Historic Ornament : From Ancient Times to Biedermeier

Ernst Rettelbusch's great Stilhandbuch [Handbook of Styles] was the lifework of a connoisseur and practicing professional in the fields of architecture, interior design, and furniture design. Intended as an introduction for students and amateurs, it contains over 1,200 examples of ornamental and decorative design produced by many cultures over five millennia.
This volume is an unabridged republication, with new English translations of the Preface and descriptions of the plates of this great classic. Ranging from the time of ancient Egypt to nineteenth- century Germany, it documents a wealth of designs from Assyrian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and other ancient cultures, along with material from the European Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods. Also included are English furniture designs by Chippendale, Sheraton, and Hepplewhite, French Empire designs, Nordic motifs, Chinese and Japanese material, and much more.
Beautifully rendered in meticulous detail, these plates will serve as a comprehensive historical review for students of decorative design, an invaluable treasury of art and design for royalty-free use, and a rich source of inspiration for anyone working in the fine or applied arts.
Dover (1996) unabridged republication of the third edition of Stilhandbuch: Ornamentik, Möbel, Innenausbau von den ältesten Zeiten bis zum Biedermeier, published by Verlag Julius Hoffmann, Stuttgart, 1937.