The urge to cling to the past in an age which is so notoriously progressive receives its clearest expression in the unflagging interest shown in the fine antiques which are defined and skilfully related to their social and historical context in this guide to English furniture.

Mr. McDonald treats a remarkably comprehensive list of models. After a panorama of the main periods and trends, he devotes separate chapters to various kinds of furniture - beds, chairs, clocks, bureaux and many others - and traces their individual history through the centuries in all their variations from Tudor to Victorian. In this way, dating any piece is of no difficulty to the reader despite the modifications and additions of time, and the material is invaluable for the purpose of general reference.

Antique Furniture is also a commentary on craft technique and is as concerned with joints and handles as it is with ornamentation or the turn of a foot. A chapter on woods is provided and the illustrations, clear and informative, are more than an accessory to the text.

There remain the problem of antiques in the modern home, questions of suitability, expense, bulk preservation, and they are all considered. Finally, Mr. McDonald discovers for us which models are most easily available and in what woods, as well as appraising the taste he describes to assist our judgment.