Contemporary furniture is the lingua franca of the industrialized nations. Through television, film and design periodicals, furniture's visual jargon is transmitted around the world. Contemporary furniture is criticised and discussed in Sydney, Melbourne, London and New York using the same aesthetic vocabulary. Australian furniture designer-makers participate fully in this debate and this book looks at over 90 modern Australian furniture designers and makers. "Designer-maker" best describes what most Australian furniture designers do - their styles seem to fall into three categories; Bush furniture, the Moderate Movement and the Avant-garde. The artists selected for "Modern Australian Furniture" were chosen for the commitment they showed to their art, the development of a signature style, an accumulation of a body of work and an interest in originality. "Modern Australian Furniture" was produced under the auspices of the Crafts Council of Australia.