Cuban Elegance FROM THE PUBLISHER
At a time when more and more travelers are discovering Cuba, which has been locked away from the outside world for more than 40 years, this lavishly illustrated, absorbing volume offers a completely different view of the island from the one seen by most visitors. This book presents not the picturesque Cuba of Castro's era with its derelict buildings and peeling paint, but the opulent world of the Spanish Creole aristocracy of the colonial period, which has continued to influence Cuban taste and cultural life on a more modest scale even to this day.Emphasizing the palatial homes and elegant furnishings of the island's enormously rich sugar, cotton, and tobacco barons, Cuban Elegance relates the social, cultural, architectural, and interior design history of Cuba, and of the Caribbean region in general. With an engaging text and gorgeous photographs taken especially for this sumptuous volume, Cuban Elegance offers a fresh, surprising perspective on an intriguing country. Author Bio: Michael Connors, author of Abrams' Caribbean Elegance, is a noted authority on the art and life of the Caribbean. He teaches at New York University and publishes widely in the field. He lives in New York City, St. Croix, and Deer Isle, Maine. Bruce Buck is a New York City-based photographer of architecture whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest, House and Garden, and other style magazines.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
In this abundantly illustrated book, Connors, a West Indian decorative arts scholar, traces the development of Cuban furniture during the colonial era. As in his Caribbean Elegance, he details historic and sociological influences on Cuba's architectural and furniture styles, beginning in the 16th century with the Mud jar style of Moorish Spain. As immigrant and slave craftsmen began to develop their skills, they were influenced by European and North American decorative styles popular during the 17th through 19th centuries. But they began to use the island's hardwoods and develop furniture pieces identified with Cuba, such as the sacristy chest of drawers, the smoker's chair, and the popular caned rockers. Numerous color photographs show the furniture in historic buildings. Recommended for academic, professional, and large interior design collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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