This volume serves as a comprehensive reference work designed to categorize and identify historical artifacts across a wide spectrum of decorative arts. The text, edited by Ian Cameron with an introduction by John Pope-Hennessy, synthesizes expert contributions to provide a structured overview of antique styles, materials, and manufacturing techniques. It functions as a foundational guide for collectors and historians seeking to understand the evolution of craftsmanship from antiquity through the early twentieth century.

The work is regarded as a standard, broad-spectrum reference text suitable for those seeking a foundational understanding of the antique market and historical design. Its scope suggests a dense, encyclopedic approach that prioritizes breadth of coverage over deep specialization in any single category.