The most comprehensive publication available to date on the topic; Art and Industry in Early America examines furniture made throughout Rhode Island from the earliest days of the settlement to the late Federal period. This stunning volume features more than 200 illustrations of beautifully constructed and carved objects—including chairs; high chests; bureau tables; and clocks—that demonstrate the superb workmanship and artistic skill of the state’s furniture makers. Written by distinguished scholars; the book presents new information on the export trade; patronage; artistic collaboration; and the small-scale shop traditions that defined early Rhode Island craftsmanship. In addition to iconic; stylish pieces from important centers of production like Newport and Providence and by well-known makers such as John Goddard and Samuel and Joseph Rawson; Jr.; the catalogue showcases simpler examples made in smaller towns. More than 100 catalogue entries detail marks and inscriptions; bibliography; and provenance and feature many new photographs; encouraging a deeper understanding of this dynamic school of American furniture making.
#556385 in Books Lipman Andrew 2015-11-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.00 x 6.12l; .0 #File Name: 0300207662360 pagesThe Saltwater Frontier Indians and the Contest for the American Coast
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy ShaunFantastic new take on European/Native American relations. A brilliant book and fluid read!22 of 22 people found the following review helpful. An outstandingly creative look at colonial history. The native Americans were maritime peoples; too.By lyndonbrechtAn outstandingly creative way to look at colonial history. The title is a little misleading in that it is only a small portion of the possible range; focusing almost entirely on the coastal area from Cape Cod to the Hudson River (such a concept could apply to the French efforts on the Gulf Coast or the Spanish say from Panama to Venezuela). This allows a comparison between the Dutch in New Amsterdam and the English in southern New England. The book also closely examines Indian (the term I'll use here; although carrying a lot of cultural baggage) peoples as sea-oriented--natives had a fairly extensive maritime technology including sizable dugout canoes; even occasional sails; and traded at some distance; fished and traveled considerable distances on a regular basis (for example; crossing from what is now Connecticut to Long Island). In other words; the book looks at the colonial encounter as a contact between two maritime cultures. Or three; actually: Dutch; English and coastal native peoples.There's some fascinating material in the book. Natives made and sold dugout canoes to colonists; both Dutch and English; and harvested extra corn for market sales; as well. The book has an excellent discussion of wampum; and an interesting mention of how these multicultural coastal communities were linked to the growing world market. There's also coexistence and alas; quite deadly wars; the decade from about 1634 saw about 2;000 Indians and more than a hundred settlers killed--and the later King Phillip's war saw a thousand settlers killed. Lipman notes a practice of the New Englanders in war; one that has gotten no mention in patriotic American histories; of demanding heads from Indian allies as proof of loyalty; the heads from enemies like the Pequots. The heads were apparently set on spikes as was done with Irish rebels and English rebels on the other side of the Atlantic. Indian captives (captured primarily by the English settlers) were used as personal servants or sold as slaves; in considerable numbers; the Indian slaves developed a bad reputation for resistance and were had to sell.There's a parenthetical mention of enslavement of Indians; 2 to 4 million with 600;000 taken over blue water to the islands and to Spain. There's an intriguing section on shore whaling; which lasted into the 1700s with Indians as the whalers and the fishery resulting from a kind of merger of the two maritime cultures. Apparently Indians were often in a kind of debt peonage not differing so much from slavery. The Indian presence in the American whaling industry was considerable; with natives forming members of very many whaling crews. This discussion segues into the continued existence of Native American communities throughout the area lasting into the present; a complication is that free black people (and presumably some escapees from slavery) married into Indian groups to produce distinctive mixed-ethnicity communities. Keep in mind that this book is more or less exploratory; and if as the author hopes; more historians do this kind of history; things will become better understood.The book is very well written; and has a certain verve not common among historians. It has a few illustrations; all useful; and some good maps.2 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Worthwhile venture into American Colonial HistoryBy Laurence J. BloomWorthwhile coverage of a part of colonial American history long neglected. This book answers several questions along the line of "I wonder why that happened? It doesn't make sense to me."
