Antiques Books

This book by far is the best and most comprehensive text documenting the history and variety of figural lights that have been produced since Edison invented the electric light. Bob Iwamasa documents page after page of lamps based on actual photographs from his own personal collection and that of another highly regarded figural lamp collector, Cindy Chipps. It would be hard to believe that between these two great collectors, any example of a known lamp has been left out of this monumental work. The book is mainly pictoral, with limited explanatory text. The price guide is helpful, although getting a bit dated since the original book was written several years ago. However, it is my understanding that supplemental pages for new figurals that have been since identified may be available from the author along with updated pricing guides. The book is printed in high quality color on glossy paper. The sheer variety of lamps documented in this text is simply amazing and well worth the price of the book to be able to see them all in one place.

This book is a highly polished product which shows quite an extensive set of figural lights in high glossy color. Wonderful book.

A fine reference book...for the hard core collector. Indispensable in the search for antique figural light bulbs. Detailed photos and text are excellent. His knowledge and expertise regarding figural light bulbs are top notch!

With the over 1300 full color pictures that literally pop off the page, this book has set a new standard for a collector book. It is the most comprehensive book on the subject and the background history presents the most up to date information available. With the yearly updates of both new finds and prices, the book presents the most realistic view of the market that is available. I cannot imagine anyone with an interest in figural lights trying to collect without the help of this book!

i bought this book as a gift for my father in law. when i recieved it my husband who is also into old tools read it first and said that he wanted it too! i guess that means the book lives up to its standards. i liked the pictures that went along with it so you could actually see the tool they were talking about. overall, good book!

hay i collect antique tool and enjoy my new book i would like to have another just like it for a friend.

I am very well please with this book.Highly recommend it to any tool collector.

All I expected. Alot of information for the tools it advertised

The ultimate guide to quality tabletop antiques for those of us who cannot get enough of these kind of "pretties". Have owned this book for 10+ years, and still "pour" over it, can never get enough of it!! Besides being informative, the pictures are literally intoxicating. If you love all things old and elegant (nothing shabby here) for dining and entertaining, this is the book for you. If you look at decorating books and get disgusted with cookie cutter tablewear, or you would die before going into a Pottery Barn or Pier One, this is the book for you. Tasteful, classic, traditional and always in style. Like a very wealthy elderly MD once told me, "anyone can have new things". Ladies, if you think like me, you will totally understand this!

This book is a must for those who truly enjoy a great table! The photos are magnificent and is beautifully written. I found that I learned a LOT by simply looking at the photos of china, crystal and glassware. From this book alone, I chose my sterling silver flatware and china patterns and have never regretted it! The book also gives ideas on simple room decorations as well - even though this is not a primary focus of the book itself. I really can't say enough good about this book......

This book is everything I hoped it would be. The photographs are stunning and the book is full of them. There is virtually no repetition. A beautiful, inspirational tome for anyone who loves to set the table.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It is an absolutely gorgeous book for anybody interested in table settings of the most elegant kind. As well as spectacular photography of the most sumptuous crystal and china, the text is fascinating as it explains the history of table settings and of individual antiques.

As a person who is particularly interested in mixing and matching colored crystal and different china patterns on the table, I have found it to be of immense help and has given me even more courage to blend different styles together.

I will treasure this book forever.

Since the local craft store carries the Arnold Grummer supplies for papermaking, I decided to buy his book - Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking. (Mr. Grummer also has a website.) The instructions in the book are very clearly illustrated by photographs. Many variations in colors and textures are shown. You'll need a frame set and cotton linter both available at the craft store, a blender and paper scraps. Easy to recycle old envelopes or paper (discard the black print which will turn the paper grey). Variations: Colored paper tints the pulp. Add dried flowers and leaves. Emboss wet pulp with brass stencil. Hot tip: When pressing out the excess water from the wet pulp, use a rolling pin!

