New York / New York / United States
ABOUT ACANTHUS PRESS Acanthus started as a bookstore in 1982. When asked how he chose the name for the store and, later, for the press, Barry Cenower, the owner and founder explained that he found the word "Acanthus" while browsing an architectural dictionary with friends one night. It was an obvious choice because 1 ) it was the name of the ornament used extensively in architecture and the decorative arts throughout the ages and 2 ) it came early in the alphabet, important in those days of yellow page listings. Acanthus Press was founded 10 years later as an adjunct to the bookstore. The press started by reproducing previously published and highly sought books in design and architecture. Those early Acanthus publications ( Herman Miller Collection, 1952, Chairs, The Analysis of Drapery, John Hall and the Grecian Style in America, and Parallel of the Classical Orders of Architecture, published in collaboration with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America, to name just a few ) were published as high quality hardcover volumes, using the best materials. By 2001 Acanthus was publishing wholly original works, conceived along the lines of those early books that Cenower sold in his bookstore, an evolution of those early 20th century books that many of his clients coveted. Today Acanthus Press continues a long tradition of fine book publishing with its program of residential architecture, interior design, and garden books. To date, its books have profiled over 1500 houses in over 8000 photographs. From the opulent interiors of French chateaux in New York to the romantic sunlit courtyards of Californias haciendas, Acanthus Press titles portray an American domestic architectural heritage that is rich, complex, and timeless. Acanthus began with a mission to bring books to collectors and design enthusiasts that would be serious additions to 21st century library. This ideal is best defined by a quote from William Morris:
