The essays in this book explore a wide range of furniture styles, from colonial times to the present day. The first of four essays on regionalism calls for a more sophisticated approach that includes geographical, social and economic factors; the second examines early American furniture in the Atlantic community; and the other two discuss the furniture of Appalachia and the St.Johns Valley in Maine. Topics in the second group, dealing with aspects of craftsmanship and trade, include the marketing of Windsor chairs and the recollections of a 20th century upholsterer. Finally, four essays discuss social aspects of furniture - for example, 19th century quasi-public room settings (such as railroad cars, hotel lobbies and steamboats) as models for furnishing the home.