Biedermeier to Bauhaus

A stunningly illustrated look at a strikingly diverse tradition, Biedermeier to Bauhaus is the only book available—in English or German—on its subject. From the Renaissance to the early 20th century, curator Sigrid Sangl traces the complex but characteristic interior design styles found throughout Germany, literally opening the doors to a variety of exceptional interiors.

Most of the featured residences—townhouses, royal palaces, artists’ studios, and rural retreats—have never before been photographed. Barbara and René Stoeltie’s sumptuous full-color images, many specially commissioned for this book, convey both the grand scale and the distinguishing details of each style: 16th-century wood-paneled parlors with furniture in matching inlaid patterns; elaborate Baroque wall paintings inspired by exotic plant forms; sturdy, stalwart Biedermeier tables and chairs; the sinuous, ornamental curves of Jugendstil; and the simple, streamlined functionalism of the Bauhaus. Reaching from the Baltic to the Alps, Biedermeier to Bauhaus includes maps and a list of places to visit.