Peter Gibbs keeps a substantial library spanning centuries of the decorative arts, including the history of furniture, cabinet making and architecture. He finds that this helps clients with their choices and gives him a great range of ideas to present to them. This process is important when a ‘one-off’ piece is being commissioned and assists in getting the details right.
Some of the titles are original and historic, others are reprints and facsimiles. The 19th century titles that have never been reprinted are available for perusal at the Mitchell Library, the State Library of NSW and The Resource Centre of Historic Houses Trust of NSW at The Mint. Both are located in Macquarie Street, Sydney.
The English magazine, Country Life, since 1897, published weekly, is also an inexhaustible supply of material concerning the decorative arts, including furniture.
From time to time this site will feature some of the iconic and indispensable books on the subject. This will be found in the What’s New section.
The essential titles concerning Australian Colonial Furniture are;
- Craig, Fahy and Robertson. Early Colonial Furniture in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land, Melbourne 1972.
- Simpson, Fahy et al. First Fleet to Federation-Australian Antiques, Sydney 1977.
- Fahy, Simpson and Simpson. Nineteenth Century Australian Furniture, Sydney 1985.
- Fahy and Simpson. Australian Furniture Pictorial History and Dictionary 1788-1850, Sydney 1988.
- Broadbent et al. India, China, Australia. Trade and Society 1788-1850, Sydney 2003.
Titles concerning Australian cedar in particular or Australian timber in general are;
- Baker. Cabinet Timbers of Australia, Sydney 1913.
- Hudson and Henningham. Gift of God-Friend of Man. A Story of the Timber Industry in New South Wales 1788-1986, Sydney 1986.
- Vader. Red Cedar. The Tree of Australia’s History, Sydney 1987.
- McPhee et al. Red Cedar in Australia, Sydney 2004. (Guidebook published by Historic Houses Trust of N.S.W. in association with the exhibition held at the Museum of Sydney 2004.)