I love this book. Arnold Grummer is fantastic. This book explains everything you need to know about paper, and making paper, in a very simple way. I especially love the beginning of the book where he gets into the technical aspects of what IS paper and why we can make our own. There are also many full-color samples of handmade paper that I found very inspiring. This book will keep you busy trying all the embellishment and inclusion techniques, too, including botanicals, pin drawing, and coloring. I'll be using this book for a long time, and I recommenend it to everyone.

There's an old adage that says, "Never judge a book by its cover."

That was certainly true for me when I first looked at Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide To Paper Casting. My initial reaction to the cover (& many of the 'projects' was--How 70s can you get?

Fortunately, I followed the adage's advice and read a few chapters. Result? I found a valuable addition to my how-to library.

The authors (Arnold & Mabel Grummer) have created a work which is rich with detail. They offer techniques, tips, history, ideas & more in such an easy to read manner that whatever your interest &/or skill level, you will find yourself casting pulp before you know it.

Saavy enough to recognize that many crafty types want to get started without reading 'War & Peace', the authors provide readers with a quick start-up in Chapter 2. I made my first paper cast within thirty minutes of reading the instructions--(took me twelve minutes to find the blender!)

From that point on, I found myself enjoying (& learning) so much. I picked up a vocabulary without needing to consult a dictionary; began exploring additives & molds & generally having FUN with paper casting in ways I had not considered.

With the current trend in paper crafts/arts, I heartily recommend this book to scrapbookers, altered-bookers & collagists. I also recommend it to anyone who has ever asked 'What If?'

The day I recieved this book I could not put it down, I had to read the entire book! From the start, it is an encouraging and creative book to be used in every aspect of the papermaking process. Unfortunately the only parts I felt were weak would be for paper artists who want a totally acid free paper. His comments on that though, do need to be believed because He is the curator of the Dard Hunter paper museum and a paper chemist. He feels that the best way to make that type of paper is to start with recycled paper that is already acid free. Those artists who create from plants alone may not find enough information to please them,yet many of His techniques can still be applied with their experience to create very artistic paper. Even beginners can tackle the most professional results with this book in hand. I feel even children could achieve surprising results with the processes he shows, step by step, using mostly home supplies. He shows you how to make your own mold and deckle too! The "moon paper" recipe he shows you how to create is worth the price of the book alone! Out of my entire library of paper books, this does stand on its own for the most part and for that reason, I recommend it for all beginner and intermediate artists and every papermaking teacher.Your creative juices will flow with this book!

In this book, Jean Long introduces us to Chinese calligraphy. As he explains, even though "calligraphy" only means "words written by hand", to the Chinese it is an art with a long history. He affirms that "the characters not only convey the language of thought but also, in a visual way, the artistic beauty of the thought".

In the introduction to "The Art of Chinese calligraphy", the author says that the purpose of the book is allowing the readers to delight in the intrinsic beauty of Chinese calligraphy, even if they haven't yet mastered the Chinese language. Also, J. Long points out that in this book he provides the instructions that allow the readers who want to try their hands at Chinese calligraphy to do so. The instructions include a step by step guide to using the necessary equipment, and all that is needed to learn the different brushwork techniques. Finally, he also expresses his hope that "a greater understanding of the art of Chinese calligraphy will provide a clearer insight into the character of the Chinese people themselves".

The book is very well divided into interesting chapters that are easy to read and contain a lot of information even though they aren't overly long. The 1st chapter is titled "The development of Chinese calligraphy", and deals with the history of this art. It is worthwhile mentioning that this chapter and all the others include many useful illustrations, specially photographs (for example, a photograph of a ritual vessel from the 10th century BC, inscribed with characters). The 2nd chapter, "Chinese calligraphy as an art form", explains how it developed to an art form, from the merely functional act of writing. The 3rd chapter is "Language as a way to the understanding of Chinese thought", and the 4th is "The calligraphic seal". Chapters 5 and 6 deal with "Chinese porcelain and ceramics" and "Inscriptions on paintings" respectively, and chapter 7 centers on "Chinese painting equipment and how to use it". Lastly, chapter 8 is about "The techniques of Chinese calligraphy".

