FURNISHING VAN DIEMAN’S LAND TASMANIAN FURNITURE OF THE EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD 1803-1870

This beautifully illustrated book is the first publication dedicated solely to Tasmanian-made furniture of the early colonial period. Furnishing Van Diemen’s Land tells the story of how British design traditions were translated to the conditions of a new land by skilled furniture-makers, some of whom who arrived as convicts and others as free settlers. The island’s booming economy and high immigration in the first half of the century created a strong demand for locally made furniture. The book explores Tasmania’s rich legacy of late Georgian, Regency and early Victorian furniture, characterised by restrained design, fine craftsmanship and beautiful ornamental timbers, including the island’s famed endemic species, Huon pine, blackwood and musk. It showcases pieces from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Collection, Government House Tasmania, and from collections held around Australia. Featuring stunning photography and expert insights, Furnishing Van Diemen’s Land is an essential for collectors, historians and design enthusiasts.