Fay Butler Fab/Metal Shaping

Fay's Ultimate Library

Furniture Treasury
By Wallace Nutting
Copyright 1928
ISBN: 0-02-590980-0
1000+ pages, with 5000+ photographs
Printed in B&W, mostly photographs with some drawings
8 inch by 10.5-inch format

This is the bible of period furniture representing the first 200 years of American furniture from 1640-1840 before the machine age. Individual craftsman then made all furniture and regions of New England developed their own details with the design eras of the time. It originally was printed in three volumes, with the first two volumes being pictures of furniture. Some drawings of details are included. There is limited text one each page describing the piece of furniture pictured. Later volumes one and two were printed in one book, unabridged. Volume three was written as a discussion of furniture, where the author laid out his thoughts from this time period. Wallace Nutting was a businessman who made reproduction furniture, at the turn of the century with his business being in Framingham, MA. In the early 1970’s when I was in college studying to become a High School Industrial Arts teacher, my woodworking professor Walter Harrod referenced this series of books often. Due to that reference, and my reverence for him, I took it on myself I read the entire set cover to cover. For me with a reading issue that was a very large task. It is my opinion that everyone should know about the history of American furniture, in order to make better choices as to what they want in their home environment. Putting it another way, knowing our history is important to understanding current choices and those in our future.

I recommend all three volumes of this series, with volume I and II being acceptable either together or separate. Volume three, not listed or shown here, has always been a separate book.