I have been quite surprised to find such a lack of info on literature patterning to the upholstery trade, your bookstore does not carry the essentials and the important books one would need to understand what this trade is all about...at any rate here's my contribution to you all before I retire from this forum. I'm including French trade Books, language should not be an issue for these books are full of step by step pictures and should be able to guide you in your endeavor to better yourself.
Evidently, one who aspire to become a professional upholsterer should have an understanding of furniture styles and periods, visit museums and take note of the evolution of upholstery throughout centuries. The eye should be trained as well as the hand, and visual references are essential to this trade. If a bare frame comes to you you need to visualize its volumes and forms.
Here is the reading list I suggest to my students:
Practical Upholstering/Frederic Palmer/Stein & Day/ISBN0-8128-6170-1
Modern Furniture Upholstering(1923)/John W.Stevenson/Potterton Books.
Fabric magic/Melanie Paine/Pantheon books.ISBN 0-394-55713-1
Upholstery Techniques and projects/David James/Guild of Master Craftman Publication/ISBN 0-946819-41-6
Upholstery, a complete course/David James/Guild of Master Craftsman Publication/ISBN 0946 81919x
All about upholstering/John Bergen/Hawthorn-Dutton/ISBN 0-8015-0169-5
The Art of Hand Tufting/Don Zitur/Nordel Graphic Communications
The Complete Upholsterer/Carole Thomerson/Knopf/ISBN 0-679-72599-7
Upholstering Home Furniture/Blanche Romick Pope/Manual Art Press
The History of Furniture/several authors, intro by Sir Francis Watson/McDonald & Co/ISBN 0-7481-0244-2
Understanding textiles/Tortora/McMillan/ISBN 0-02-421195-8
Textiles/Kadolph, Langford,Holen,Saddler/McMillan/ISBN 0-02-361601-6
The Gentleman & Cabinet-maker's directory/Thomas Chippendale/Dover/ISBN 0-486-21601-2
The Cabinet-maker & Upholsterer's guide/George Hepplewhite/Dover/ISBN 0-486-22183-0
The Cabinet-maker & Upholsterer's drawing book/Thomas Sheraton/Dover/ISBN 0-486-22255-1
Traditional Upholstery in Europe & America/Ned Cooke/MFA Boston
L'encyclopedie Diderot et D'alembert/Inter-Livres/ISBN 2-905-388-536
Tapisserie D'Ameublement/Claude Ossut/Potterton
Le Siege et sa Garniture/Claude Ossut/Potterton
La Tapisserie et la Decoration, Les Sieges/Marpillat, Jodeau/Potterton
Table of Styles, French Furniture in History/Bertrand/Potterton
hi
i have read a few of the books you mention, they are invaluable & helped me to better understand upholstery...
im sure these books will go down well...... thanx
chris
Thanks for the chuckle. I had a long day today. I appreciate your sense of humor.
gene
Tapissier, it's an honor to see you reference my grandfather's book, The Art of Hand Tufting by Don Zitur Sr. I'd also like to let the site's visitors know that the book is still available directly from the author at his website, http://artcraftmn.com Dolly Don and I thank you all for your support.
I have read some of these books, I found them from an earlier post of yours, either here or another forum. These books have given me very valuable insight as I have a very limited experience in my uncles shop 25 years ago. I helped me to understand the why of what we were doing then. I would to thank you for the post.