Modern reference guides are fine, but books contemporary to an era are usually so much more informative. And a number of these books are sought-after by both dealers and collectors of mid-century design. One such book is Modern Design In Wood by Richard Stewart.
Printed in 1979, Modern Design In Wood is a superb reference to an era not particularly well documented – wood-based design from the late 60s and into the 1970s, with everything from sculpture and jewellery through to tables, cabinets and fitted units. It’s particularly strong on stylish designs by a host of (as now) lesser-known British and European designers which are certain to be collectables of the future, as well as a couple that are currently on the rise – Merrow Associates features prominently.
If you spend your time browsing eBay or trawling house clearance stores, this is certainly a good book to absorb. Long out of print, but you can easily pick up used copies on Abebooks. Indeed, the book itself could well be an investment for the future.
If you know a fair bit about 60s design, you will probably recognise the image on the right. If not, you may well wonder what it is, what it does and why on earth you would want actually one. 
