The first half of the century was in many ways a testing ground for ideas that only became reality in succeeding generations, benefiting from the huge technological advances made during the Second World War and from the dynamic force of consumer demand. New materials and techniques created previously undreamed-of possibilities that were exploited to the full by innovative furniture designers.

The exciting results began in 1945 with such achievements as the highly sculptural molded plywood chairs of Charles and Ray Eames, who were among the first to use organic shapes derived from the natural world. Revolutionary 1950s designs, including Harry Bertoia's wire Diamond chairs and Eero Saarinen's futuristic Pedestal Group, were followed in the late 1950s by the rise of consumerism -- and the eccentricities of kitsch -- which in turn gave way in the 1960s to the explosion of Pop culture.

The following decades were equally rich, with the development of Counter Design by Ettore Sottsass, the factory lights and scaffolding supports of High-Tech, the Craft Revival, Art Furniture, and Ergonomic styling, with each trend continuing to show intriguing national and regional differences.

This has become the standard work on the furniture of the entire period: every piece included is able to stand for all time as a classic work of design. Illustrated with over 140 color reproductions, all accompanied by detailed descriptions, it iscompleted by a comprehensive reference section that provides detailed designer biographies, a bibliography, a list of retail outlets and museums, and advice on collecting.