When I bought this book I was not exceedingly interested in attempting Chinese calligraphy, but I wanted to know more about it and the importance it has for Chinese culture. I decided to buy "The Art of Chinese calligraphy" because I considered it would be able to answer my questions... And thankfully, I was right!. This book is a great introduction to the subject, and it is highly likely to be useful not only to artists but also to readers like me who don't want to paint but love to learn about other cultures.

On the whole, I think this book is a keeper, and I highly recommend it :)

Belen

This book covers Chinese calligraphy very well. You can gain an appreciation for both the mechanics of calligraphy technique as well as the artistic look of the finished product. Dover Publications has done a good job with this well illustrated book.

The book was informative and a pleasure to read.

Chinese calligraphy is a mammoth subject with thousands of years of history. In addition, calligraphy in Chinese culture has achieved a recognition and respect as an art form that has never been matched by its Western counterparts. Jean Long has written a very readable book that provides an excellent overview to the history of Chinese writing from the tortoise shell oracle bones through bronze inscriptions, pottery vases and, of course, calligraphic scrolls. Also, the author provides basic instructions for how to hold a brush, grind ink, and write a few characters on your own. Given the breadth of the material, the author covers it well, but this book, on account of its brevity, serve as an introduction to whet your appetite. One would then look elsewhere to explore more deeply the various techniques and different calligraphic styles.

Jean Long's Art Of Chinese Calligraphy provides practical instruction in Chinese calligraphy, blending in historical background and explanations of how the characters are used in Chinese art. There's a healthy dose of background information on methods and development.

Very Informative Great book To lean about grades of stones and thier uses

Men have always decorated their weapons. The main items being decorated in the United States have been guns. But in Japan it is the traditional Japanese sword. Being more of a land of tradition, the Japanese sword became more or less standardized in shape as long ago as the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and polishing the sword had to have followed shortly after that.

There are many books that describe the techniques of polishing and blueing guns. But this appears to be the first book available in English that discusses the polishing techniques used by Japanese craftsmen.

The Japanese practice is a strikingly different process than that used here. Polishing stones, not unlike whetstones but in far more diversity are used. A shop selling such stones is pictured with what appear to at least a couple of hundred different types of stones. And unlike here where stones are simply given numbers to indicate coarseness, in Japan they are given names.

The polishing area used with Japanese swords is a traditional form as well. It sits on the floor, and the polisher typically sits in a traditional position that most of us would find difficult to get into, and impossible to maintain for any period.

All in all, a fascinating book on techniques very different to those commonly used here.

After reading the book entitled "The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing" I now have a much clearer and detailed understanding of the process used by traditional Japanese sword polishers. The book takes the reader though all of steps from the foundation polish, used to shape and sharpen the blade, to the finish polish, which is used bring out the details of the steel and shape of the temper line, using good text and a fair number of detailed photographs. It includes some Japanese sword polish theory and how Japanese swords have changed over the historical periods. It also explains how the age of the sword can affect how the sword should be polished and what damage can and cannot be repaired by a polisher. In the last section of the book it contains a few profiles of professional Japanese sword polishers the authors of the book had interviewed which I enjoyed reading.
As someone who studies and appreciates the Japanese sword I found the book very helpful in educating me more about the process of how a Japanese sword is polished. I would recommended this book to anyone interested in learning in detail how Japanese swords are polished.

I wish I had this book 20 years ago when I first started to investigate the art of polishing. This book provides a wealth of information on the technigues, the material and the different ways that can be used to get a sword polisihed. In fact, the diversity of the art is highlighted by the book and certainly dispells the notion that there is only one way to restore a blade. The section on foundation polish discusses how to achieve the proper shape without removing too much material. The different stones are described and how each is used to establish and refine the shape. The finishing section covers the range of materials and tools used to bring out the grain and tempered edge unique to the Japanese sword. It also shows the burnishing and how to highlight the boshi.
There are sections that talk about the history of polishing, the schools of polishing and interviews with several modern polishers. As always there is a note warning about the perils to the blade that can be inflicted by an inexperienced person. The book doesn't reveal all the secrets to the art, such as the various forms of nugui (other than the basic hadori and sashikomi formulas),what types of stones work best with each school or era, etc. But it certainly does provide a well documented, well photographed look at this art form. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Japanese swords.

