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Article: A revolution in taste: Furniture design in the American backcountry.
- Article from:
- The Magazine Antiques
- Article date:
- January 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Backcountry artisans have contributed mightily to American culture, but their legacy remains obscured by the superb craftsmanship of specialists in the famous ports along the eastern seaboard. Rarely analyzed on its own terms, rural workmanship is usually awarded a wry smile for eccentricity rather than applause for ingenuity. [1] Yet America's rural population was the largest component of society until the 1920s. What can we learn about our national past from the material culture of rural people? And what information lies in the designs and techniques of the local craftsmen who labored for their neighbors? Because of the universal need for furniture, the work of cabinet- ...