Coffee Table Books: Photo books that are far too good for the bookshelf

Coffee Table Books: Photo books that are far too good for the bookshelf

Coffee table books are more than just inspirational or informative illustrated books. They are always an expression of personal taste and one’s own interests. But above all, they are artistic decorative objects that adorn not only the coffee table, but also chests of drawers, bedside tables or other small cabinets and tables.

The coffee table books are almost too good for the bookshelf. On the one hand, they are intended to encourage you to leaf through them spontaneously from time to time and discover works of art from the most diverse areas of cultural life, so to speak, in passing. And on the other hand, the coffee table books themselves are small works of art – bound in noble materials, designed in eye-catching colors or with large photographs on the cover.

Where do the coffee table books come from?

The tradition of coffee table books is not that old and dates back to the 1940s. At that time, the publisher Albert Skira was one of the first in Switzerland to produce elaborately designed art books with large-format prints. However, similar books were occasionally produced as early as the 1920s, which were primarily intended to serve as a status symbol for wealthy customers. When the Harry N. Abrams publishing house was founded in New York in 1949, the history of coffee table books really took off. Founder Harry N. Abrams had a keen interest in publishing art and photography books, and his eponymous publisher soon became known around the world for exactly that.

Especially when he started publishing books by artists like Picasso and Matisse in the 1950s, who were also known and loved above all in Europe. In 1961, these illustrated books were first referred to as “Coffee Table Book” in an American art magazine. And under this name we still know and love these unique books today.

Coffee table books as a home accessory

As the name suggests, the Coffee Table Books were usually laid out on living room tables where they were clearly visible, so that you could while away the time with coffee in the afternoon or simply in between browsing through the illustrated books. By the way: Because drinking tea is celebrated in Great Britain as a relaxing oasis of calm during the day, it is often assumed that the coffee table books originally come from England. However, this is not proven, and maybe they would have been called “Tea Table Books”, right?

Whether tea or coffee, since the coffee table book consists in most cases of an elaborately crafted hardcover cover – sometimes also in the form of noble or unusual fabrics – it is simply too beautiful and too eye-catching to put it between the ” “normal” books to hide on the shelf. That’s why the coffee table books are still like to be clearly visible, mostly stacked, placed in the apartment as decoration.

In recent years, the popularity of coffee table books has increased, especially via social media and as part of the increasing interior trend wave. Runway illustrated books by Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Co. are just as popular as coffee table books on great brand stories or fashion icons. Artfully placed as the icing on the cake next to trendy decorative vases and unusual candles, they create a harmonious picture in every perfectly or imperfectly styled apartment – whether only on Instagram or in reality.

These subjects can be found in coffee table books

But not only fashion is a popular topic for coffee table books, but everything that life has to offer in art and reality. Nature photographs, architecture, fine art prints, food and drink, impressive close-ups, cities and places, colours, jewellery, furnishings – yes, we even discovered a coffee table book on the subject of menus. Coffee table books are not only a great way to discover the world and maybe see it through different eyes, they also always make a great gift.

The most beautiful coffee table books for your home

“The White Company – For the Love of White” by Chrissie Rucker

Anyone who likes neutral tones and white in all its facets is at the right place at The White Company. The retailer from Great Britain has specialized primarily in home wear, home accessories, perfume, candles and small furnishings. The coffee table book “The White Company – For the Love of White” comes from the founder Chrissie Rucker and is dedicated to her love for the variety of neutral tones on more than 250 pages. The unique photos are not only beautiful to look at, but are also inspiration to imitate.

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“Dior by Christian Dior” by Assouline

A classic among coffee table books – at least since it was first published in 2016. To mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the house of Dior this year, seven illustrated books were published, each dedicated to a designer of the couture house. This coffee table book is all about the master par excellence, Christian Dior, and contains exclusive photographs of Dior treasures as well as designs, comments and anecdotes.

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“The Book of Palms” by H Walter Lack

We just can’t get enough of palm trees. If you want to combine your longing for palm trees with a comprehensive study of botany, you will not only find unique botanical drawings and prints of all known palm species in this coffee table book, but also lots of interesting facts about this unique plant. The basis for this is an expedition by the botany professor Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius with the zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix. Between 1817 and 1820, the two researchers traveled more than 2000 kilometers through Brazil and Peru, collecting and drawing everything related to palm trees. A slightly different coffee table book, but definitely worth every page.

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“Paris. A journey of the eyes” by Hélène Rocco

While Paris is always worth a visit, we don’t always have the time (or the money) to stroll the streets of this fascinating metropolis. But if you want to do exactly that between afternoon coffee and dinner, you can at least travel through Paris visually and mentally. This coffee table book is a detailed travel photo book with aesthetic photos and informative texts. You can also find inspiration for your next trip to Paris, which is guaranteed to happen again at some point.

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“Patterns” by Claire Bingham

A dream in pink on the outside, full of interior inspiration on the inside that revolves around the theme of “patterns”. Whether on walls, carpets or cushions – patterns can give a room its very own style in no time at all and change it fundamentally. Anyone who feels immediately inspired when leafing through it will also find an overview of numerous brands and manufacturers for the coveted products in the index.

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“Diamonds – Diamond Stories” by Assouline

“Diamonds are forever!” But unfortunately also quite expensive. If you still want to devote yourself completely to the beauty of gemstones, you can do so with this coffee table book. Shown here is not only the most famous and legendary “Hope Diamond”, but also a large number of creations by young designers who process the most diverse diamonds into works of art.

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“Homes For Our Time. Contemporary Houses around the World” by Philip Jodidio

Visions of life and living that are far removed from the ordinary, what is commonly known as a house or residential complex: architect: interior houses are unique and can be found all over the world. This coffee table book gives an insight into this artistic diversity and the ideas behind it. The special thing about these houses: They were designed to be in harmony with nature, to take the environment into account and to link the inside with the outside.

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“Great Escapes Italy. The Hotel Book” by Angelika Taschen

At least since the second season of “The White Lotus” we have all secretly planned our little personal trip to Italy, right? And if you want to spend the night in very unusual hotels and visit typical places with Italian flair on this trip, you will find some magical inspiration in the form of beautiful pictures in this 360-page coffee table book.

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It’s All About Shoes by Suzanne Middlemass

Shoes always work – not only when shopping, but also in the form of photos and stories. This coffee table book pays homage to the shoe, whether as a statement or as a cult object. For this photo book, street style photographer Suzanne Middlemass went to the fashion metropolises of Paris, Milan, New York, London, Berlin and Copenhagen in search of the most beautiful but also the most bizarre shoes. The recordings are accompanied by interviews with well-known shoe designers and fashionistas.

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“Frida Kahlo. Complete Paintings” by Luis-Martín Lozano

There are more than 50 self-portraits by Frida Kahlo – and we are all sure to know at least one of them. The Mexican painter, who was born in 1907 and died in 1954, has always been admired all over the world. If you want to join this admiration or delve deeper into the Frida Kahlo world, you will get everything you need with this coffee table book. In addition to reproductions of her works, the illustrated book also contains pictures from private collections that otherwise never see the light of day. There are also drawings, diary entries, letters and photos from the universe of this impressive artist.

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Menu Design in Europe by Jim Heimann

Sounds a bit dry at first, but it is a fascinating testimony to how different menus are and were in different eras and European countries. Among them there are quite a few real works of art, which sometimes make you smile. From extravagant menus for royal dinners to minimalist graphics, this coffee table book is a real treat.

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