The book is divided into periods of significant development in the arts and in society in general (ranging in date from 1550 to 1910), and within each of these periods the key antiques categories are explored, including furniture, silver, glass, and porcelain. Key shapes, styles, motifs, and influences are brought to light, with reference to style variations unique to certain countries (such as American Federal Style of the late 17th and early 18th centuries). By examining the fashionable and overriding shapes of each period, the means of manufacture, and the materials available to craftsmen at the time, a picture begins to develop of how antiques are a part of history, and part of an ancient scene that has formed our current etiquette. The final section takes a selection of examples from across the different categories and periods and analyses them to illustrate a practical application of the thought processes explored in the book. Useful information such as a glossary of terms and a directory of museums is provided at the back.