The story is a fascinating one: the earliest known examples of wrought wood are round-based bowls of willow, poplar and alder which date to 2500 BC, and the earliest piece illustrated in this book is a wooden box dating to about 700 BC, which it is believed was used to hold ornaments. In addition to actual pieces, evidence of early furniture types is also to be found on illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, and on Irish high crosses, with pieces often depicted in considerable detail. John Teahan examines the changing designs and styles down through the centuries. He focuses particularly on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when a variety of Irish furniture types were in vogue. The book is beautifully illustrated with a cross-section of spectacular pieces, all testimony to the versatility and expertise of Irish craftworkers.