At Home in Arkansas Book Recommendation

Posted on 30 July 2009

This book by Sylvie Chadenet comes highly recommended in the antiques world with 750 line drawings and brief descriptive texts of French furniture spanning four centuries. It’s a handy resource for experts like Renee Hunt at French Metro Antiques in Fayetteville (who recommended it to me), but it’s so easy to use that even novices should consider adding it to their reading repertoire.

Beginning with an illustrated glossary of terms (Did you know that a “chiffonniere” is a small, high table on legs and equipped with three drawers? Or that an “encoignure” is a corner cupboard?), it also includes a discussion of the social trends that affected each era of design. If you love French furniture, or just want a fun read for the ensuing weekend, you’ll have a tough time putting this one down.

PS- Have a look at these French furniture cameos on the pages of At Home in Arkansas… très belle!

Louis XV-style table with marble oval top and curved legs with bronze shoes.

Louis XVI-style table with marble square top and straight legs.