Americana Insights 2023

$64.95

Americana Insights 2023 presents the latest research and discoveries on traditional American folk art and material culture. Groundbreaking essays by leading scholars provide a wealth of new insights on a wide array of artistic traditions. Covering a broad geographic area—including New England, the mid-Atlantic, South, and mid-West—and spanning the colonial era to early twentieth century, these essays enhance our understanding of the diverse American experience. This is the only interdisciplinary publication devoted exclusively to traditional Americana and folk art.

Contributors cover a range of topics including portraiture, furniture, jewelry, textiles, and works on paper. In the first volume, authors share groundbreaking research on the use of hooked rugs in the colonial revival era; revisit the work of a famed Connecticut portrait painter known as the Beardsley Limner and his namesake sitters; Rufus Porter’s work as an artist and entrepreneur; a distinctive group of paint-decorated dressing tables from New Hampshire; delicate cutworks made by an incarcerated inmate in Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary; painted tavern signs; jewelry in folk portraiture; New Jersey schoolmaster and calligrapher Thomas Earl; and signature quilts from the nineteenth century.

Contributors: Deborah M. Child, Pamela and Brian Ehrlich, Cynthia Fowler, Emelie Gevalt, Mark D. Mitchell, Eileen M. Smiles, Laura Fecych Sprague.

Cover image for Americana Insights 2023, isbn: 9798988533108

Americana Insights 2024

$64.95

A richly illustrated presentation of the latest research on traditional American folk art

Americana Insights 2024 is the second volume of an annual series that presents the latest research and discoveries on traditional American folk art and material culture. This installment explores a diverse range of craftspeople and artifacts, treating readers to a journey from Appalachia to the mid-Atlantic and New England, and even onto the Atlantic Ocean. Each essay offers a fresh perspective on American creativity and ingenuity, introducing readers to the makers and materials of early America. This remains the only interdisciplinary publication devoted exclusively to traditional Americana and folk art.

Contributors cover a range of topics including historic Cherokee river cane basket weaving traditions, New England folk artists Sturtevant J. Hamblin, the almshouse paintings of German immigrant Charles Hofmann, and the display of American antiques on mid-twentieth-century ocean liners. Additional subjects include Pennsylvania German fraktur, carousel carving, carriage signs, quilts, and game boards.

Contributors: Trevor Brandt, Paul D’Ambrosio, Tobin Fraley, Emelie Gevalt, Christopher Malone, Richard Miller, Matthew Monk, Amelia Peck, Christian Roden, Cynthia Schaffner, Eileen M. Smiles, Jennifer Swope.

Cover image for Americana Insights 2024, isbn: 9798988533115

Americana Insights 2025

$64.95

A comprehensive study of Pennsylvania German redware and a celebration of this vibrant folk art tradition

Americana Insights 2025 is the third volume in an annual series that presents the latest research and discoveries on traditional Americana, folk art, and material culture. In this volume the authors explore a beloved aspect of American folk art—Pennsylvania German redware. Focusing on redware’s production, use, and collecting in southeastern Pennsylvania from the mid-eighteenth to early twentieth century, the authors provide fresh insights into renowned potters such as Georg Hubener and Samuel Troxel as well as lesser-known figures. Other essays delve into the work of twentieth-century potters like Jacob Medinger, considered the last of the traditional Pennsylvania German potters, and Mildred Keyser, a pioneering revivalist potter. The authors also explore broader themes, including the use of political imagery and hunting iconography, and redware’s role in cultural exchange between Anglo-Americans and Pennsylvania Germans. A celebration of this vibrant folk art tradition and a vital scholarly contribution, Americana Insights 2025 represents the most comprehensive study of Pennsylvania German redware in more than a century.

Contributors: Johanna Brown, Laini Farrare, R. Erich Hess, Christopher Malone, Lisa Minardi, Karl Pass, Candace Perry, Jeffrey Pressman, Jean Renshaw, Justin Thomas, Adam Zayas.

Cover image for Americana Insights 2025, isbn: 9798988533122

Edward Duffield

$60.00

The first comprehensive study of the life and times of colonial Philadelphia clockmaker Edward Duffield

Edward Duffield (1730–1803) was a colonial Philadelphia clockmaker, whose elegant brass, mahogany, and walnut timekeepers stand proudly in major American museums and collections. Duffield, unlike other leather-apron ‘mechanics,’ was born rich and owned a country estate, Benfield, and many more properties. He was deeply involved in civic and church affairs during crucial years in American history—his lifelong close friend, Benjamin Franklin, was staying at Duffield’s Benfield estate when Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams first discussed the Declaration of Independence. Sally, Franklin’s daughter, brought her family there for extended periods during the Revolution and Franklin’s wife, Deborah, was best friends for fifty years with Duffield’s mother-in-law. Duffield was even one of three executors of Franklin’s will.

In this lavishly illustrated book, Bob Frishman catalogs and describes seventy-one known Duffield clocks and instruments and reveals how, during the mid-eighteenth century, they largely were not fabricated from scratch by isolated individuals. He contends that Duffield and his fellow clockmakers were not furniture-makers; they were mechanical artisans whose complex metal machines rang the hours and steadily ticked inside wooden cases made by others. Existing books on Philadelphia clocks have focused on these artifacts as furniture, including their woodwork, cabinetmakers, and decorative aspects. However, Frishman, a professional horologist for nearly four decades, brings his vast expertise to bear on this first comprehensive study of Duffield’s life and work.

Far more than a treatise on pre-industrial horological timekeeping, this book tells the compelling stories of a man, a city, and an era, while deepening our appreciation for Duffield’s stately sentinels—often a colonial American family’s most valuable possession—and the times and places in which their makers lived.

Cover image for Edward Duffield, isbn: 9781606180099

Nubian Gold

$59.95

The sumptuousness and grandeur of Nubian gold jewelry analyzed and illustrated for the first time

The fabled land of Nubia, whose very name means ‘gold,’ was famous in ancient times for its supplies of precious metal, exotic material, and intricate craftsmanship. Many of the adornments made in Nubia are masterpieces of the jeweler’s art—marvels of design and construction rivaling, and often surpassing, adornments made in Egypt and the rest of the ancient Mediterranean world. Although these unique treasures are among the most stunning to have survived from antiquity, they remain little known.

Richly illustrated with beautiful photographs of these exquisite items, many of them never before published, Nubian Gold also places the jewelry within the cultural contexts in which it was manufactured and employed. It tells the story not only of the treasures themselves but of the exciting tales of their discovery and the rich background of the exotic and remote civilizations that produced them.

The book also explores the innovative techniques used to procure the precious materials used in the jewelry and to craft them into intricate ornaments replete with magical purpose and coded meaning. Featured in the book are not only the intricately crafted pieces themselves but depictions of them in sculpture, relief, and painting as well as references to them in ancient texts, locating them within the full spectrum of Nubian history, from the earliest beginnings of society to the advent of Christianity.

Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba

$44.95

The first illustrated study of ethnic silver jewelry in Yemen, by an expert researcher and collector, new in paperback

Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba documents a disappearing artistic and cultural tradition with over three hundred photographs showing individual pieces, rare images of women wearing their jewelry with traditional dress, and the various regions in Yemen where the author did her field research. Ransom’s descriptions of the people she met and befriended, and her exploration of the significance of a woman’s handmade jewelry with its attributes of power, protection, beauty, and personal identity, will appeal to ethnic jewelry fans, ethnographers, jewelry designers, and art historians.

Amulet cases, hair ornaments, bridal headdresses, earrings, necklaces, ankle and wrist bracelets are all beautifully photographed in intricate detail, interspersed with the author’s own photographs of the women who shared their stories and their hospitality with her. A chapter on the history of silversmithing in Yemen tells the surprising story of the famed Jewish Yemeni silversmiths, many of whom left Yemen in the late 1940s. This is the first in-depth study of Yemeni silver, uniquely illustrated with photographs of a world that is transforming before our eyes, and animated with the portraits of a precious legacy.

The Most Important Clock in America

$40.00

During the years of 1767-1770 David Rittenhouse designed and produced two orreries, one for Princeton Univ. and one for the Univ. of PA. During the last two years of this interval he also produced two 30-day musical tall-cased clocks. The first clock, built in 1769, is currently owned by the PA Hospital. The following year (1770) Rittenhouse made a second tall-case musical clock, which was more elaborate than the first. This clock, currently owned by Drexel Univ., is a very good example of Rittenhouse’s work as it has experienced only minor changes over the years. This was the masterpiece of his clock-making career and is a national historical treasure. Here is a detailed analysis of the various gears in the clock. 100+ drawings and full-color photos.

Cover image for The Most Important Clock in America, isbn: 9781606189924

Lover's Eyes

$50.00

A significant addition to the fascinating study of rare and intriguing late 18th- and early 19th-century eye miniatures.

Until the early 2000s, little had been written about eye miniatures or “Lover's Eyes”, and their short-lived popularity at the end of the eighteenth- and early nineteenth-centuries, when hand-painted portraits of single human eyes were set in jewelry, or created to memorialize a deceased loved one. This volume examines their role in the broader context of Georgian and early Victorian portrait miniatures; and looks in detail at the creation, and appeal, of these extraordinary objects.

Dr and Mrs. David A. Skier’s collection of eye miniatures is one of the most complete collections of this genre of miniature painting in existence. This volume features over 130 pieces from the Skier Collection, with 36 extraordinary newly acquired pieces, including two of the three known existing “Lover's Lips”, and six examples of a delightful sub-category known as “Flower Eyes”. There are illustrated essays on forgeries and fakes of lovers’ eyes, on “Flower Eyes”, on the persistence of the eye image which continues the tradition of lovers’ eyes, and an essay on the eye miniatures created by Richard Cosway.

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 2

$85.00

New insights from the archaeology and pottery of the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou, Crete

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII: The Greek and Roman Pottery presents in two volumes the Greek and Roman pottery recovered from the excavation of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou, one of the most long-lived and important cult sites of ancient Crete and the Aegean. The site, which is known as the Cretan Delphi, was dedicated to Hermes and Aphrodite for much of its history. The present study analyzes and catalogs 865 pieces, dating from across the early first millennium BCE to the mid-first millennium CE. Kotsonas integrates traditional typological and chronological inquiries with contextual considerations, macroscopic and petrographic analyses of ceramic fabrics, and quantitative studies. The resulting work provides detailed documentation of the pottery from Syme Viannou and explores its ritual and other roles within the diachronic panorama of cultic and other activities at the site. It also supports a broader understanding of the role of ceramics in sanctuary contexts by introducing systematically comparative perspectives on the evidence of pottery from other Cretan and Greek sanctuaries.

Volume 2 presents synthetic studies of the material, exploring the use of different ceramic fabrics, the relationship between the form and function of the vessels, and the place of ceramic items in the cultic practice and daily life at the sanctuary in Greek and Roman antiquity.

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 2

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 1

$85.00

New insights from the archaeology and pottery of the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou, Crete

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII: The Greek and Roman Pottery presents in two volumes the Greek and Roman pottery recovered from the excavation of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou, one of the most long-lived and important cult sites of ancient Crete and the Aegean. The site, which is known as the Cretan Delphi, was dedicated to Hermes and Aphrodite for much of its history. The present study analyzes and catalogs 865 pieces, dating from across the early first millennium BCE to the mid-first millennium CE. Kotsonas integrates traditional typological and chronological inquiries with contextual considerations, macroscopic and petrographic analyses of ceramic fabrics, and quantitative studies. The resulting work provides detailed documentation of the pottery from Syme Viannou and explores its ritual and other roles within the diachronic panorama of cultic and other activities at the site. It also supports a broader understanding of the role of ceramics in sanctuary contexts by introducing systematically comparative perspectives on the evidence of pottery from other Cretan and Greek sanctuaries.

Volume 1 provides an introduction to the site of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou and its history, and contains an analytical catalog of the ceramic remains.

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 1

The Island Book of Records Volume I

$150.00

The Island Book of Records brings the early years of this iconic record label to life.

A fifteen-year labour of love, the volumes will fully document the analogue era of Island. Offering a comprehensive archive of album cover design and photography, together with the voices of the musicians, designers, photographers, producers, studio engineers and record company personnel that worked on each project, the volumes show in unique depth the workings of the label, covering every LP.

Featuring material from recent interviews and from media interviews of the time, and each including a comprehensive discography of 45s, the books are lavishly illustrated with gig adverts (very many at venues which no longer exist), concert tickets, flyers, international LP variants, labels, LP and 45 adverts and other ephemera.

These LP-sized editions are a collector’s dream, offering a truly unparalleled resource for those interested in music history and a perfect gift for any music lover.

Colors on Clay

$45.00

Equal parts art, biography, and history, Colors on Clay brings to life the artistry, designers, and styles that brought the San José Workshops’ distinctive art pottery to international prominence. Author Susan Toomey Frost tells the story of how two colorful characters, Ethel Wilson Harris and her talented designer Fernando Ramos, revived a dying Mexican art and eventually became the driving forces behind three San Antonio art tile factories, known collectively as the San José Workshops. Produced from 1931 through 1977, the factories’ tiles and wares became celebrated throughout the world and prized in San Antonio for both public and private installations. In addition to historical and biographical information, Frost provides detailed information on authentic tiles, helping collectors steer clear of the many reproductions on the market. Featuring 300 full-color illustrations, including never-before-seen drawings, this exhaustively researched and eminently readable book is an important addition to any collector’s library.

Fayoum Pottery

$39.95

NAMED A BEST NEW POTTERY BOOK TO READ IN 2022 BY THE BOOK AUTHORITY

Lavishly illustrated with over 250 full-color photographs of unique designs and rare methods, providing an in-depth look at the pottery produced in the Fayoum

The Fayoum, a broad, fertile depression in Egypt’s Western Desert, known for its great salt lake, its rich green fields, and its unique pharaonic and Greco-Roman remains, is also home to three very different centers of pottery production. The potters of Kom Oshim specialize in decorated garden pots and other utilitarian ware, and guard the special secret of how to make the largest clay vessels in Egypt, up to an extraordinary two and a half meters tall. At al-Nazla, ancient traditions are kept alive, as members of a single extended family continue to use millennia-old techniques passed down from generation to generation, hand-forming among other things their distinctive spherical water jars with amazing dexterity and speed. In the small village of Tunis, the establishment of a pottery school by a Swiss couple in 1990 led to a complete transformation, and the village now hosts more than twenty-five pottery workshops and showrooms, whose products are sold in Cairo, London, and New York.

In this lively insight into a varied and vital craft, the author reveals the stories of the three villages and the skilled potters who make their living there, looking at how they learned their trade and how they work, from the preparation of the clay to the formation of the pots on the wheel or by hand, to the decoration, the glazing, and the firing, and finally to the display or distribution and sale of the finished product.

For past and future travelers to Egypt, lovers of the craft of pottery, practitioners, and collectors, this beautifully illustrated exploration of the ceramics of the Fayoum will inspire and enchant.

Medical Device Company In A Box

$14.99

CONTROL. CONSISTENCY. CONSILISO.
Most business owners can only dream of creating that perfect balance between efficiency, flexibility, and usability—but you can’t be expected to do everything. With Consiliso, the architectural groundwork has been done for you. Follow along in Mark Rutkiewicz’s book, Medical Device Company in a Box: The Case for Consiliso, to see how your medical device company— or any company, for that matter—can benefit from Consiliso. It’s easily implemented for the small-business owner but also completely capable of scaling up to even the largest of multinational corporations, making it perfect to support your company and its growth.
In this book, you’ll learn how Consiliso can help you develop, in detail, the best methods to properly design all your business processes to achieve both compliance and efficiency so that you, as a business owner, can immediately see whether you are hitting your key metrics. From the complexity of product development and distribution, to training and complaint processing, Mark Rutkiewicz is here to explain, in an easy-to-understand way, how your company can finally achieve the level of organization it needs to live up to its capabilities.

Saab 9-3: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

$19.99

The Saab 9-3 Convertible of 1998–2003 combines Scandinavian individuality, turbocharged performance and the enjoyment of open-top motoring with genuine everyday usability. With space for four, strong safety credentials and distinctive styling, it remains one of the most characterful soft-tops of its era. If you’re thinking of buying one, this guide will help you make the right choice.

With a broad range of trims, engines and special editions available, the 9-3 Convertible offers plenty of choice for buyers. Which version will best suit your budget and needs? Are there particular engines or years to approach with caution, and what are the key things to check before purchase? This Essential Buyer’s Guide distils the experience of marque specialists and owners, helping you track down a sound example that’s enjoyable to own and rewarding to drive.

Packed with colour photographs showing common problem areas, the book saves you hours of research by bringing together clear, practical advice in one handy reference.

Saab expert Zach Mortin covers every variant of the 1998–2003 9-3 Convertible, from the early 2.0-litre turbos through to the well-equipped SE and the sought-after Aero, with insights into specifications, reliability, running costs and worthwhile upgrades. Whether you’re after a distinctive daily driver or an emerging modern classic, this guide will point you in the right direction.

Cover image for Saab 9-3 Convertible, isbn: 9781836440994

The Samurai Sword

$27.95

The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans, the samurai sword is generally considered to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo.

The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, famous schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller.

Topics of this Samurai book include:

Japanese History and the Samurai Sword
Types of swords
Parts of the sword
Blade shape, construction, and grain
The making of the sword
Inscriptions and their readings
Care and maintenance
Appraisal and value
Relative point values

Cover image for The Samurai Sword, isbn: 9784805309575

The Nyonya Kebaya

$45.00

This longtime Malaysian fashion icon was originally a long, straight, Arab-inspired top of plain woven cotton. The Nyonyas, the women of the early Peranakan community, gradually transformed it into a shapely, embroidered, translucent blouse, fastened with a set of chained brooches and worn with a matching hand-drawn batik sarong.

Sheer, romantic, alluring, yet sedate, the designs of Nyonya kebaya crosses several generations and cultures.

This book showcases the collection of Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Cover image for The Nyonya Kebaya, isbn: 9780794602734

Japanese Swords

$39.99

With over 300 stunning photographs and woodblock prints along with extensive historical and cultural commentary, Japanese Swords is the ultimate authority on Samurai weaponry.

Historically, Japanese warriors considered their swords to be more elevated than simple weaponry. Their swords were both lethal tools and divine companions — social and religious icons. Traditionally worn by the samurai as a sign of social status, the Japanese sword represented the junction between the ruling military class and those whom they ruled. Moreover, the samurai sword was a technological and artistic marvel. Many scholars consider it to be the finest sword ever constructed.

Concerning symbolism and historical importance, no other blade comes close to the Japanese sword. With a historical, iconographical, and technological perspective, author Cohn M. Roach provides an in-depth study of these magnificent weapons in Japanese Swords. This richly illustrated sword book weaves the blade's primary influences together, tracking its history and illuminating its progress from infancy to grandeur. By studying the evolution of the Japanese sword from this perspective, we better understand Japan and its warrior archetype.

Combining research materials from multiple disciplines, Roach uses his expertise as an educator to guide readers through the sword's rise to greatness in a unique way. This book discusses the history, development, and spiritual symbolism of the sword, as well as the esoteric metallurgical techniques used in making it. It also covers the intense training practices used by skilled swordsmen.

Japanese Swords also includes accompanying online videos featuring a beautifully-filmed documentary that explores the traditional swordmaker's craft, an introduction to the Japanese sword at a sword shop in Kyoto and a visit to a dojo for a beginner's class in the medieval sword-drawing art called iaido.

Cover image for Japanese Swords, isbn: 9784805313312

Things Chinese

$9.99

China's art objects and traditionally manufactured products have long been sought by collectors—from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people, history, and society of the world's largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles, and each has a story to tell.

The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home, the personal, arts & crafts, eating & drinking, entertainment, and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliar—from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake molds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapp's evocative text describes the history, cultural significance, and customs relating to each object, while Michael Freeman's superb photographs illustrate them. Together, text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.

Cover image for Things Chinese, isbn: 9780804849890

Textiles of Southeast Asia

$49.95

Textiles provide a visual history of a country's culture and crafting traditions in a way few other things can accomplish. In Textiles of Southeast Asia, Dr. Robyn Maxwell provides the definitive work on Southeast Asian textiles.

Traditional textiles are one of the most widely collected and important categories of Southeast Asian art. Using an extensive range of locally produced raw materials and an astonishing array of techniques—including applique, weaving, batik and embroidery—the textiles of Southeast Asia are astonishing in their versatility and originality. Textiles are used to fashion everything from everyday clothing to sacred and ceremonial costumes, shrouds and wrapping cloths, hangings, banners and ritual regalia—all of which are represented and explained in Textiles of Southeast Asia.

This authoritative text focuses on the changing relationship between indigenous Southeast Asian traditions and the outside influences continuing to be brought to the area, which change the nature of the region's textile traditions. This book considers the various ways Southeast Asian textile artisans reacted over the centuries to the steady stream of new and powerful ideas and raw materials arriving from India, China, the Islamic world and Europe. A detailed and definitive resource, Textiles of Southeast Asia is a welcome addition to the field of textiles.

Cover image for Textiles of Southeast Asia, isbn: 9780804844406

Batik, Traditional Textiles of Indonesia

$29.95

Batik occupies a special place in Indonesian culture. Each fabric has a rich story to tell—as a reflection of the nation's religious beliefs, sophisticated court cultures and cosmopolitan history.

The extraordinary textiles in this book are from the collections of Rudolf Smend and Donald Harper. Most date from the period 1880 to 1930 when the art of batik reached its apogee. Having collected historical batik for over thirty years and published two books on the subject, Rudolf Smend has invited his friend and fellow batik specialist Donald Harper to contribute his fine collection to this publication as well. None of the batik in this book have been published before. They represent an exquisite cross-section of the batik production of Java—the most important batik-producing region in the world.

The cloths are complemented by vintage photographs from the first quarter of the 20th century demonstrating how the batik were worn at court and at home. Three are from museums in Dresden and Cologne, while three are from the private collection of Leo Haks. The others have been collected over the past 30 years from private sources in Java. The captions are by Maria Wronska-Friend, an ethnologist and batik expert who frequently visits Indonesian batik centers and has worked for many years as an anthropologist in Papua New Guinea. Her contributions provide fundamental knowledge for lovers of this art form while at the same time providing new insights for experts.

Rudolf Smend has invited other batik aficionados of his generation to share their passion for batik in this book. Inger McCabe Elliott, author of the bestselling Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java has contributed her lifelong experience. Other authorities like Annegret Haake, Brigitte Khan Majlis and Jonathan Hope share their views and expertise in these pages. This book represents a labor of love and a lifetime of friendship for the two authors, who hope it will provide inspiration to a whole new generation of batik lovers.

Cover image for Batik, Traditional Textiles of Indonesia, isbn: 9780804846431

Oriental Rugs

$39.99

A must-have reference to the highly confusing rug terminology used across the globe—from Morocco to Turkey, Persia and the Caucasus region to Central Asia, India and China!

This monumental reference work—coveted by collectors and scholars alike—remains to fill an important gap in the available literature. Lavishly illustrated with over 1000 photographs and drawings, it offers clear and precise definitions for the rug and textile terms used across a broad swath of the globe—from Morocco to Turkey, Persia, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China. It covers priceless museum-quality rugs as well as modern centers of production, and draws on classical scholarship as well as current terms used by producers and traders today. It focuses on the rich hand-knotting and hand-weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia, and also includes some Scandinavian and Native American weavings.

Rug terms are confusing; the same rug is often called by a baffling array of different names. Some of these refer to a specific geographic or ethnic origin, while others refer to a particular function, method of production or material. This book makes all these terms accessible and understandable, and aids researchers and collectors by precisely identifying each region and ethnic group and explaining the designs, motifs and materials typically used there. It highlights rugs of particular significance and explains technical terms in use by local producers and traders.

Cover image for Oriental Rugs, isbn: 9780804858014

Things Chinese

$24.95

China's art objects and traditionally manufactured products have long been sought by collectors—from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people, history, and society of the world's largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles, and each has a story to tell.

The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home, the personal, arts & crafts, eating & drinking, entertainment, and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliar—from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake molds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapp's evocative text describes the history, cultural significance, and customs relating to each object, while Michael Freeman's superb photographs illustrate them. Together, text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.

Cover image for Things Chinese, isbn: 9780804841870

The Peranakan Chinese Home

$15.95

Discover the rarified Peranakan (native-born Chinese of Southeast Asia) aesthetics that are today highly sought-after for their beauty: distinctive furniture and ceramics, textiles and jewelry, and many other art objects. Peranakan Chinese Home displays these extraordinary objects, visible markers of a highly developed culture.

The broad range of beautiful objects which the Peranakan Chinese created and enjoyed in their daily lives is astounding. Each chapter in The Peranakan Chinese Home focuses on a different area and presents objects used or found in those spaces. Each piece is described in the context of their utility as household objects, as part of periodic celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year and other holidays, or in important life passage rituals relating to ancestor worship, birth, marriage, mourning and burial. The meaning of the rich symbolic and ornamental motifs found on the objects is discussed in detail, and key differences are highlighted between Peranakan objects and similar ones found in China.

A fascinating mix of Chinese, European and Southeast Asian influences, the distinctly Peranakan identity of a people and their culture is beautifully portrayed through objects and archival photographs in this lovely and exotic book.

Cover image for The Peranakan Chinese Home, isbn: 9780804848909

Cutting Edge

$29.95

The Japanese sword has long been appreciated both as a weapon and as an object of art. Only in Japanese culture has the sword been developed to such a level of technological excellence and spiritual importance. As a cutting weapon, the fully developed curved katana, or samurai sword, of the samurai warrior was uniquely effective. As a cultural object, it offers invaluable insights into the social and spiritual history of the Japanese people.

Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum offers a fascinating introduction to the design, manufacture and collecting of these Japanese weapons. It covers the development of sword art and designs, traditional forging methods, regional variations in style and signature works by legendary craftsmen. Included are hundreds of photos of swords and other art objects.

