No comments about Irish Furniture (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis).

No comments about Antique Furniture and Decorative Accessories (Dover Pictorial Archive Series).

No comments about Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors: From the Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau.

4 comments about Monterey: Furnishings of California's Spanish Revival.

1. Nice referane book. Great examples of the product. A must buy book for collectors as well as finge enthusists. Would love to see more great work.



2. Roger Renick did a fine job pulling together pieces for the lovely book (and the show at the Santa Monica Historical Society was terrific). Some of the pieces featured are rare treasures, indeed, and it says alot that those who are passionate about Monterey shared their collections. Having written about Monterey Furniture and met some fascinating -- and always fun loving-- collectors, I was happy to see a book on the subject. ...



3. This wonderful book guides you through the history of Monterey and Spanish Revival furniture in pictures and text. Both Monterey and Spanish Revival styles have been long overlooked in standard furniture guides. This book is straight forward, informative, and contains numerous color photos of furniture, artwork and pottery. A great guide for identification of manufacturers and finishes! The only thing that would possibly make this better is a price guide.



4. This wonderful book guides you through the history of Monterey and Spanish Revival furniture in pictures and text. Both Monterey and Spanish Revival styles have been long overlooked in standard furniture guides. This book is straight forward, informative, and contains numerous color photos of furniture, artwork and pottery. A great guide for identification of manufacturers and finishes! The only thing that would possibly make this better is a prce guide.

3 comments about Measured Drawings of Eighteenth-Century American Furniture.

1. This is a fine book for the more advanced furniture builder.
   If you no longer have to ask yourself "how" then you are ready for this series of books.
   If you know the how then all you need are the measurements and diagrams in the book.
   If you are at or close to that point in your furniture building endeavors and wish to build elegant period pieces then by all means get this book.
   If you are not at that stage yet buy it anyway and put it in your reference library. Because if you stick with it you will get there.



2. The title "Measured Drawings of 18th Century American Furniture" is a little misleading. While the book does include some very nice examples of American Furniture, I would take issue with the "Measured Drawings" part of the title. The drawings provide enough measurements to give the proportions of the furniture pieces, but do not provide enough detail to accurately recreate the furniture. Many times, even the details of the construction/assembly are lacking. Therefore, this book will provide ideas and proportions for an advanced woodworker to create furniture without a plan, but is probably not for a persons starting in woodworking.
   
   I think this book is excellent for ideas, but don't buy it expecting it to layout how to make the furniture, or provide detailed measurements of each piece. I would rate the usefulness of this book for providing ideas, about the same as the trips I make to different museums to view their furniture collection, get ideas for creating new furniture pieces, and get an idea of the right proportions/measurements.



3. This book offers drawings of some beautifully proportioned furniture pieces, including chests of drawers, highboys, lowboys, desks, a clock, tilt-top tables and windsor chairs. The author/editor give no guidance for cutting, joining or assembling the pieces. Judging from this and the lack of detailed templates for scroll work, and from the sometimes incomplete measurements, it was not compiled with the beginning woodworker in mind.

2 comments about Just Chairs: Over 600 Designs from Around the World.

1. Bernie is totally right in his description of this book, and I find it great! The first half of it is devoted to pieces from XX century and the rest to ones from century XXI. The vast majority of them are production models but there is a closing chapter about the chair as a piece of art. As a designer I find all of them very inspiring.



2. I suppose it all depends on what you expect this book to be. I was expecting a history of chairs, with 600 pictures of the chairs. What the book consists of is pictures of 600 mostly modern chairs, essentially all factory made, and almost all made from metal and plastic.
   If you're looking for pictures of chairs through time and how they developed over the centuries, look elsewhere.
   Extremely disappointing book.

1 comments about The French Touch.

1. The book is a great resource for someone interested in building or renovating to create an authentic "french look". French architectural elements are categorized and many pictures of authentic elements are provided in the book. By using the book as a guide, one can choose authentic looking or actual reclaimed elements widely available as opposed to the garish alternatives on the market that are advertised as "the french look". Kudos to the author !!!

5 comments about Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture.

1. The Keno brothers are classic examples of what can happen when someone starts on something young and sticks with it through their entire life.
   We all saw Tiger Woods out-putt Johnny Carson when he was 3 years old... Warren Buffett had read every book on finance the Omaha Public Library had available by the time he was 11. The Kenos follow a similar path, only instead of golf or investing, they chose Antiquities.
   
   The one thing that rings very clear is that knowledge, much like interest, compounds at an impressive rate. How early you start your journey can very well determine how far you eventually go with it. The reader can easily imagine the two determined twins in their early teen years, scouting out flea markets for stoneware or "the good stuff".
   
   In reading this book, it provides the reader with a profound insight into who these guys are- how they can know SO much about this stuff and why they've both gone so far in this field.
   
   All in all, a solid four out of five stars. An easy, very interesting read that sheds light into a very exclusive world that was conquered by a couple of twins with endless enthusiasm and a desire to learn.



2. Honestly these two guys make my skin crawl, but they really know their furniture, they are like encyclopedias of knowledge, not quite the great Albert Sack, but getting there. This is a very interesting book on some amazing furniture, and the stories are amazing. These guys really have an eye for a treasure I must admit, but i cant help shaking the image of them on their show, they are just really odd, like some old money WASP, from Newport or Long Island, I have a feeling in thirty years they will have their own Grey Garden.



3. I looked forward to this book but found it sorely lacking.
   
   My biggest gripe is that the brothers jump in a few pages from their modest upbringing to b ig shot dealers wheeling and dealing million(s) dollars items, There is no discussion of how this jump was made, or how they could manage to finance the huge purchase prices they describe. Further the books deals in antiques that only the top .00001 percent of the population could actually buy. Nor is there anything about the business end of things, like how one becomes a top line dealer.
   
   Instead of focusing on real tips and experiences acquiring items that a serious (middle class) collector could hope to acquire, they focus on items that most millionaires would find expensive.
   
   Don't expect this book to have any relevancy to you.



4. I bought a cassette tape of Hidden treasures from Amazon.com for $17.95.
   
   Leslie and Leigh Keno take turns reading their chapters that they wrote for their book themselves. They do a great job and I greatly enjoyed hearing their story told in their own voices. I found them deeply engaging and I loved hearing their story of roaming the rural hills near their home in Mohawk NY, as they rode tautem on a small motor bike looking for long lost treaures near their home; in the form of old barn hinges, or digging through garbage dumps that were over a hundred years old. And their mom who'd see them leave and say, "their go the twins go, off in their own little world." And they do seem to go off in their own world a lot of the time.
   
   Leslie Keno went to an interview at the Mather House admissions building that he was applying to the University there, and ended up crawling around on the floor examining the undersides and legs of furnature. A little later he got a tap on the shoulder as it was time for the interview, and he remembered the concerned looks of parents as he walked by. He didn't say it, but I wondered if he was embarrassed?
   
   Later on in another chapter describing a highly stylized pier table complete with womanly head and upper torso figures that supported the top of the table--I think it was Leslie that time too--Even though he and his brother made a real effort to carefully pronouce each word and keep the pacing even; Leslie almost but not quite stumbled over the word bosom. Yes Leslie, it is a bosom and some call them breasts too. But I thought it was sweet that he almost flubbed. Leigh on the other hand had no trouble telling about an almost sensual moment he had as he was running his hands over a seat cushion(yes, I said a seat cushion), then turned it over to check the underside for the age of the piece.
   
   If you think that this book is a primer for how to be a antique dealer you would be mistaken, and you'd also be mistaken if you thought this would be a dry uninteresting book. Instead what we have here is a very honest look at how two young men grew-up in a very loving, and supporting family. And how their interest in antiques was nutured. It really is interesting seeing how these two brothers evolved into the top notch antique dealers, and appraisers that they are today.
   
   The only thing that disapointed me was; I would have liked to have heard more about their youth.
   
   I highly recommend the book on cassette or in book form. Right now I'm wondering what I missed not having the actual book? Probably a whole lot more pictures. Okay! I'm ordering the book right now!



5. I too, was a recruit from the Antiques Road Show- they are the only reason I am interested in the show (they get so dang happy over a good find) and therefore the ONLY reason I grabbed this book.
   
   I am interested a little in antiques but MORE interested in a good "discovery" or score at a yard sale.... I found this book had it all - it is very well written and kept my interest the entire "read".
   
   The brothers take turns between chapters and keep your interests in them completely equally.
   
   I was also impressed just how their parents influenced them in such an "uncool" hobby, that ultimately led to their popularity and provided them both with success.
   
   Many parents could take a few tips about being involved in their kids hobbies, and lives. They not only were into antiques, but dirtbikes and fishing! Just well rounded kids, and that comes from one place- attention from home.
   
   Any how- I am off my soapbox. I do reccomend this book because it is INTERESTING, it keeps your attention and both get to show their own personalities.
   
   I read it and shared it... have found the same response: surprise that it was INTERESTING! That we wanted to finish it. I am so glad these guys are on TV, I really appreciate the knowledge they are willing to share with us. That is why I like them; their lovely antiques packed minds!
   
   Some brains are very attractive!

5 comments about Oil Lamps: The Kerosene Era in North America.

1. A great study of Oil Lamps and will be looking forward to other publications and updates from Catherine Thuro. A wonderful display of illustrations and photos.



2. This is an updated printing of the original book. I have the older one and it was nice to review the new updated information. This is a great book for any oil lamp collector, and it has a very reasonable discounted price. Betty Lonsdale, Florida



3. One book can't possibly cover every manufacturer, even the big names. However Thuro has provided history, research and extraordinary detail to offer well over 300 pages of pictures, descriptions, old advertising and assorted information that educates the individual on oil and kerosene lamps from North America.
   
   Of particular interest the author delves into specific new patents such as adding handles or modest change in designs to demonstrate how improvements were made over the years. Thuro covers railroad lighting, ships lamps, whale oil lamps and provides an excellent chronological history of lighting as it progessed through the years.
   
   In addition to dozens of color and black/white photographs, the author provides drawings and old advertisements to give the reader detailed information on dates and lamp design. Values are updated to 2004 but with the changing markets these become fluid rapidly. For education, collecting and identification this book will serve most collectors and dealers well.



4. This book was a big disappointment. I have several Bradley & Hubbard kerosene lamps, and there is not one word about them in this book. Bradley & Hubbard were one of the largest manufacturers of kerosene lamps during the 19th century, and are very popular with collectors today. The Smithsonian has a collection, with a curator and a web site, of B & H lamps and other items made by them. Strangely, there is one brief mention (with a photo) of a Rayo lamp, and the author fails to mention Rayo lamps were made by Bradley & Hubbard for the Standard Oil Co. I was considering buying Oil Lamps II by the same author, but I'm afraid it would be a disappointment also.



5. Oil Lamps I has become the standard reference book on kerosene lamps. It is by far the most comprehensive and definitive book to cover the kerosene era. More than 1,000 kerosene lamps and accessories are shown in over 900 studio photographs. For the historian, student and collector, there awaits a carefully researched and organized visual record. First published in 1979, this newly released 1998 reprint is complete with an updated price guide. Often the first reference I choose.

No comments about Care and Repair of Furniture.