This book does an excellent job of showing the cream of the crop of collectable 19th and 20th century perfume bottles (and often their presentation boxes). The text is profusely illustrated with small black and white photos, while also containing several full color sections illustrating in detail hundreds of different bottles. The text goes into intricate detail for the novice to expert collector without dumbing it up or talking down. The 16 pages of concise bibliographys at the back are infinately useful, if you are wondering when where why who or how a house started its probably in this list. Jam packed with facts, tips, annecdotes and illustrations by a TRUE expert in the field.

This book is lavished with the most magnificent perfume bottles and their pacaging. full color photos of Lalique, Baccarat, and other exquisite bottles along with the histories of the fragrance companies who commissioned them. There is also an index of these companies for quick refrence. I found the title missleading. the author is of the belief that the "art of perfume" died 30 years ago. All of the bottles are from the late 1800's to the 1960's and I feel that the title should have mentioned this. If you collect antique bottles or are looking for a good fragrance history book, this is a must.

As an avid collector of advertisements and literature on perfume, this is the first book I always recommend to fellow collectors. In the past ten or twelve years, many books were published to cater to the exploding popularity of perfume bottles as a collectors item. Christie Lefkowith's book stands out because of its focus on the ART of perfume bottles (hence the title), rather than their monetary value. Bottles are viewed in the cultural context of their time, with photographs of by far THE best quality I have ever seen in perfume books. I agree with the previous reviewer, though: too bad the book ends with the fifties. There should be a sequel.

I know that the writers are savvy perfume bottle collectors. They have incorporated years of experience into this book. That is the reason why that among all the books on this subject, this one is the most appealing. I have also used part of her materials (w/permission) to write my book (published in Chinese).

This was a gift I gave and was very well-received.It is an exceptionally beautiful book withmany floral prints worthy of framing. I am just glad they are still printing books of this quality.

The Art of the Garden... introduces the beginning enthusiast to the wonderful world of antique flower prints and is an essential addition to the library of the established collector of botanical art.

The gorgeously illustrated book documents the magnificent flower prints produced by notable artists of the 17th through the turn of the 20th centuries. These celebrated artists include Basil Besler, Maria Sybilla Merian, Mark Catesby, Georg Ehert, George Brookshaw, Robert John Thornton, Pierre Joseph Redoutè, and many others.

Illustrated with over 300 full-color images of original and valuable botanical prints, this book fills a void in the literature, as few good botanical references remain in print.

The text recounts the fascinating lives and passions of the artists and their patrons, the technical advances in printmaking, and the discoveries and cultural influences that shaped the depiction of flowers, plants, and trees. Also discussed are many variables affecting the values of original antique botanical prints including condition, rarity, historical significance, and aesthetic appeal. A range of prices is included to guide you in your collecting and a section on framing, displaying, and proper storage makes this an indispensable reference. A fascinating book for collectors of botanical prints, gardeners, and those interested in the history of flowers.

Some of the most beautiful AND important antique flower prints are reproduced in full color in this book. I was amazed at the amount of knowledge and history detailed so elegantly. The authors include even more artist information on their site. Fineantiqueprintsdotcom has striking images and examples. This book is an excellent reference.

This book is well written. Straight forward, informative and intersting. The reproductions of the botanical prints are stunning. The book is super reference for both the novice as well as the more experienced collector. A joy to read.

A very comprehensive book covering both English and American furniture of the classical to recant,evan having some of the author's own furniture on the front cover.This is a book that has created very favourable comments from visitors to our house who have browsed through it during their stay.

Rodel has crafted an excellent review of the Arts and crafts movement in America with many fine pictures.

The book provides an excellent introduction in the history of furniture at the end of the 19th century and the evolution of the Arts & Crafts movement. The nice thing about this book is that it's giving the larger context, showing the influence designers in England and continental Europe had on Arts & Crafts movement in America. The book has excellent pictures of representative furniture pieces.