Cover image for Cutting Edge, isbn: 9780804847346

Peranakan Chinese Porcelain

$39.95

With over 800 unique photographs, this Chinese art book is a feast for the eyes.

Produced exclusively for wealthy Chinese communities along the Strait of Malacca in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Peranakan Chinese porcelain is enjoying a resurgence of interest among collectors.

Straits-born Chinese, or Peranakans, in Penang, Malacca and Singapore, used this ornate and colorful enamelware on festive occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and Chinese New Year.

Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is richly illustrated and includes key information on reign marks and factory marks. In-depth discussion of the motifs, colors, forms and functions of Peranakan Chinese ceramics makes this an invaluable reference.

Supporting photographs and text introduce related aspects of Peranakan culture including architecture, dress, cuisine and customs, making Peranakan Chinese Porcelain a wonderful contribution to the history of the Straits Chinese.

Cover image for Peranakan Chinese Porcelain, isbn: 9780804848183

Otafuku

$6.99

In shops, shrines, homes and gardens throughout Japan, at noisy festivals and in the most serene teahouses, you are likely to encounter the plump, smiling image of Otafuku—a mythic figure from Japan's distant past.

With her twinkling eyes and rosy lips, she appears in countless incarnations: on banners, cups and bowls, and in craft, furniture, painting and sculpture. Who is this warm, wonderful lady, whose gentle and calming presence is felt everywhere in Japan?

In Otafuku, renowned author Amy Katoh explores in her own inimitable way the colorful world of Otafuku. Katoh traces Otafuku's roots and folk beginnings, showing her many delightful identities, and providing a magical glimpse into this charming and little-known corner of Japanese culture. With a mixture of poems, photographs, anecdotes and stories, she presents a veritable jewel box of surprises that is sure to enchant readers.

Today Otafuku is Japan's most influential female icon and is attributed with having many bestowing powers including health, pleasure, success, and the granting of wishes.

Cover image for Otafuku, isbn: 9784805313121

The Art of the Japanese Sword

$44.95

In The Art of the Japanese Sword, master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a detailed look at the entire process of Japanese sword making, including the finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades.

Japanese sword art stands out in many ways: functionality as a weapon, sophisticated metallurgy and metalsmithing, the shape of the blade itself—all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. The Art of the Japanese Sword conveys to the reader Japanese samurai sword history and Japanese sword care, as well as explaining how to view and appreciate a blade.

With 256 full-color pages, this sword book illustrates in meticulous detail how modern craftsmen use traditional methods to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is made, the reader will be able to appreciate the samurai sword more fully. Topics include:

Appreciating the Japanese sword
History of the Japanese sword
Traditional Japanese steelmaking
Making the sword
Finishing the sword

Cover image for The Art of the Japanese Sword, isbn: 9784805312407

Chinese Dress

$29.99

Featuring over 450 archival photographs and line drawings, Chinese Dress traces the evolution of Chinese clothing from court and formal costumes to the everyday fashions of twenty-first century China.

Author Valery Garrett skillfully weaves the story of Chinese dress in all its variations—elaborately embroidered robes, military uniforms, children's dress, wedding and funeral attire, working clothes, Mao-inspired fashion—against a backdrop of historical, cultural and social change.

A comprehensive and sumptuously illustrated book, this book includes images of garments and accessories from museum and private collections, as well as unpublished or little-known archival photos and printed materials.

Chapters include:

Dress of the Qing Manchu Rulers 1644-1911
Dress of the Manchu Consorts 1644-1911
Attire of Mandarins and Merchants
Attire of Chinese Women
Republican Dress 1912-1949
Clothing of the Lower Classes
Clothing for Children
Dress in New China 1950-Present Day

For both modern fashion inspiration and accurate historical representation, Chinese Dress is the essential reference for costume historians, fashion designers and collectors, as well as lovers of beautiful clothes!

Cover image for Chinese Dress, isbn: 9780804852562

The Samurai Sword

$17.95

The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans; the samurai sword is considered by most to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo.

The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, prestigious schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller.

Topics of this Samurai book include:

Japanese History and the Samurai Sword
Types of swords
Parts of the sword
Blade shape, construction, and grain
The making of the sword
Inscriptions and their readings
Care and maintenance
Appraisal and value
Relative point values

Cover image for The Samurai Sword, isbn: 9784805311349

Ningyo

$34.95

Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll features over 250 unique photographs as well as extensive commentary and background history.

Japanese dolls (ningyo) have played an important role in Japanese art and culture since its earliest stages of development, as talismanic figures, centerpieces, in elaborate festivals, medical study tools, theater distractions, decorative objects, and avidly collected art forms, as well as childhood playthings. Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll is the most comprehensive book on antique Japanese dolls and figurines published in English. The book focuses on the many types of Japanese dolls:

gosho: palace dolls
hina: Girl's Day dolls
musha: warrior dolls for the Boy's Day Festival
isho: fashion dolls

The principal forms of the dolls and their history, stylistic development, cultural context, and economic imperatives are discussed against the backdrop of Edo-period society and popular culture. Beautifully detailed color photographs of ningyo drawn from private collections, many of which are published here for the first time, as well as images of related materials selected from celebrated museums and temple collections, such as folding screens, woodblock prints, sculpture, painting ceramics, and textiles, help place the dolls in context. Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll is a fascinating book for anyone interested in Asian doll art and doll collecting.

Cover image for Ningyo, isbn: 9780804847353

Old Beijing

$9.99

This collection of rare and vintage postcards offers a unique look at a vanished China and its storied capital.

Comprising 355 black-and-white and hand-tinted Beijing photography postcards that span the period from the last years of Imperial China to the Japanese invasion of 1937, it is a treasure trove for buffs of Beijing history, collectors, Sinophiles, and anyone fascinated by people and cultures from times past.

Readers will enjoy the wide selection of images showing different aspects of the life of old Peking—from the arrival of a camel train at a city gate to hand-colored views of the Forbidden City and an array of vendors, street performers, officials, gentry, commoners, and foreign tourists. Several chapters present the city's distinctive Beijing architecture—its walls and gates, towers, fountains, temples, pagodas, memorial arches, and public or imperial buildings, including the Summer and Winter Palaces and the Ming Tombs. Other chapters of Chinese photography look at the Manchu rulers, street life, the Legation Quarter and Western presence, and the Great Wall.

Included are some rare scenes depicting the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion and 1911 revolution; Manchu fashion, colorful means of transportation, and the coming of the railroad. Of particular note are images of the Empress Dowager, the child emperor Puyi, and other personalities at the Manchu Court. The book also includes eight color postcards of paintings by the famous artist Carl Wuttke and rare cards showing etched drawings of the Old Summer Palace—now only a field of ruins.

The author, who was born and lived in China before 1949, has written an informative introduction to each chapter as well as a general introduction to classical Beijing. A foreword by historian and Beijing expert Susan Naquin situates this collection at once as a precious record of old Peking and a revealing snapshot of Western views of China in the first golden age of tourism.

Old Beijing: Postcards from the Imperial City offers a visual time capsule of both Beijing's history and traditional Chinese culture in a unique and revealing postcard format.

Cover image for Old Beijing, isbn: 9780804850650

Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide

$29.95

Japanese swords, particularly those wielded by famous samurai warriors, hold a continuing fascination for collectors of fine arts and historical military weapons. This book is designed to enhance one's appreciation for the wide variety of Japanese swords (as well as their related polearms), their manufacture and their preservation.

A fascinating opening chapter explains how the elite Samurai class dominated Japan for more than a thousand years, how technological and ideological advances overtook the Samurai in the 1860s, heralding a more up-to-date political and military system of governance, and how such changes affected Samurai sword design and manufacture.

Subsequent chapters present topics of greatest relevance to today's sword collector: namely, the modern Japanese sword; different types of swords and their construction and testing; collecting and studying Japanese swords (and the tremendously important etiquette involved); and techniques of preserving and polishing swords.

This book is beautifully illustrated with paintings, photographs, drawings, and maps. In addition, there is an in-depth glossary and useful tables explaining Japanese calligraphic symbols relating to swords, both of great value to the collector.

Cover image for Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide, isbn: 9784805314579

Japanese Dolls

$24.95

Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo, is a wealth of information for Japanese art collectors, Asian doll collectors and doll enthusiasts of all levels and interests.

Full of beautiful photographs, the book details 18 kinds of widely collected, obtainable and affordable, antique and vintage dolls and figurines (ningyo). Author Alan Scott Pate—the leading American expert on Japanese dolls—writes in illuminating detail about the traditions of each type of doll and shares practical tips on how to collect this amazing Japanese art form.

Included in this guide to Japanese ningyo are:

Festival dolls: hina-ningyo, musha-ningyo, tableau dolls
Display dolls: saga-ningyo, gosho-ningyo, isho-ningyo, iki-ningyo
Wood dolls: kamo-ningyo, nara-ningyo, kokeshi-ningyo
Clay dolls: fushimi-ningyo, hakata-ningyo
Mechanical dolls: karakuri-ningyo, kobe-ningyo
Theatrical dolls: bunraku-ningyo, takeda-ningyo
Play dolls: ichimatsu-ningyo, keue saiko

Cover image for Japanese Dolls, isbn: 9780804849777

Japanese Kokeshi Dolls

$19.99

An inside look at kokeshi dolls: from the skilled woodworkers behind their design to their important cultural significance.

Discover the simplicity and charm of traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls, known for their cylindrical shape and distinctive absence of arms and legs. Originally crafted as children's toys in Japan's Tohoku region, these dolls have evolved into sought-after collector's items, inspiring renowned architects and artists worldwide.

In this visual guide, readers will find:

An overview of the various Kokeshi doll types
How kokeshi dolls are crafted, including information on tools and woods used
Interviews with leading kokeshi craftspeople worldwide
Detailed information on both traditional and modern Kokeshi dolls
An exploration of the cultural significance, both historically and in the post-earthquake and tsunami rebuilding efforts of northern Japan in 2011
A guide to visiting Japan's kokeshi regions
Tips on purchasing these dolls directly from Japanese artisans or through global stockists

Filled with artist interviews, gorgeous photos and firsthand travel experience, author Manami Okazaki has created a book to be enjoyed by all — from serious collectors to woodcrafters, interior designers, architects, armchair travelers and anyone with an interest in Japanese culture and travel.

Cover image for Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, isbn: 9784805315545

Malaysian Batik

$14.99

Malaysian Batik: Reinventing a Tradition, traces the history of batik, the materials, methods and motifs of the block-stamped and hand drawn methods, and the ways in which Malaysian batik has been transformed into a craft with international appeal.

Batik is more than wax and dye applied to a length of cloth. It is an art form practiced by people around Asia. With its its bolder, abstract designs and its brighter palette, Malaysian batik is a distinctly different type of batik that has brought an exciting new dimension to this ancient method of fabric art.

Historically seen as a craft, batik making in Malaysia today has segued into more of an art form, both in its creation and its uses. Historically, batik fabric was fashioned into sarongs to be worn by people across all walks of life. More often now batik fabrics are used for lifestyle products, as art pieces and, above all, for contemporary high fashion. The pieces that are created display an originality of composition and design, an effective use of color, a high level of technical expertise and a flair for working in the medium that are the hallmarks of great works of art. Many of the recent advances in Malaysian batik are due to the initiatives of the Yayasan Budi Penyayang, which has revitalized the Malaysian batik industry by adapting it to suit fashion needs and utilized the Asian fashion industry to promote and display its beauty.

Cover image for Malaysian Batik, isbn: 9781462908783

Chinese Carpets and Rugs

$12.99

This guide to chinese rugs is a classic work of art history and of enormous importance to collectors, artists and casual readers alike.

First published in the famous rug-making city of Tientsin more than fifty years ago in a limited edition, Chinese Carpets and Rugs has unjustly been out of print for far too long. It has been the object of eager and futile search by many collectors, and its reappearance here in a faithful photographic reprint is certain to be welcomed by all discerning students of carpet weaving in one of its most famous and delightful forms.

The book presents valuable essays on the development of carpet weaving, the colors of Chinese carpets, and the weaving process. The enduring worth of this book is proved by its continuing high reputation among collectors.

Cover image for Chinese Carpets and Rugs, isbn: 9781462911646

Japanese Kokeshi Dolls

$19.99

An inside look at kokeshi dolls: from the skilled woodworkers behind their design to their important cultural significance.

Discover the simplicity and charm of traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls, known for their cylindrical shape and distinctive absence of arms and legs. Originally crafted as children's toys in Japan's Tohoku region, these dolls have evolved into sought-after collector's items, inspiring renowned architects and artists worldwide.

In this visual guide, readers will find:

An overview of the various Kokeshi doll types
How kokeshi dolls are crafted, including information on tools and woods used
Interviews with leading kokeshi craftspeople worldwide
Detailed information on both traditional and modern Kokeshi dolls
An exploration of the cultural significance, both historically and in the post-earthquake and tsunami rebuilding efforts of northern Japan in 2011
A guide to visiting Japan's kokeshi regions
Tips on purchasing these dolls directly from Japanese artisans or through global stockists

Filled with artist interviews, gorgeous photos and firsthand travel experience, author Manami Okazaki has created a book to be enjoyed by all — from serious collectors to woodcrafters, interior designers, architects, armchair travelers and anyone with an interest in Japanese culture and travel.

Cover image for Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, isbn: 9781462921973

Chinese Furniture

$24.99

The international market for antique Chinese furniture is booming, and masterpieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties are now selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chinese Furniture is a survey of these collectibles—from the very best museum-quality hardwood pieces to standard softwood specimens still available at reasonable prices on the international market.

Carpenters from this era were artisans. They elevated furniture from the functional to the realm of the philosophical. By artfully aligning wood grain patterns, experimenting with spatial dimensions, and innovating new forms of joinery, simple tables and chairs came to represent something higher—the harmony and union of man and nature.

Lavishly illustrated with over 300 color photographs, historical prints and detailed drawings, this book presents an overview of:

Carving Styles
Wood Types
Regional Variations
Class Distinctions
Restoration Techniques
And much more!

With its detailed historical overview and regional coverage, this book highlights the great diversity of antique Chinese furniture and serves as an indispensable guide to collectors, new and old.

Cover image for Chinese Furniture, isbn: 9780804857567

Ningyo

$32.99

Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll features over 250 unique photographs as well as extensive commentary and background history.

Japanese dolls (ningyo) have played an important role in Japanese art and culture since its earliest stages of development, as talismanic figures, centerpieces, in elaborate festivals, medical study tools, theater distractions, decorative objects, and avidly collected art forms, as well as childhood playthings. Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll is the most comprehensive book on antique Japanese dolls and figurines published in English. The book focuses on the many types of Japanese dolls:

gosho: palace dolls
hina: Girl's Day dolls
musha: warrior dolls for the Boy's Day Festival
isho: fashion dolls

The principal forms of the dolls and their history, stylistic development, cultural context, and economic imperatives are discussed against the backdrop of Edo-period society and popular culture. Beautifully detailed color photographs of ningyo drawn from private collections, many of which are published here for the first time, as well as images of related materials selected from celebrated museums and temple collections, such as folding screens, woodblock prints, sculpture, painting ceramics, and textiles, help place the dolls in context. Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll is a fascinating book for anyone interested in Asian doll art and doll collecting.

Cover image for Ningyo, isbn: 9781462907205

Samurai Sword

$17.95

The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans, the samurai sword is generally considered to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo.

The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these ancient blades. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, famous schools and differences in construction, this revised edition of the classic reference outlines methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly. This must-have for sword lovers is sure to be a bestseller.

Topics of this Samurai book include:

Japanese History and the Samurai Sword
Types of swords
Parts of the sword
Blade shape, construction, and grain
The making of the sword
Inscriptions and their readings
Care and maintenance
Appraisal and value
Relative point values

Cover image for Samurai Sword, isbn: 9781462907069

Chinese Jade of Five Centuries

$19.99

Chinese Jade of Five Centuries was originally published in print form by Tuttle Publishing in 1969.

In Chinese Jade of Five Centuries, Mrs Hartman provides an encompassing look at one of the minor arts which must be considered vital to a judgement of artistic achievements of any civilization.

Magnificently illustrated with 45 black and white photographs and 10 color plates, the book displays many museum examples which have not been previously published for general readership. Written for the layman, the text should satisfy the more discerning and knowledgeable reader as well, particularly for it's information on the quality and location of jade rough, on dating, and techniques of carving.

Cover image for Chinese Jade of Five Centuries, isbn: 9781462909629

Japanese Things

$9.99

Armchair travelers beware!

Japanese Things will lure you out of your cozy, comfy home and chair to an unusual country with bewitching manners and customsand once you have succumbed to its spell you will never be the same. Here in one neat package you will meet the flavor, charm, and piquancy of old Japana revised reprint of one of the indispensable books on Japan, by the late Prof. Basil Hall Chamberlain, eminent British scholar who in the latter part of the 19th century "taught Japanese and Japan to the Japanese."

Many books in one, this monumental compilation contains such diversified subjects as Art and Abacus; Botany and Buddhism; Charms and Cherry Blossoms; Daimyos and Divination; Fairy Tales and Flowers; Gardens and Government; History and Hara-kiri; Law and Language; Marriage and Music; Poetry and Pottery; Shinto and Singing Girls (Geisha); Tea and Theater, and Writing and Wood Engraving. In this long-awaited reprint, in which the title has been changed from Things Japanese, the reader will encounter exquisite objects of daily Japanese life, the gardens and cultures of the fields, the harmony and balance in the fundamentals of day-by-day existence.

Cover image for Japanese Things, isbn: 9781462908721

Batik: From the Courts of Java and Sumatra

$19.99

With beautiful full-color Batik cloths and extensive historical and cultural commentary, Batik: From the Courts of Java and Sumatra is a fundamental work in the field of Indonesian art and culture.

Batik occupies a special position in Indonesia. The extraordinary photographs of cloths and prints in this book demonstrate why batik is the stuff of textile legend. These 71 batik designs, taken from the collection of famed dealer Rudolf G. Smend, date from 1880-1930, a time still considered batik's golden age.

Emanating from the provicial and stately courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta in Central Java are hip, chest, shoulder, and head cloths in controlled, orderly, geometric patterns in natural soga brown, indigo blue, black, and cream. Brighter colors and freer designs on the sarongs made in Cirebon, Pekalongan, Lasem, and other towns along Java's commercial north coast eloquently attest to the blending of indigenous forms, motifs, and colors with outside influences. Southern Sumatra, with its Muslim heritage, contributed large shoulder cloths and headscarves often bearing Koranic invocations.

Complementing these extraordinary cloths are 16 vintage photo prints from the Leo Haks collection, which demonstrate how batik was worn at court and in other settings.

Cover image for Batik: From the Courts of Java and Sumatra, isbn: 9781462906956

Balinese Textiles

$8.99

In this beautifully illustrated book, three experts examine the history, production and uses of textiles in Balinese society. Many fine pieces are presented, their raw materials and methods of weaving and dyeing are described, and the complex symbolism and ritual functions of each are explained in detail.

Cover image for Balinese Textiles, isbn: 9781462907021

Japanese Swords

$32.95

With over 300 stunning photographs and woodblock prints along with extensive historical and cultural commentary, Japanese Swords is the ultimate authority on Samurai weaponry.

Historically, Japanese warriors considered their swords to be far greater than simple weaponry. Their swords were both lethal tools and divine companions — social and religious icons. Traditionally worn by the samurai as a sign of social status, the Japanese sword represented the junction between the reigning military class and those whom they ruled. Moreover, the samurai sword was a technological and artistic marvel. Many scholars consider it to be the finest sword ever constructed.

In terms of symbolism and historical importance, no other blade comes close to the Japanese sword. With a historical, iconographical, and technological perspective, author Cohn M. Roach provides an in-depth study of these magnificent weapons in Japanese Swords. This richly illustrated sword book weaves the blade's primary influences together, tracking its history and illuminating its progress from infancy to grandeur. By studying the evolution of the Japanese sword from this perspective, we better understand Japan and its warrior archetype.

Combining research materials from multiple disciplines, Roach uses his expertise as an educator to guide readers through the sword's rise to greatness in a unique way. This book discusses the history, development, and spiritual symbolism of the sword, as well as the esoteric metallurgical techniques used in making it. It also covers the difficult training practices used by skilled swordsmen.

Japanese Swords also includes a companion video content featuring a beautifully-filmed documentary that explores the traditional swordmaker's craft. The video content also contains an introduction to the Japanese sword at a sword shop in Kyoto and a visit to a dojo for a beginner's class in the medieval sword-drawing art called iaido.

Cover image for Japanese Swords, isbn: 9781462915750

Check Points on How to Buy Oriental Rugs

$12.99

This classic oriental rug guide is still the most comprehensive and authoritative book for buying or selling rugs—essential reading for any collector.

Author, Charles W. Jacobsen was a world renowened authority on Oriental rugs. Check Points on How to Buy Oriental Rugs represent the essence of his five decades of experience in buying and selling new and antique Oriental rugs. Experienced dealers and first-time buyers alike will benefit from the expert information and advice Mr. Jacobsen offers.

Cover image for Check Points on How to Buy Oriental Rugs, isbn: 9781462903726

Inro & Other Min. forms

$24.99

The most comprehensive book covering Japanese inro and netsuke this book an in-depth guide to Japanese miniature laquer art.

Inro and Other Miniature Forms of Japanese Lacquer Art is designed both for the novice in Japanese lacquer art and for the advanced collector who specializes in such delightful forms of that art as the inro and the netsuke. For readers who desire a general acquaintance with the subject, there are absorbing chapters on the history of Japanese lacquer, on miniature lacquer forms and on the subject matter of lacquer art. For the collector, there is not only highly technical information on lacquer manufacture and techniques but also a comprehensive chapter on netsuke.

Three other features of the book make it an invaluable one for collectors:

Tthe biographical listing of more than 900 miniature-lacquer artists
The genealogies of the outstanding lacquer schools
The reproductions of 59 signatures of representative artists.

Included are over 250 illustrations. All important miniature lacquer forms are represented. In addition, there is a well-selected and useful bibliography.

Cover image for Inro & Other Min. forms, isbn: 9781462903832

Fables in Ivory

$19.99

In Fables in Ivory, delightful Japanese legends are accompanied With dozens of color photographs and extensive historical background.

To introduce netsuke sculptures to a wider audience and, at the same time, to tell some of the legends that inspired their creators, Adrienne Barbanson presents here a collection of superb photographs accompanied by a narrative text designed to enhance the reader's appreciation of this remarkable by relatively unfamiliar art.

Cover image for Fables in Ivory, isbn: 9781462913213

Buying & Selling Antiques & Collectibl

$14.99

Written for both beginners and experienced collectors, this antiques guide provides descriptions of some of the more prized antiques and collectibles, and explains how to find them and how to resell them.

How can you recognize depression glass? How do you find valuable antiques at garage sales? And how can you get into the antiques business yourself? Buying & Selling Antiques is the perfect resource for the antiques dabbler, the garage-sale lover, the knick-knack admirer. Written for both beginners and experienced collectors, this guide provides descriptions of some of the more prized antiques and collectibles, and explains how to find them an how to resell them. The authors offer insiders' tips on cleaning and repair, auction strategies, how to set up displays and how to find the best markets for your wares.

Buying & Selling Antiques and Collectibles is the indispensable guide for those who plan to start their own antiques business or who hope to make a little money from their hobby.

Cover image for Buying & Selling Antiques & Collectibl, isbn: 9781462904419

Chinese Snuff Bottles

$19.99

Chinese Snuff Bottles is invaluable document for all interested in the history of Chinese art.

It is also a lucid and fascinating guidebook for the collector or would be collector, both of snuff bottles and other products of Chinese craftsmanship. All the skills and ingenuity of the Chinese artisans were lavished upon the production of these tiny bottles, making them pre-eminent representatives of the best in Chinese craftsmanship.

This classic art history book is the first full account in any language of this facet of Chinese art. It includes a comprehensive treatment of the origins and development of the snuff bottle in China as well as over 150 actual-size reproductions, the majority in full color. It is a fascinating story by an enthusiastic collector, who captivated by the beauty and ingenuity found in these bottles, had the interest to delve into the historical background techniques of manufacture, kind and quality of materials, classification and organization of types, and the like, as well as a delightfully informal style with which to communicate her wide knowledge and enthusiasm to the reader.

Cover image for Chinese Snuff Bottles, isbn: 9781462909605

Trades and Crafts of Old Japan

$5.99

This very rare series of Japanese paintings depicts everyday artisans in feudal Japan. Extensive commentary provides insight into the historical and cultural context of the scenes.

More than three centuries ago, not long after Japan had entered the period of seclusion decreed by her Tokugawa rulers, an unknown artist, or perhaps a group of artists, painted a series of pictures for an album portraying contemporary trades and crafts. In creating the scenes that compose this rare relic from Tokugawa days, the anonymous painter left for later ages an invaluable record of everyday human activity in the utilitarian arts for which Japan has long been famous. It is these pictures, carefully reproduced in collotype and color and accompanied by Eric Kaemmerer's perceptive comments, that make up the present volume.

These scenes of Japanese life in the early 17th century introduce a variety of craftsmen ranging from needlemaker to swordsmith, from fanmaker to carpenter, from the creator of fragile lacquer ware to the fashioner of sturdy barrels. Their trades and crafts, many of which are still carried on with little change in present-day Japan, are portrayed with painstaking attention to detail and with a decided feeling for human interest.

Cover image for Trades and Crafts of Old Japan, isbn: 9781462913305

Wonderful World of Netsuk

$7.99

Japanese netsukeminiature carvingsare profiled in this wonderful Japanese arts book.

These tiny masterpieces of sculpture (mostly in ivory and wood), of lacquer, and of metalwork captivated collectors with the charm of their conception, the intricacy of their detail, and the sheer tactile pleasure of handling them. Basically they were utilitarian in purpose, serving as toggles or pendants to support medicine boxes, tobacco pouches, and similar articles suspended by a cord from the obi. Originally primitive in design, they soon became more and more sophisticated, and their makers turned increasingly to the legendry of Japan for their subject matter.

It is with these masterpieces in miniature that author-collector Raymond Bushell deals in The Wonderful World of Netsuke picturing one hundred of them in color and offering a delightfully informative description of each. In so doing, he provides not only a visual treat but also an absorbing commentary on Japanese manners, customs, history, legends, and superstitions. Mr. Bushell, besides being an avid collector of netsuke, sword furnishings, and jade, is widely known for his adaptation from the Japanese of The Netsuke Handbook of Ueda Reikichi.

Cover image for Wonderful World of Netsuk, isbn: 9781462908745

Nyonya Kebaya

$44.99

This longtime Malaysian fashion icon was originally a long, straight, Arab-inspired top of plain woven cotton. The Nyonyas, the women of the early Peranakan community, gradually transformed it into a shapely, embroidered, translucent blouse, fastened with a set of chained brooches and worn with a matching hand-drawn batik sarong.

Sheer, romantic, alluring, yet sedate, the designs of Nyonya kebaya crosses several generations and cultures.

This book showcases the collection of Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Cover image for Nyonya Kebaya, isbn: 9781462906918

Things Korean

$9.99

Containing photographs of everyday, antique objects along with insightful commentary, Things Korean is a useful guide to traditional life in Korea.

O-Young Lee, former Korean Minister of Culture gives us a survey of native objects from Korea, from totems(Changsung) to hair-pins(binyo), crock pots(Changdokdae) to temple bells(Jong), scissors(Kawi) to graves(mudon) explaining their significance and place in everyday Korean life.

Each item in the book is listed under its English and Korean name; a glossary is provided to further assist the reader. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 color illustrations, Things Korean is a magnificent celebration of Korean culture.

Cover image for Things Korean, isbn: 9781462908400

Chinese Dress

$29.99

Featuring over 450 archival photographs and line drawings, Chinese Dress traces the evolution of Chinese clothing from court and formal costumes to the fashions of modern China.

A comprehensive and sumptuously illustrated book, Chinese Dress is the essential reference for costume historians, fashion designers and collectors, as well as lovers of beautiful clothes everywhere. Chapters include:

Dress of the Qing Manchu Rulers 1644-1911
Dress of the Manchu Consorts 1644-1911
Attire of Mandarins and Merchants
Attire of Chinese Women
Republican Dress 1912-1949
Clothing of the Lower Classes
Clothing for Children
Dress in New China 1950-2006

From Imperial robes to foot binding to the cheongsam, Chinese Dress spotlights traditional Chinese dress against a background of historical, cultural and social change, opening a fascinating window for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of China, Chinese culture and Chinese fashion history.

Cover image for Chinese Dress, isbn: 9781462906949

Art Glass Nouveau

$24.99

Art Glass Nouveau is an exploration of the magnificent beauty of colored glass art.

This art book contains many unique pieces that were produced extensively in the United States, Great Britain, and other European countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when this fine art was at its height.

All of the illustrations are in full color. The book contains 424 plates, 50 of which are full page. The complete description of each piece indicates its size, the type of glass used, its identification marks, the names of the designer and/or producer, when known, and its present owner. While every significant type of art glass produced during this period is covered in the succinct text, the exciting galaxy of 424 plates, interspersed throughout the book, were selected not only because of their rare beauty and authenticity, but also to show representative pieces, similar to those that are still obtainable. Most important of all in identifying a piece and determining its value, according to the authors, are its color, its shape, and the texture of its surface, to which they constantly give particular attention.

Cover image for Art Glass Nouveau, isbn: 9781462909056

Wares of the Ming Dynasty

$8.99

This book explains and illustrates as many varieties of Ming ceramics as possible. The text is based primarily on information obtained from Chinese sources and the occasional notes made by Europeans who visited China in Ming times. To these, Mr. Hobson has added his own penetrating deductions, made after careful study of well-authenticated specimens and of observation by earlier scholars. His presentation is not only clear and precise but also incontestably authoritative and at the same time highly readable.

The first twelve chapters of the book deal almost exclusively with the porcelain produced at Ching-te Chen; the next four, with the porcelain and pottery made at other centers. The bulk of the 129 pieces illustrated (12 in color) are drawn from private collections, but references is also made to important examples in museums. Of particular interest are Mr. Hobson's comments on collecting and on the identification of genuine Ming wares. A special chapter on marks, inscriptions, and Chinese characters is included, together with a selected bibliography.

Cover image for Wares of the Ming Dynasty, isbn: 9781462913039

Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide

$29.95

Japanese swords, particularly those wielded by famous samurai warriors, hold a continuing fascination for collectors of fine arts and historical military weapons. This book is designed to enhance one's appreciation for the wide variety of Japanese swords (as well as their related polearms), their manufacture and their preservation.

A fascinating opening chapter explains how the elite Samurai class dominated Japan for more than a thousand years, how technological and ideological advances overtook the Samurai in the 1860s, heralding a more up-to-date political and military system of governance, and how such changes affected Samurai sword design and manufacture.

Subsequent chapters present topics of greatest relevance to today's sword collector: namely, the modern Japanese sword; different types of swords and their construction and testing; collecting and studying Japanese swords (and the tremendously important etiquette involved); and techniques of preserving and polishing swords.

This book is beautifully illustrated with paintings, photographs, drawings, and maps. In addition, there is an in-depth glossary and useful tables explaining Japanese calligraphic symbols relating to swords, both of great value to the collector.

Cover image for Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide, isbn: 9781462919727

Japanese & Oriental Ceramic

$10.99

Japanese and Oriental Ceramics was first published in print form by Tuttle Publishing in 1971.

This comprehensive and profusely illustrated work tells how to distinguish Japanese porcelains from Chinese, and how to recognize modern reproductions of genuine old wares. It is completely indexed, contains a lengthy bibliography, and lists Chinese dates important in any discussion of Oriental ceramics.

Crammed with information on the history, esthetics, and technical aspects of the ceramics of Japan and the Orient, the book is an invaluable guide to scholars, collectors and dealers. It is in fact a work of art in itself.

Cover image for Japanese & Oriental Ceramic, isbn: 9781462903856

Ornamented Chair

$8.99

Discriminating decorators and collectors, no less than dealers and researchers in antiques, have long felt the need of a comprehensive study of the ornamented chair and its development in America. This book is the product of an effort to satisfy that need and at the same time to bring new pleasures to lovers of beautiful furniture.

The book is based on photographic and research material collected by the late Esther Stevens Brazer, who spent a lifetime in the study and revival of early American decoration.

The authors are all qualified researchers, teachers, and decorators. In their text they present a general history of chair types, facts regarding ornamentation, and informative accounts of some of the leading craftsmen and decorators of the various periods. The final chapter of the book briefly relates the history of the Society and describes how its members carry forward the efforts of Esther Stevens Brazer, maintaining in their research, their teaching, and their restorations the standards of an old craft and the traditions of its finest workmen.

Cover image for Ornamented Chair, isbn: 9781462913312

Art of the Japanese Sword

$44.95

In The Art of the Japanese Sword, master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a detailed look at the entire process of Japanese sword making, including the finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades.

Japanese sword art stands out in many ways: functionality as a weapon, sophisticated metallurgy and metalsmithing, the shape of the blade itself—all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. The Art of the Japanese Sword conveys to the reader Japanese samurai sword history and Japanese sword care, as well as explaining how to view and appreciate a blade.

With 256 full-color pages, this sword book illustrates in meticulous detail how modern craftsmen use traditional methods to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the samurai sword more fully. Topics include:

Appreciating the Japanese sword
History of the Japanese sword
Traditional Japanese steelmaking
Making the sword
Finishing the sword

Cover image for Art of the Japanese Sword, isbn: 9781462909964

Japanese Dolls

$12.99

Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyo, is a wealth of information for Japanese art collectors, Asian doll collectors and doll enthusiasts of all levels and interests.

Full of beautiful photographs, the book details 18 kinds of widely collected, obtainable and affordable, antique and vintage dolls and figurines (ningyo). Author Alan Scott Pate—the leading American expert on Japanese dolls—writes in illuminating detail about the traditions of each type of doll and shares practical tips on how to collect this amazing Japanese art form.

Included in this guide to Japanese ningyo are:

Festival dolls: hina-ningyo, musha-ningyo, tableau dolls
Display dolls: saga-ningyo, gosho-ningyo, isho-ningyo, iki-ningyo
Wood dolls: kamo-ningyo, nara-ningyo, kokeshi-ningyo
Clay dolls: fushimi-ningyo, hakata-ningyo
Mechanical dolls: karakuri-ningyo, kobe-ningyo
Theatrical dolls: bunraku-ningyo, takeda-ningyo
Play dolls: ichimatsu-ningyo, keue saiko

Cover image for Japanese Dolls, isbn: 9781462907076

Otafuku

$6.99

With dozens of color photographs and fun, informative text, this guide to Japanese otafuku is a delight for collectors or Japanese culture enthusiasts.

Anywhere you go in Japan you are likely to encounter the plump, smiling image of Otafuku. Author Amy Sylvester Katoh traces the roots and folk beginnings of this mythic figure, showing Otafuku's many delightful identities, and providing a magical glimpse into this charming character who has become a national icon.

With a mixture of poems, photographs, anecdotes, and stories, she presents a veritable treasure chest of surprises that is sure to enchant readers.

Cover image for Otafuku, isbn: 9781462913886

Ornamented Tray

$8.99

This authoritative and definitive work contains the first formal history of antique trays every published. Each of its six chapters is written by a different authority. They discuss:

Lace-Edge Painting
The "Chippendale" Style
Trays Ornamented with Gold Leaf
The Freehand Bronze Techniques
Stenciled Trays
The Country Painted Tray
The book is lavishly illustrated with more than 500 photographs, seven of them in full color, including pictures of trays prized by museums and private collectors, as well as hundreds selected from the unique photographic collection of the late Esther Stevens Brazer.

Cover image for Ornamented Tray, isbn: 9781462912391

Textiles of Southeast Asia

$49.95

Textiles provide a visual history of a country's culture and crafting traditions in a way few other things can accomplish. In Textiles of Southeast Asia, Dr. Robyn Maxwell provides the definitive work on Southeast Asian textiles.

Traditional textiles are one of the most widely collected and important categories of Southeast Asian art. Using an extensive range of locally produced raw materials and an astonishing array of techniques—including applique, weaving, batik and embroidery—the textiles of Southeast Asia are astonishing in their versatility and originality. Textiles are used to fashion everything from everyday clothing to sacred and ceremonial costumes, shrouds and wrapping cloths, hangings, banners and ritual regalia—all of which are represented and explained in Textiles of Southeast Asia.

This authoritative text focuses on the changing relationship between indigenous Southeast Asian traditions and the outside influences continuing to be brought to the area, which change the nature of the region's textile traditions. This book considers the various ways Southeast Asian textile artisans reacted over the centuries to the steady stream of new and powerful ideas and raw materials arriving from India, China, the Islamic world and Europe. A detailed and definitive resource, Textiles of Southeast Asia is a welcome addition to the field of textiles.

Cover image for Textiles of Southeast Asia, isbn: 9781462906987

Oriental Rugs

$49.95

This monumental reference work—long awaited by collectors and scholars—fills an important gap in the available literature on oriental rugs.

Lavishly illustrated with over 1000 photographs and drawings, it offers clear and precise definitions for the rug and textile terms in use across a broad swath of the globe—from Morocco to Turkey, Persia, the Caucasus region, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China. Covering priceless museum-quality rug traditions as well as modern centers of production, Oriental Rugs: An Illustrated Lexicon of Motifs, Materials, and Origins draws on classical scholarship as well as current terminology in use among producers and traders in these areas today. It focuses primarily on the rich hand-knotting and hand-weaving traditions of the Near East and Central Asia, but also includes some examples of Scandinavian and Native American weavings.

Oriental rugs are receiving ever-increasing attention and recognition in the field of art history. Tribal weavings especially have become a focus for new research, and Oriental Rugs provides a new understanding of many distinctive traditions that were previously understudied, such as the weavings of southwest Persia, Baluchistan and Kurdistan. This concise oriental rug reference book is a must-have for scholars and anyone serious about collecting rugs, selling rugs or the rug trade in general. Additional reference information also includes:

Foreign terms
Place names
The Oriental Rug lexicon
Museums with notable rug collections
Oriental rug internet sites

Cover image for Oriental Rugs, isbn: 9781462911844

Carved & Decorated European Art Glass

$19.99

9781462909650

Batik, Traditional Textiles of Indonesia

$29.95

Batik occupies a special place in Indonesian culture. Each fabric has a rich story to tell—as a reflection of the nation's religious beliefs, sophisticated court cultures and cosmopolitan history.

