Roberts’ Illustrated Millwork Catalog: A Sourcebook Of Turn-of-the-Century Architectural Woodwork

by Roberts & Co.

Another fun century-plus old catalog for millwork nerds! (The other is “Turn-of-the-Century Doors, Windows and Decorative Millwork: The Mulliner Catalog of 1893”) This catalog comes from E. L. Roberts & Co., a Chicago-based wholesale manufacturer of architectural woodwork. At the time of issue, the company boasted the catalog, which was targeted to “critical buyers who demand stylish and tasteful goods,” featured “more novel and useful features… than any sash and door catalogue yet published.”

For the contemporary reader, this faithful reproduction of a turn-of-the-century catalog offers the pleasures of seeing superb views of late-Victorian interiors finished with ornately carved balusters and newel posts, paneled walls, exquisite filigree, lovely stained glass windows, fancy corbels, fireplace mantles and doors.

The catalog has nearly 300 detailed line drawings and photos of finely crafted closets, moldings, sashes, shingles, wainscoting, windows, blinds, brackets, etc. It also has some great plates of decorated period foyers, etc demonstrating how entire rooms could be put together from selected pieces in the catalogue.
Professional restorers, DIY restorers, interior decorators, students, preservationists, antiquarians, architectural historians, nostalgia buffs, millwork nerds, and anyone with a deep interest in buildings will find practical ideas and browsing enjoyment.

Pages: 400
Binding: TP
Publisher: Dover