In this endlessly fascinating record of three centuries of industrial design, vivid descriptions of such epoch-defining innovations as the cotton mill, light bulb, and computer are followed by a series of lavishly illustrated case studies of landmark designs, many of which have endured almost unchanged for generations. Grouped chronologically within four materials categories-wood, glass, metal, and ceramics-the products featured include the classic tea pot, milk bottle, garden basket, Windsor chair, outdoor thermometer, and numerous others.