"John Townsend: Newport Cabinetmaker is a landmark presentation of a supreme cabinetmaker. It presents a catalogue of the documented oeuvre of John Townsend (1733-1809), the great Newport cabinetmaker, and describes the community of skilled makers in which he worked. It gives an unparalleled view of the physical and economical realities of Newport and of the artisanal culture that nourished cabinetmakers who were among the best to ever work in America." "Numerous works by John Townsend's contemporaries are illustrated, giving a detailed look at the differences and similarities among various approaches to the same forms. New photography allows Townsend's masterpieces to be seen more accurately and richly than ever before; numerous depictions of undersides and inlays are published for the first time."--Jacket.