The extraordinary textiles in this book are from the collections of Rudolf Smend and Donald Harper. Most date from the period 1880 to 1930 when the art of batik reached its apogee. Having collected historical batik for over thirty years and published two books on the subject, Rudolf Smend has invited his friend and fellow batik specialist Donald Harper to contribute his fine collection to this publication as well. None of the batik in this book have been published before. They represent an exquisite cross-section of the batik production of Java—the most important batik-producing region in the world.

The cloths are complemented by vintage photographs from the first quarter of the 20th century demonstrating how the batik were worn at court and at home. Three are from museums in Dresden and Cologne, while three are from the private collection of Leo Haks. The others have been collected over the past 30 years from private sources in Java. The captions are by Maria Wronska-Friend, an ethnologist and batik expert who frequently visits Indonesian batik centers and has worked for many years as an anthropologist in Papua New Guinea. Her contributions provide fundamental knowledge for lovers of this art form while at the same time providing new insights for experts.

Rudolf Smend has invited other batik aficionados of his generation to share their passion for batik in this book. Inger McCabe Elliott, author of the bestselling Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java has contributed her lifelong experience. Other authorities like Annegret Haake, Brigitte Khan Majlis and Jonathan Hope share their views and expertise in these pages. This book represents a labor of love and a lifetime of friendship for the two authors, who hope it will provide inspiration to a whole new generation of batik lovers.

Batik

$29.95

Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java is richly illustrated with color plates of the finest antique and contemporary batik from thirty museums and private collections around the world.

From the royal courts of Yogyakarta and Cirebon to the coastal towns of Pekalongan, Surabaya and Lasem, Inger McCabe Elliot takes the reader on a spellbinding tour of Java's north coast examining the customs, cultures and craftsmanship that distinguishes its magic cloth.

Batik—Fabled Cloth of Java is a sumptuous book and now a classic, richly illustrated with color plates of the finest antique and contemporary batik batik from collections all over the world. It includes historical photographs, etchings, engravings, maps and photographs of modern Java.

This new edition will be welcomed by designers, scholars and art lovers alike. it is the product of many years of collecting and on-the-scene exploration by a leading photojournalist, whose life was changed forever when she first laid eyes on the wondrous batik of Java's north coast.

Cover image for Batik, isbn: 9781462908691

Netsuke: A Guide for Collectors

$24.99

Featuring dozens of Japanese netsuke masterpieces and insightful commentary, this Japanese art book is a classic collector’s item.

Netsuke: A Guide for Collectors approaches the subject of Japanese nestuke from the point of view of the amateur collector rather than that of an owner discussing his own accomplished collection.

Ever since Japan's emergence a little over a century ago from her long period of seclusion under Tokugawa rule, netsuke have exerted an almost irresistible attraction for Western collectors. These tiny carvings-exquisite in detail, charming in conception, and delightful for the sheer tactual pleasure to be experienced in handling them-captivated admirers of Japanese art and craftsmanship. Basically, netsuke were utilitarian in purpose, for they were designed to serve as pendants or toggles to support medicine boxes, writing cases, smoking equipment, and similar articles worn suspended by a cord from the obi-a practical device since the kimono had no pockets. At first quite primitive in design, they soon became more and more sophisticated, and their carvers turned increasingly to the legendary of Japan and China for inspiration and subject matter.

This fascinating book is a wonderful introduction to this classic Japanese art and will be invaluable for both professional collections and amateurs alike.

Cover image for Netsuke: A Guide for Collectors, isbn: 9781462904105

Peranakan Chinese Home

$15.95

Discover the rarified Peranakan (native-born Chinese of Southeast Asia) aesthetics that are today highly sought-after for their beauty: distinctive furniture and ceramics, textiles and jewelry, and many other art objects. Peranakan Chinese Home displays these extraordinary objects, visible markers of a highly developed culture.

The broad range of beautiful objects which the Peranakan Chinese created and enjoyed in their daily lives is astounding. Each chapter in The Peranakan Chinese Home focuses on a different area and presents objects used or found in those spaces. Each piece is described in the context of their utility as household objects, as part of periodic celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year and other holidays, or in important life passage rituals relating to ancestor worship, birth, marriage, mourning and burial. The meaning of the rich symbolic and ornamental motifs found on the objects is discussed in detail and key differences are highlighted between Peranakan objects and similar ones found in China.

A fascinating mix of Chinese, European and Southeast Asian influences, the distinctly Peranakan identity of a people and their culture is beautifully portrayed through objects and archival photographs in this lovely and exotic book.

Cover image for Peranakan Chinese Home, isbn: 9781462911851

Netsuke Japanese Life and Legend in Miniature

$24.99

Featuring dozens of Japanese netsuke masterpieces and extensive commentary, this Japanese art book is a treasured collector's item.

Netsuke are superb miniature carvings, usually less than two inches high, that have been created by Japanese artists for over three hundred years. During that time, they have portrayed almost every aspect of life and culture in Japan.

These tiny carvings were traditionally used to prevent the cord attached to a gentleman's medicine box or tobacco pouch from slipping through the belt of his kimono. Today they are highly collectible works of art.

Netsuke: Japanese Life and Legend in Miniature presents over seventy full-page color photographs of netsuke in enchanting settings. The accompanying text gives technical details about the netsuke as well as interesting commentaries relating the pieces to Japanese life and legend. Information on the carvers has also been provided whenever possible.

Cover image for Netsuke Japanese Life and Legend in Miniature, isbn: 9781462911387

Batik Art & Craft

$3.99

This complete guide to Batik is an invaluable resource for those interested in Batik history, design, and weaving.

Here in this volume, the author has not only given a comprehensive and fascinating account of the origins and history of batik, with examples of techniques and design, but also includes a complete "How-To-Do-It" section on modern methods of creating batik.

The text is lucid and easy to follow, and the simple step-by-step format will enable the art enthusiast to investigate this rewarding and creative medium. Sample batiks by modern artists, show what can be done with craft, skill, and imagination.

The author takes the reader through all aspects of making a batik, from a simple dipping, or tie-dying, to sectional dyeing, and the more intricate five or six-color patterns. Basic materials, fabric mixtures, wax temperatures etc. are discussed fully, and more important, the practical problems often encountered by a beginner are thoughtfully explained. Here is a book of batik literally giving you the 'tricks of the trade'.

Cover image for Batik Art & Craft, isbn: 9781462909575

Old Beijing

$9.99

This collection of rare and vintage postcards offers a unique look at a vanished China and its storied capital.

Comprising 355 black-and-white and hand-tinted Beijing photography postcards that span the period from the last years of Imperial China to the Japanese invasion of 1937, it is a treasure trove for buffs of Beijing history, collectors, Sinophiles, and anyone fascinated by people and cultures from times past.

Readers will enjoy the wide selection of images showing different aspects of the life of old Peking—from the arrival of a camel train at a city gate to hand-colored views of the Forbidden City and an array of vendors, street performers, officials, gentry, commoners, and foreign tourists. Several chapters present the city's distinctive Beijing architecture—its walls and gates, towers, fountains, temples, pagodas, memorial arches, and public or imperial buildings, including the Summer and Winter Palaces and the Ming Tombs. Other chapters of Chinese photography look at the Manchu rulers, street life, the Legation Quarter and Western presence, and the Great Wall.

Included are some rare scenes depicting the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion and 1911 revolution; Manchu fashion, colorful means of transportation, and the coming of the railroad. Of particular note are images of the Empress Dowager, the child emperor Puyi, and other personalities at the Manchu Court. The book also includes eight color postcards of paintings by the famous artist Carl Wuttke and rare cards showing etched drawings of the Old Summer Palace—now only a field of ruins.

The author, who was born and lived in China before 1949, has written an informative introduction to each chapter as well as a general introduction to classical Beijing. A foreword by historian and Beijing expert Susan Naquin situates this collection at once as a precious record of old Peking and a revealing snapshot of Western views of China in the first golden age of tourism.

Old Beijing: Postcards from the Imperial City offers a visual time capsule of both Beijing's history and traditional Chinese culture in a unique and revealing postcard format.

Cover image for Old Beijing, isbn: 9781462908899

Peranakan Chinese Porcelain

$39.95

With over 800 unique photographs, this Chinese art book is a feast for the eyes.

Produced exclusively for wealthy Chinese communities along the Strait of Malacca in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Peranakan Chinese porcelain is enjoying a resurgence of interest among collectors.

Straits-born Chinese, or Peranakans, in Penang, Malacca and Singapore, used this ornate and colorful enamelware on festive occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and Chinese New Year.

Peranakan Chinese Porcelain is richly illustrated and includes key information on reign marks and factory marks. In-depth discussion of the motifs, colors, forms and functions of Peranakan Chinese ceramics makes this an invaluable reference.

Supporting photographs and text introduce related aspects of Peranakan culture including architecture, dress, cuisine and customs, making Peranakan Chinese Porcelain a wonderful contribution to the history of the Straits Chinese.

Cover image for Peranakan Chinese Porcelain, isbn: 9781462906932

Oriental Rugs a Complete Guide

$28.99

This authoritative reference contains a vast amount of information about Oriental rugs.

Oriental Rugs: A Complete Guide is the first large volume on the subject to be printed in the past forty-five years is meant for the individual who is interested in purchasing his first Oriental Rug, as well as the collector, museum, and rug importer.

The volume is divided into three main parts. Part I, entitled "General Discussion devotes one chapter to each of the large rug weaving countries and includes helpful hints as to what the rug buyer should look for in an particular rug.

Part II, "Description of Types," is an alphabetical list of all the names that have been used to identify rugs in the past, as well as the names that are being used at present. Each entry is followed by a full discussion and description of the rug.

Part III, Plates,” contains 194 pictures of different types of rugs, complete with descriptive captions for each. Thirty-nine of the plates are in full color. All of the plates are large, allowing the reader to see the design, and in some cases, the colors used in the particular rug.

Cover image for Oriental Rugs a Complete Guide, isbn: 9781462904150

Contempory Netsuke

$24.99

Contemporary Netsuke is an in-depth study of Japanese netsukeminiature sculptures that are favorites of collectors and artists.

In this unusual and engaging Japanese art book the author traces the historical background of netsuke and goes on to examine its current state, at the same time providing the background knowledge that every collector needs concerning authenticity, workmanship, and materials along with a wealth of information on subject matter, techniques, scholarly interest, and investement. Over 110 signatures and brief biographies of present-day netsuke and okimono carvers are included, and there are close-up studies of 27 leading artists.

Contemporary Netsuke also includes nearly 200 illustrations, a photo essay showing the creation of a netsuke, and numerous sketches picturing legendary themes.

A comprehensive list of dealers, a bibliography, and a glossary-index complete this authoritative, thorough and lively introduction to one of the oldest and newest of Japan's living arts.

Cover image for Contempory Netsuke, isbn: 9781462908912

Ceramic Art of Japan

$9.99

Featuring dozens of color photographs and extensive commentary, this Japanese ceramics guide is an comprehensive resource for collectors and art enthusiasts.

For the collector of Japanese ceramics, the chief value of the book will lie in the author's very practical advice on what, where, and how to collect; what to pay; how to choose a dealer; how to distinguish between the genuine and the imitation; and similar matters of importance. For the non-collector who nevertheless admires Japanese ceramics, the main interest will undoubtedly lie in the concise and highly readable background information that Mr. Munsterberg presents and in his amiable manner of leading the reader to an appreciation of Japan's ceramic art.

For both the collector and the non-collector, the abundance of illustrations, many of them in color, will provide an aesthetic treat.

Cover image for Ceramic Art of Japan, isbn: 9781462913091

Things Chinese

$9.99

China's art objects and traditionally manufactured products have long been sought by collectors—from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people, history, and society of the world's largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles, and each has a story to tell.

The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home, the personal, arts & crafts, eating & drinking, entertainment, and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliar—from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake molds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapp's evocative text describes the history, cultural significance, and customs relating to each object, while Michael Freeman's superb photographs illustrate them. Together, text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.

Cover image for Things Chinese, isbn: 9781462908585

Chinese Furniture

$24.99

The international market for antique Chinese furniture is booming, and masterpieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties are now selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Chinese Furniture is a survey of these collectibles—from the very best museum-quality hardwood pieces to standard softwood specimens still available at reasonable prices on the international market.

Carpenters from this era were artisans. They elevated furniture from the functional to the realm of the philosophical. By artfully aligning wood grain patterns, experimenting with spatial dimensions, and innovating new forms of joinery, simple tables and chairs came to represent something higher—the harmony and union of man and nature.

Lavishly illustrated with over 300 color photographs, historical prints and detailed drawings, this book presents an overview of:

Carving Styles
Wood Types
Regional Variations
Class Distinctions
Restoration Techniques
And much more!

With its detailed historical overview and regional coverage, this book highlights the great diversity of antique Chinese furniture and serves as an indispensable guide to collectors, new and old.

