Founded by Marius Barbeau, the pioneer of French-Canadian decorative arts recognition, the Royal Ontario Museum's is the most significant collection of early French-Canadian furniture outside Quebec. Armoires, cradles, chairs, tables, desks, commodes, buffets, cupboards, chests, and room paneling are included. The furniture of New France reflected the styles and traditions of the earliest settlers' ancestral homes, Brittany and Normandy especially. Later British and American influences were most pronounced in urban centres. In rural towns and villages, French artisanship continued to the mid-19th century. By 1900, the tradition had been supplanted by the mass-produced furniture of mechanised factories. Rococo to Rustique looks at 200 years of French-Canadian furniture and surveys the social and historical context in which the furniture was produced, illustrated in part through watercolours from the museum's celebrated collection of Canadian heritage art.

"Antique Furniture of Quebec" brings together hundreds of sumptuous full-colour photographs illustrating every phase in the history of Quebec furniture and an authoritative text written by Michel Lessard describing and analysing that history. The result is a book that is both a beautiful object and an unparalleled resource. Lessard emphasizes the cosmopolitan and eclectic nature of Quebec society and its openness to outside influences. He draws upon both textual and photographic sources to demonstrate that Quebeckers, from the first years of settlement to the present time, have adopted craft and design ideas from abroad. The three cultures that have historically shaped Quebec society, that of France, Great Britain, and the United States, have naturally been the most powerful influences. Lessard traces their effect while, at the same time, demonstrating the often original and creative response to these influences by Quebec designers, artists, and craftspeople. It's all in these pages: from the ornate and often heavy furniture of eighteenth century France to the primitive, Shaker-influenced pine furniture of rural Quebec, to William Morris and Art Deco and, finally, the Modern era. Of particular interest is the series of homes that the author has tracked down, each typical of a particular era and each preserved with furnishings appropriate to the era in place. By this and other means, Michel Lessard masterfully combines an appreciation of the historical and social context in which furniture is made and used with a thorough understanding of the craft and business of furniture-making. "Furniture," writes Michel Lessard, "is an open book containing a multitude of stories." This lavish and authoritative book is certain to continue telling its stories for years to come.

Identifies and summarizes thousands of books, article, exhibition catalogues, government publications, and theses published in many countries and in several languages from the early nineteenth century to 1981.

This updated edition features designs from 1800 up to present day, and features the biggest names in furniture design, art, architecture and craft.

Add That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi to Your Home, Effortlessly Rustic and elegant French décor never goes out of style—and with easy yet sophisticated accessories for your home, these 70 projects will transform your space and add that special touch to any room. Jamie Lundstrom’s projects use easy-to-find and recycled objects, as well as new materials, to bring her French vintage style into your life. Projects span every season and category, from sewing to painting and upholstery, including provincial antique baskets, a fantastique Trumeau mirror, a jolie gold leaf frame, boutique plaster of Paris–dipped flowers and a chic antique chair. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions with beautiful photos to help guide you, these projects can be created in just a few hours or less.