Gustav Stickley: The Craftsman by Mary Ann Smith

Gustav Stickley: The Craftsman by Mary Ann Smith

The accolades awarded to the furniture designed at the turn of the century by Gustav Stickley have almost overshadowed the fact that he was also a gifted architect whose house designs strongly influenced American architecture in the early decades of the century. Moreover, as publisher of "The Craftsman" magazine, Stickley was largely responsible for the dissemination of the goals and ideals of the English Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States.

Until the publication of this book, however, the totality of Stickley's achievement was largely undocumented. It remained for Mary Ann Smith, in this notable study, to illuminate the broader scope of his accomplishments, particularly in the field of architecture. With insight and enthusiasm, Ms. Smith chronicles the formation of Stickley's design philosophy, the history of "The Craftsmen," and the major events in the rise and fall of the Craftsman empire. The study focuses on Craftsman houses, which represented both a logical outgrowth of Stickley's furniture designs and the summation of his ideals. Included here are illustrations, descriptions and floor plans for many choice examples of Craftsman houses across America - houses that Stickley's concern for the total living environment, from furniture and woodwork to hardware, light fixtures linens.