Clive Carney described himself as a professional “furnisher” (an early term for interior designer). He and his wife Edna Carney and daughter June Carney started and ran a professional interior design firm known as “Artistry” in Sydney and later in Melbourne. When the 1950 book, Furnishing. Art and Practice, was published by Oxford University Press, he described himself as being in the trade for 25 year suggesting that he had been active as a “furnisher” since 1925. In the introduction, Furnishing. Art and Practice describes itself as the first Australian publication in the field. The chapters address “how to do” issues with a historic summary of period furnishings, then directions for resolving interior design problems. There are chapters on floor coverings, lighting, furniture, furnishing fabrics and decorative arts such as ceramics, glass, tableware and other elements. This handsome publication uses images from Australian Home Beautiful, the Australian Womens Weekly and the practice of the architect Samuel Lipson. His later books, “Impact of Design.” Lawson Press, 1959. Foreword by Walter Bunning, Appreciation by Florence Taylor and “International Interiors and Design”, Angus and Robertson, 1959 were landmark surveys of international modernism in interior design. The latter book includes introductory essays by Paul Reilly, at that time, the Assistant Director of the Council of Industrial Design, London and Sir Ernest Goodale, the chair of the British Industries Fair, Sir Hugh Casson and an illustrated essay on colour by Phyllis Shilitto, lecturer in design at Sydney Technical College.
- Writers:
-
Michael Bogle
- Date written:
- 2012
- Last updated:
- 2013
