West-Indian Antique Furniture of the Lesser Antilles 1740-1940

Description

This work is intended to give the reader an insight into the furniture of the Lesser Antilles, and its place in the changing politics and history of these Caribbean islands. The inspiration for this book came initially from the collection formed by the author's mother, Dorothy Sturm, in Trinidad, during the years between 1939 and 1981. As Philip Sturm became increasingly involved with the responsibilities of caring for the family collection as well as being a keen collector himself, he discovered there were no books on the subject. He was obliged to rely on his own general knowledge, local information, an art and history background and many hours spent in the libraries and archives of Trinidad, Barbados, St. Kitts, and the Virgin Islands. Even this produced very little information, the only references coming from advertisements of furniture on packets arriving in the harbours, or from house auction sales. Accordingly, he resolved to draw upon his own experience and conduct his own detailed and lengthy researches into this hitherto neglected subject. The author hoped, above all, that his book would stimulate an interest in young West Indians to preserve their furniture heritage and keep it within the islands or return it to the West Indies when found elsewhere. He also hoped it would lead to a wider appreciation of West Indian craftsmanship and the abilities of indigenous furniture makers. Provides an insight into the little-known furniture of the Lesser Antilles Explains its place in the changing politics and history of the islands Promotes a wider appreciation of West Indian craftsmanship Seeks to stimulate an increased awareness of furniture heritage, especially among young West Indian Over 200 illustrated examples of island furniture, with detailed captions colour throughout

Philip Sturm was born and brought up in Trinidad, West Indies. He later moved to London and New York to further his education. He lived and worked for ten years in New York, joining the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art. His studies included European furniture, as a background to furthering his own knowledge of West Indian furniture which he had grown up with in Trinidad. He moved back to the Antilles, settling on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where he bought an historic property. He has published articles about West Indian antique furniture in several art magazines and has given lectures and slide shows on the subject. Over the years he has steadily put together a most comprehensive collection of Lesser Antilles furniture, adding to the pieces he inherited from his family, to form one of the largest known collections in existence. Philip has been a Board Member and President of the St. Thomas Historic Trust, Commissioner on the governmental Historic Preservation Commission, and several other boards dealing with preservation, West Indian furniture and the arts. He is also the curator and adviser on several museum boards in the Antilles.