Cover image for Chinese Furniture, isbn: 9781462906925

British Toy Boats 1920 onwards

$11.99

Toy boats, especially those designed to sail on the local pond, have always had a fascination for boys and girls of all ages. This book celebrates these boats, which many will remember purchasing with their pocket money.
Before the 1914-1918 war many toy boats were of German origin, but when hostilities ceased there was a surge in buying British. Many manufacturers took advantage of this, and British toy boats became extremely popular right up to World War II, with numerous seaside resorts actually building special ponds for yachts and clockwork vessels. Interest continued right up to the introduction of electronic toys, at which point the majority of manufacturers realised that the more traditional toy boat was no longer in demand. This book covers that golden period of toy boats, from 1920 onwards.

Cover image for British Toy Boats 1920 onwards, isbn: 9781787118683

The Story of the Hermès Scarf

$16.95

Sought-after, sophisticated and versatile, the Hermès carré is wearable art that never goes out of fashion. Unveiling the history and artistry of the brand's silk accessory from the first designs in the early twentieth century to today, this fashion story includes a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the artisanship involved at the company's ateliers in France, as well as reviews on different scarf designs, colour palettes, dates of issue and rarity (the 'Grail' scarves).

The book includes the collaborators who have helped in the creation of over 2,000 designs, including limited editions, anniversary and tribute scarves, with highlights from renown artists and illustrators such as Hugo Grygkar, Philippe Ledoux, Kermit Oliver and Annie Faivre (who hides a monkey in her designs). Here you will discover the fashion of scarf styles throughout the decades, how to wear and tie a scarf, and the scarf in film and popular culture, along with those who made the Hermès carré a hallmark of their own – such as Queen Elizabeth II, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Cover image for The Story of the Hermès Scarf, isbn: 9781838611460

Sèvres Manufactory's Vase Japon

$29.95

New volume in the Frick Diptych series features an informative essay by curator Marie-Laure Buku Pongo paired with a contribution by renowned sculptor Arlene Shechet.

Despite its name, the vase japon is an interpretation of a Chinese bronze Yu (or Hu) vase from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.). Its design and decoration derive from a woodblock print published in a forty-volume catalogue of the vast Chinese imperial collections compiled between 1749 and 1751 at the behest of the Qianlong emperor. Around 1767, a copy of this catalogue was sent to Henri Bertin, who at the time was France’s secretary of state and commissaire du roi at the Sèvres factory. The vase japon was made in 1774 along with two other vases of the same size, shape, and decoration. Each bears the mark of the gilder-painter Jean-Armand Fallot (act. 1764−90). However, of the three, only this example is adorned with a silver-gilt handle and chain, which, like its shape and surface pattern, are directly inspired by the Chinese model. The mounts bear the mark of Charles Ouizille, who, in 1784, became the official jeweler of Louis XVI.

Cover image for Sèvres Manufactory's Vase Japon, isbn: 9781913875725

111 Architekturbaukästen

$41.99

Architekturbaukästen sind sehr viel älter als Lego. Vor über 150 Jahren entstanden die ersten Holzbaukästen. Darauf folgten Bausysteme aus Stein, Keramik, Kunststoff und sogar Hartgummi. Auf dem Höhepunkt der Baukastenwelle produzierten allein im deutschsprachigen Bereich Hunderte von Werkstätten das Spielzeug, die oft aufwendigen Verpackungen und bisweilen schwer zu durchschauenden Anleitungen. Bis in die Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts spiegelten die Baukästen auch immer die Entwicklungen in der „großen" Architektur und bildeten verschiedenste Konstruktionsmethoden nach. Der Sammler Claus Krieger präsentiert in diesem Buch 111 Baukastentypen aus aller Welt in all ihren Facetten. Er dokumentiert nicht nur die detailreich gestalteten Bestandteile, sondern zeigt auch die Modelle im aufgebauten Zustand. So entsteht eine spielerische Entdeckungsreise durch die Architekturgeschichte aus ganz besonderer Perspektive.

Mit einem Vorwort von Oliver Elser

Einzigartige Dokumentation einer der größten Architekturbaukastensammlungen
Umfangreiches Bildmaterial – vom eingeräumten Architekturbaukasten über die Anleitung bis hin zum aufgebauten Modell
Erscheint begleitend zur Ausstellung Architekturbaukästen – Die große Mitspielausstellung am Deutschen Architekturmuseum (24. Oktober 2025–8. Februar 2026)

Cover image for 111 Architekturbaukästen, isbn: 9783986122744

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 1

$60.00

New insights from the archaeology and pottery of the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou, Crete

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII: The Greek and Roman Pottery presents in two volumes the Greek and Roman pottery recovered from the excavation of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou, one of the most long-lived and important cult sites of ancient Crete and the Aegean. The site, which is known as the Cretan Delphi, was dedicated to Hermes and Aphrodite for much of its history. The present study analyzes and catalogs 865 pieces, dating from across the early first millennium BCE to the mid-first millennium CE. Kotsonas integrates traditional typological and chronological inquiries with contextual considerations, macroscopic and petrographic analyses of ceramic fabrics, and quantitative studies. The resulting work provides detailed documentation of the pottery from Syme Viannou and explores its ritual and other roles within the diachronic panorama of cultic and other activities at the site. It also supports a broader understanding of the role of ceramics in sanctuary contexts by introducing systematically comparative perspectives on the evidence of pottery from other Cretan and Greek sanctuaries.

Volume 1 provides an introduction to the site of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou and its history, and contains an analytical catalog of the ceramic remains.

Cover image for The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 1, isbn: 9781479830343

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 2

$60.00

New insights from the archaeology and pottery of the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou, Crete

The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII: The Greek and Roman Pottery presents in two volumes the Greek and Roman pottery recovered from the excavation of the sanctuary of Syme Viannou, one of the most long-lived and important cult sites of ancient Crete and the Aegean. The site, which is known as the Cretan Delphi, was dedicated to Hermes and Aphrodite for much of its history. The present study analyzes and catalogs 865 pieces, dating from across the early first millennium BCE to the mid-first millennium CE. Kotsonas integrates traditional typological and chronological inquiries with contextual considerations, macroscopic and petrographic analyses of ceramic fabrics, and quantitative studies. The resulting work provides detailed documentation of the pottery from Syme Viannou and explores its ritual and other roles within the diachronic panorama of cultic and other activities at the site. It also supports a broader understanding of the role of ceramics in sanctuary contexts by introducing systematically comparative perspectives on the evidence of pottery from other Cretan and Greek sanctuaries.

Volume 2 presents synthetic studies of the material, exploring the use of different ceramic fabrics, the relationship between the form and function of the vessels, and the place of ceramic items in the cultic practice and daily life at the sanctuary in Greek and Roman antiquity.

Cover image for The Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite at Syme Viannou VII, Vol. 2, isbn: 9781479830367

A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art

$39.95

Today’s art market is incredibly dynamic. There are so many compelling works, shows, and exhibitions to choose from and new galleries are opening all the time.

Because there is so much to discover and see, many people are getting interested in collecting art. But since it’s impossible to keep track of all developments, becoming an art collector is not easy. A Poor Collector’s Guide to Buying Great Art provides relief and offers sound advice to those who want to buy art but don’t know how or where to do it. They might have preferences in terms of styles or techniques, but they’re not familiar with how the buying process works. Perhaps they already have specific pieces in mind but don’t yet trust the rules of the art market ―if such rules actually exist. What does someone actually need to know to prevent their personal tastes from leading them to make the wrong investment decisions?

On his way to becoming a passionate art collector himself, Norwegian adventurer Erling Kagge had to learn these ropes and answer this exact question. His years as a mountain climber and visitor to both poles undoubtedly helped him to explore and assess the extremes of the art market. Thankfully for us, his experience also gave him the desire and skills to impart his knowledge to others in A Poor Collector’s Guide to Buying Great Art.

This book illuminates all aspects of becoming an expert at buying art that one will enjoy for many years, such as how to get started, how to take one’s tastes seriously, how to do a targeted search for pieces, how to learn to appraise prices, and how to find trustworthy partners. Kagge’s practical yet entertaining step-by-step guidance also includes ways to identify and avoid pitfalls and deceptive temptations. As an extreme athlete, he knows very well how to follow rules yet trust his instinct where it counts. This know-how has benefitted Kagge on the art market and now it will benefit all readers of A Poor Collector’s Guide to Buying Great Art, too.

Cover image for A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art, isbn: 9783899555790

The Watch Book: Hanhart

$110.00

The Watch Book Hanhart: The coffee table book that watch collectors have been waiting for!

When you think of timepieces of excellent precision and quality, you can't go past the traditional German brand Hanhart - and this great illustrated book! Whether a high-quality wristwatch or an innovative stopwatch: watch collector and expert Gisbert L. Brunner pays homage to the mechanical precision watch “made in Germany” in fascinating pictures and informative texts. More than just a high-quality coffee table book that celebrates the cult brand Hanhart and its craftsmanship since 1882: Fascinating insights into the development of the German watch industry make this extraordinary illustrated book a piece of contemporary history!

Luxury timepieces and exciting watch history in an exclusive illustrated book

This illustrated book breathes the appreciation of excellent craftsmanship, pioneering spirit and the luxury of ultimate precision and reliability - and lets you discover what celebrities such as Steve McQueen also appreciate about a genuine Hanhart. Be it the first Hanhart single-pusher “Caliber 40” in 1938, the legendary pilot's chronograph “Caliber 41” or the cult wristwatch “Racemaster” as a reminiscence of Hanhart as a stopwatch pioneer in motorsport: you don't have to be a pilot or racing driver to succumb to the fascination of Hanhart chronometers.

Watch history - fascinatingly documented by the grand seigneur of watch experts

There is hardly a cult watch or luxury wristwatch that does not fascinate Gisbert L. Brunner: The renowned journalist, collector and watch aficionado has been dealing with all the highlights that the watch industry has to offer for 60 years and is held in high regard worldwide as an expert. Brunner has written more than 25 books on his favorite topics relating to luxury brands and cult watches. True to the motto “It doesn't always have to be Rolex”, in his latest illustrated book “The Watch Book Hanhart” he now devotes himself to the traditional brand of the German watch industry, which is highly esteemed among connoisseurs: a coffee table book that fascinates watch collectors just as much as the timepieces themselves.

Cover image for The Watch Book: Hanhart, isbn: 9783961716258

Porsche 911

$50.00

The thinking man’s sports car: a symbol of the relentless desire for peak power and limitless performance. The Porsche 911 inspires a worldwide ripple effect.

When Ferdinand Porsche could not find a sports car he liked, he decided to build one himself. And now, the rest is history: Jerry Seinfeld drives it; Boris Johnson admires it; Steve McQueen loves it; and Jeremy Clarkson hates it. The Porsche 911 moves the world. Despised by many in Germany as a set of wheels for fat cats, it is the favorite car of free spirits and intellectuals in the U.S. and across the globe. The Porsche 911 was not just invented by one of the most fascinating and controversial families – it is also a technical meisterwerk. Since its launch in 1963, the 911 has built a reputation for itself as "the thinking man’s sports car." Both a car and a cultural icon, it has earned a fan base that spans from young to old, East to West, connoisseur to enthusiast.

Porsche 911: The Ultimate Sportscar as Cultural Icon explains how this German car became a global phenomenon and a symbol of aspiration, freedom, and the appetite for perfection, and even more, why, around the world, the 911 continues to fascinate gentlemen, ladies, and rogue drivers. In this book, Ulf Poschardt sends Porsche drivers to the shrink and concludes that a little narcissm can be a healthy thing; he then takes them on an engaging journey through the checkered history that defines their pride and joy. Not everyone can, nor indeed should, drive a Porsche, but Porsche 911: The Ultimate Sportscar as Cultural Icon lays bare the raw driving force behind the 911 for anyone intrepid enough to discover.

Cover image for Porsche 911, isbn: 9783899556872

Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches

$125.00

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of hip-hop luxury watches with “Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches”. This coffee table book by the editors of hiphop.de, Leon Schäfers, Jeanette Lang and Tobias Kargoll, reveals the multi-layered history of rap through the scene's most emblematic watches. Embark on a journey from the beginnings of hip-hop in the streets of the Bronx to global recognition, illustrated by the iconic watches of rappers and megastars such as Travis Scott, Kanye West and Jay-Z.

At the heart of this opulent display of “Ice”, the essential components of hip-hop style, are the luxury watches. These timepieces are not just functional objects, but central expressions of identity and status within the scene. The book sheds light on the connection between rap and luxury watches by highlighting the exceptional craftsmanship of brands such as Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. Experience the unmistakable style and cultural influence that these distinctive timepieces have on the rap community.

With 320 pages of pure luxury, finished with gold foil, this impressive illustrated book is not only a must-have for watch lovers, but also a stylish decorative highlight for your home. Perfect for coffee table enthusiasts, it offers exciting insights into the changing trends and timeless classics of hip-hop watch culture.

Whether it's the Rolex Datejust by 2Pac or the bespoke masterpieces by Jacob & Co.-"Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches" captures both the historical and current trends of the scene. Be inspired by the extravagant designs and individual expressiveness that make this jewelry true status symbols in hip-hop.

Immerse yourself in the opulent world of hip-hop watches and secure your VIP pass to a lifestyle full of glitz, glamor and “ice”. A must for all collectors, hip-hop enthusiasts and those who want to experience the symbiosis of music, art and luxury at first hand.