Towards the end of the book, there's a small collection of contemporary furniture makers and designers that build classic pieces, or new ones inspired by the classic designs. You can google the name of the furniture makers to find showrooms and stores that carry their products, which is a very good way to start when you want to buy such furniture.

If you like this type of furniture, and you're technically inclined, it might also help getting a book that describes how this furniture is built. This helped me enormously to understand what is involved in producing good quality furniture.

As a librarian and a lover of all things relating to Arts & Crafts style, I recommend this book to anyone desiring a greater knowledge of this furniture's history and design evolution. With clear color photographs and just the right amount of text, this book illustrates the origins of Arts & Crafts furniture in England and its progression, first to our East Coast, and eventually Westward across America. In fact, my only 'complaint' about this book is that the photographs are good enough that they leave you wanting for more.

Because of the depth of information presented here, I would not say that this is a general interest read - rather this book is geared toward those seriously interested in the history of the Arts & Crafts movement and its recent revival.

I absolutely love this book. I nearly salivated when I saw the numerous drawings and photos of garden structures and architecture- So I'm a "Structure" guy, not a "plant" guy. My wife literraly told me to stop bothering her because I kept showing her pictures of stairs, walls and pergolas. This really is a tremendous resource. I refer to this book whenever I need a bit of design inspiration. I found the sketches, along with photos, to be tremendously helpful.

Gertrude Jekyll's expertise is evident in this finely written and illustrated book. It covers the Arts and Crafts era of fine gardening in extensive detail. She illustrates the garden relationship to the residence and outbuildings and what plants to use to create different effects.

First published in 1912 by `Country Life' as GARDENS FOR SMALL COUNTRY HOUSES, ARTS AND CRAFTS GARDENS by Gertrude Jekyll and Lawrence Weaver was republished years later as part of the Antique Collectors Club LTD, and now as a "revised edition with additional colo[u]r illustrations" by the Garden Art Press. More art book than instructive garden guide, the modern publication includes many black and white illustrations as well as layout drawings of the houses and grounds discussed, as well as detailed examples of other features, appearing in the earlier volume, along with beautiful color photos and illustrations depicting specific design elements as they appear today. Thus the reader can determine what the landscaper saw and planned, and how well her design worked then and years later. Jekyll's foresight and intuitive understanding of the "art" of garden design (which many of us learn about the hard way) as illustrated in this book, provides the modern reader with an idea of why Jekyll is still revered among garden designers.

The book title, `Gardens for Small County Houses', may appear ludicrous to the contemporary reader, as it provides an overview of selected examples of various gardens the authors developed in Surrey, Berkshire, and Guildford, which by today's standards are quite large. Chapters cover houses and gardens in their entirety, and at least one covers the "Treatment of Small Sites" such as Cheyne Walk in Chelsea, a gorgeous town house site. Other chapters cover selected design elements, such as "balustrades and walls", "steps and stairways" and retaining walls. Most of these elements are used by modern landscape designers in large public settings and on a few "estates", but many cannot be adapted to the small scale urban garden. Many features of these "country" gardens were lifted from Roman villas and most of us don't own villas, however, some of the elements, such as pergolas, arbors, and trellises can and probably should be adapted to a modern urban garden.

Because you probably wouldn't want to attempt to duplicate these designs on an average modern lot, the value of this book other than as a beautiful art book lies in its ability to inform. You will want to study it before you visit one of the notable "estates" where Jekyll worked in England.

This book is a great point of reference for anyone looking for formal garden inspiration. It is wonderful to see the way architecture and garden design can really complement one another so harmoniously. In these cases, neither would be nearly as interesting without the other.

G. Jekyll's garden plans are very interesting to look at. They are giving me many thoughts on good plant combinations & spacing. Also, while her designs are filled with a lot of material, she seems to have a keen eye for leaving space as well.

The attention to detail is wonderful and one can really see the benefit of meticulous planning. Rather than the plant and see what happens approach, it is actually possible to make very deliberate & specific choices.

Now I just want to know who the poor people are who have to do the weeding, watering and pruning in these giant gardens - eeeks!