Cover image for Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches, isbn: 9783961716968

The Watch Book Rolex Next Generation

$110.00

Experience the fascination of the world's most famous watch brand with the brand new “The Watch Book Rolex - Next Generation”. Whether in German, English or as an exclusive special edition in an elegant slipcase - all versions of the visually stunning work offer a deep insight into the history and iconic models of Rolex on 256 pages. From the Submariner to the GMT-Master and Day-Date to the Daytona, each model is brought to life with exciting stories and interesting details.

The renowned bestselling author and “watch pope” Gisbert L. Brunner guides readers through the Rolex universe with his usual passion and expertise, from the beginnings to the pioneering models that revolutionized the watch industry.

“The Watch Book Rolex - Next Generation” offers a wealth of information, a modern layout, numerous impressive photographs and also addresses the influence of Rolex on pop culture and the arts. Guest articles on the topics of recognizing counterfeits and collecting watches expand the knowledge about the brand.

Discover the world of Rolex, a brand that not only produces timepieces, but also sets cultural symbols. This book is an absolute must-have for every Rolex fan!

It is not only the unique content of the illustrated book that is impressive, but also the presentation. The elegant slipcase of the special edition features the brand-new Rolex Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller, a model with 32 filed patents, reflecting Rolex's high standards and innovative strength.

Cover image for The Watch Book Rolex, isbn: 9783961717026

Longines

$110.00

Immerse yourself in the impressive world of Longines and discover the fascinating history of one of the world’s most renowned watch manufacturers in "Longines – Watches That Made History". This extraordinary book by experienced watch expert and journalist Pierre-André Schmitt takes you on a journey through 50 carefully curated chapters. It not only presents masterpieces from the Longines brand, but also the unique stories of those who wear and have worn these exquisite timepieces—including memorable individuals such as the revolutionary physicist Albert Einstein, aviation pioneers Jackie Cochran and Charles Lindbergh, and boxing legend Joe Louis.

With breathtaking photographs and technical details on each watch, this illustrated book sets new standards. This innovative approach makes it clear that each watch is not only a precise timepiece with an outstanding design, but also a bearer of personal stories that are deeply rooted in the history of the 20th century. Each chapter provides an insight into the interplay between technical excellence and human passion. And each chapter also represents a piece of contemporary history.

"Longines – Watches That Made History" is not just another work on watchmaking, but an emotional experience that will redefine your perspective on the world of watches. This book is a collector’s item and a must-have for watch enthusiasts—it shows how important watches are in people’s lives. Discover the treasures of a brand steeped in tradition in this illustrated book and celebrate Longines’ heritage with us!

Cover image for Longines, isbn: 9783961717156

Pennsylvania Dutch Stuff

$79.95

This authoritative work was, at the time of its first publication, the first full-length book to cover in detail the collecting of Pennsylvania "Dutch" furnishings and crafts. It was subsequently redesigned and enlarged, to make it again available in this more ample format it deserves.

The Pennsylvania Dutch country may be said to have been "discovered" by collectors in the 1920s and 1930s. These unique people, with their old-world customs and colorful folk art, have created in America an authentic genre, with a flavor much in vogue among experienced decorators, as well as amateur collectors.

Earl F. Robacker, a native Pennsylvanian and a collector himself, introduces this volume with a general discussion of characteristic Dutch country art forms and craftsmanship, emphasizing its authentic "peasant" quality in contrast to the more elegant styles of other early American furnishings. Chapter by chapter he discusses typical pieces of furniture, china, kitchenware and other articles, giving careful descriptions of each important piece, its availability, and most important, the rules for a collector to keep in mind when on the trail of real Pennsylvania Dutch "stuff."

This volume offers a thorough orientation in Pennsylvania Dutch country antiques and makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the general subject of old furnishings. As the first volume to assemble the scattered and fragmentary information on the subject, it is an invaluable guide for those who merely want to achieve authentic atmosphere in home decoration. Many fine illustrations supplement the text, and a partial list of museum collections gives additional guidance. The book contains a full discussion of the basic principles of Pennsylvania Dutch decoration, and an appraisal of the quality of reproductions available on the market.

Cover image for Pennsylvania Dutch Stuff, isbn: 9781512821147

The Magic Book

$40.00

Magic has enchanted humankind for millennia, evoking terror, laughter, shock, and amazement. Once persecuted as heretics and sorcerers, magicians have always been conduits to a parallel universe of limitless possibility—whether invoking spirits, reading minds, or inverting the laws of nature by sleight of hand. Long before science fiction, virtual realities, video games, and the Internet, the craft of magic was the most powerful fantasy world man had ever known. As the pioneers of special effects throughout history, magicians have never ceased to mystify us by making the impossible possible.

This book celebrates more than 500 years of the stunning visual culture of the world’s greatest magicians. Featuring more than 750 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch and Bruegel among others, The Magic Book traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s. Combining sensational images with incisive text, the book explores the evolution of the magicians’ craft, from medieval street performers to the brilliant stage magicians who gave rise to cinematic special effects; from the 19th century’s golden age of magic to groundbreaking daredevils like Houdini and the early 20th century’s vaudevillians.

Cover image for The Magic Book, isbn: 9783836574167

Ultimate Collector Cars

$250.00

From the adrenaline-filled 24 Hours of Le Mans to the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lake Como’s famed Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este to the premier Monterey Car Week, the collector car calendar and market has shown one of the most extraordinary growth trajectories of recent years. As thousands flock to specialized meet ups, rallies, auctions, and Concours d’Elegance around the globe, asking prices for the rarest motors have revved higher and higher. So much so, that the value of the 100 cars included in this book exceeds a staggering $1 billion.

For the seasoned car collector or the awestruck newcomer, this double-volume is the unrivaled collector car anthology. Curating 100 of the most exquisite, remarkable, and desirable cars of all time to tell a spellbinding story of automotive design-and-engineering endeavor in the tireless pursuit of ever-greater performance both on and off the track, from the first Indy 500-winning 1910 Marmon Wasp to the futuristic 2020 Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Laps ahead of any generic catalog, this superlative volume exudes authority and elegance, settling for nothing less than the very best of the best, and presenting each model with the lavish spreads it deserves, complete with stunning imagery taken by the world’s leading car photographers alongside rare archival treasures, from original factory photos to famous motorsports event posters. Each entry is also accompanied by expert descriptive texts and specs, detailing each car’s make, model, year, engine size, horsepower, top speed, transmission, and all-important production numbers.

By passionately tapping into their transatlantic expertise and insider knowledge of car auctions, museums, and collections around the world, design authors Charlotte and Peter Fiell survey the autoworld's finest cars of all time. Their carefully curated selection spans the whole history of the automobile, taking in such rare models as a 1912 Stutz Model A Bearcat, as well as lesser-known jewels such as the astonishing 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS “Goutte d’Eau” Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi.

This definitive compendium includes a foreword from Rob Myers, the founder of RM Sotheby’s, and includes an introduction from the authors that gives a unique perspective on the ins and outs of car collecting at the highest level. The main content is interspersed with interviews with Dr. Frederick Simeone, founder of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum; The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, founder of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival; Sandra Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance; John Collins, leading dealer of historic Ferraris; and Shelby Myers, global head of Private Sales at RM Sotheby’s, which offer key personal insights into the car-collecting world.

Cover image for Ultimate Collector Cars, isbn: 9783836584913

Practical Pottery

$39.99

Learn Pottery, Create Art, Make Money

“… a great reference book for pottery basics, particularly if you’ve started throwing on a wheel…” ―Jackie Keer, Splash Magazines

#1 Bestseller in Pottery & Ceramics and Sculpture
#1 Most Wished for in Pottery & Ceramic Craft

Explore the satisfying world of clay sculpting, master pottery techniques, and delve into the business side of selling pottery, from functional everyday ceramics to exquisite handmade works.

Transform clay into usable artistry. Learn pottery and ceramics from the basic principles of pottery making to crafting your own mugs, cups, plates, and bowls. Discover the delight of shaping ceramic clay into practical yet beautiful pieces that enhance everyday life.

Profit from your pottery passion. Not only does this book provide instruction on creating functional ceramics, but it also offers insights into making a living from your pottery projects. Learn the art of marketing and selling your hand-crafted pottery and discover the potential of this timeless craft.

Inside, you'll discover:

Practical, hands-on tutorials for creating a range of pottery projects, from mugs to plates and bowls
Essential tips on pottery techniques, including throwing, hand-building, and glazing ceramics
Valuable insights into marketing and selling your handmade pottery pieces
Guidance on transforming your pottery passion into a profitable venture

If you liked books such as Mastering Hand Building, Amazing Glaze, or Sell Your Crafts Online, then you'll love Jon Schmidt's Practical Pottery: 40 Pottery Projects for Creating and Selling Mugs, Cups, Plates, Bowls, and More.

Cover image for Practical Pottery, isbn: 9798887980638

Automotive Milestones

$64.95

“If you are just looking for a general understanding of the automobile, looking for inspiration in support of a new idea, or just want a concise history of automotive milestones, this book is a must read.”

—Parker Ackley, Antique Automobile Enthusiast

“Automotive Milestomes is a clear presentation of the internal workings of the automobile over the years…you will enjoy reading this book.”

—William J. Crochetiere, Professor Emeritus, Tufts University

This is a general-interest trade book that describes the development of automotive technology and engineering from the start of the industry before 1900 to the present day. It explains how various systems and elements in the automobile work in layman’s terms, without resorting to mathematics, and highlights the key milestones in the historical development of automotive technology. All photos and illustrations are in full color.

The intended audience is older teens to adults of any age who are interested in cars and may be involved with them as a hobby. Sometimes referred to as “gearheads ” or “motorheads,” they form a huge market. Over the years, many of the author’s engineering students were in this category, and he often would meet with on-campus car clubs to explain the internal workings of automobiles, being careful to damp down or eliminate any complicated mathematics—just as he does in this book.

The other books that cover this subject are either “hard-engineering oriented”— such as publications from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) — or just compendiums of dates without much explanation at all of how the changes in technology actually work, which is the aim of this book.

Cover image for Automotive Milestones, isbn: 9780831135201

Pennsylvania Dutch Stuff

$79.95

This authoritative work was, at the time of its first publication, the first full-length book to cover in detail the collecting of Pennsylvania "Dutch" furnishings and crafts. It was subsequently redesigned and enlarged, to make it again available in this more ample format it deserves.

The Pennsylvania Dutch country may be said to have been "discovered" by collectors in the 1920s and 1930s. These unique people, with their old-world customs and colorful folk art, have created in America an authentic genre, with a flavor much in vogue among experienced decorators, as well as amateur collectors.

Earl F. Robacker, a native Pennsylvanian and a collector himself, introduces this volume with a general discussion of characteristic Dutch country art forms and craftsmanship, emphasizing its authentic "peasant" quality in contrast to the more elegant styles of other early American furnishings. Chapter by chapter he discusses typical pieces of furniture, china, kitchenware and other articles, giving careful descriptions of each important piece, its availability, and most important, the rules for a collector to keep in mind when on the trail of real Pennsylvania Dutch "stuff."

This volume offers a thorough orientation in Pennsylvania Dutch country antiques and makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in the general subject of old furnishings. As the first volume to assemble the scattered and fragmentary information on the subject, it is an invaluable guide for those who merely want to achieve authentic atmosphere in home decoration. Many fine illustrations supplement the text, and a partial list of museum collections gives additional guidance. The book contains a full discussion of the basic principles of Pennsylvania Dutch decoration, and an appraisal of the quality of reproductions available on the market.

Cover image for Pennsylvania Dutch Stuff, isbn: 9781512821130

Botanical Art to Cut Out and Collage

$24.99

Scissors and glue stick at the ready... inject a wealth of botanical beauty into your creative projects with this sumptuous collection of images from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew archive.

Whether you're looking for vintage botanical ephemera to enhance your journal or scrapbook pages, want to make your own collage art, or simply have a range of botanical elements at your fingertips for gift-wrapping, card-making, vision-boarding and more - this stunning collection will give you over 500 images to cut out and create with, in whatever way you choose.

Featuring over 500 images, this book presents a wide variety of botanical art across a range of chapters - from flowers to cacti, fruit and vegetables, and even fungi. The images are printed on one side only so that all images can be used, and each page is backed with lovely botanical patterns that can also be used as paper elements, so no scrap is wasted.

Botanical art is as popular today as it has ever been, perhaps even more so, as we all realise the importance of connecting with nature in an increasingly fast-paced world. It has been scientifically proven that even looking at pictures of plants can have a calming effect on the mind, lowering stress levels and supporting relaxation. The same is true of making things by hand - away from screens and digital distractions - and so combining the traditional craft of collage with botanical art is an immensely mindful activity that will benefit all who have a go.

Alongside the 500 images, you will find guidance on how to use the book, with collage ideas and tips and tricks for getting the most from this absorbing art form.

Cut it up, stick it down and watch your creative projects blossom before your very eyes with this bumper book of botanical illustrations from Kew.