No comments about Russian Silver Mid Century Beginnin.

No comments about Frameworks: Form, Function & Ornament in European Portrait Frames.

5 comments about OBJECTS OF DESIRE: The Lives of Antiques and Those Who Pursue Them.

1. This book can give you a glimpse into the American antique trade. Focusing on three different pieces of furniture, he tells of the story of how it was created, where it's been and why it was up for sale. I enjoyed learning about how people browse and buy things and of the passion some have for a certain style or maker. It's an introspective book with a unique insight. The only criticism is that there were no pictures of the objects mentioned. This was frustrating as it made me curious about them.



2. Even if you're not already interested in American antiques, if you enjoy excellent nonfiction writing, try this book. Unlike so many contemporary writers of nonfiction, Freund does not focus this book on himself but on a subject--the world of American antiques. By telling the stories of three different objects, the craftsmen who made them, and the collectors who owned them, Freund brings his readers into a quirky, fascinating world, where the desire for objects shapes people's lives. And if you have any interest in nonfiction writing, this book will give you lessons in the craft from a master writer.



3. This is a very good read, which I enjoyed as a woodworker/furniture maker rather than an antique collector/dealer. What befuddles in the extreme is why there was no photo of the Willing card table, I'd have loved to see the carving, as well as the rest of it. So I have to go to the library and dig up a couple of magazine articles (from the New York Times Magazine 1/16/94, for example) just to see it.

   Pam




4. This book is delightful--I've bought 7 copies over the years for friends and family. With its readable style, brilliant characterizations of the eccentric people involved and its nonfiction "plot," it SHOULD have been the next MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. I suppose its relative lack of success is due to factors in the industry, but it's certainly through no fault of the book's. I heartily recommend it to anyone and everyone, even persons uninterested in antiques--for, while it IS about antiques, it's mostly (as the subtitle suggests) about PEOPLE.



5. It doesn't matter what you're selling, if you deal with any "objects of desire", this book is worth the read! Although it deals with the world of antique furniture, the principles apply equally as well to art, memorabilia, rare books, and you-name-it! The writer takes what at first appears to be a dry subject, and imbues it with the life and personality and drama that is normally lost in the translation to the printed page. Reads like a Steinbeck novel where the base motives, practiced deceptions, and blatant materialism are showcased side-by-side with the aesthetic beauty and artistic appreciation of a cultured society, to form a microcosm of the world of "objects of desire"!

1 comments about Making Colonial Furniture: Instructions and Diagrams for 24 Projects.

1. Es bueno, ya que contiene informacion muy valiosa.

No comments about Friends of the House: Furniture from China's Towns and Villages.

1 comments about Old China/New Style: Antique Furniture and Accessories, c. 1780-1930.

1. This new book is very complimentary to their first book (Chinese Country Antiques) It gives much information, is very helpfull in studying the subject and makes you more eager to see new things of this culture. I use the books together.

No comments about Aladdin Electric Lamp Collectors Manual & Price Guide #4.

No comments about A Guide to Sandwich Glass, Kerosene Lamps and Accessories (The Glass Industry in Sandwich Series).

No comments about African Seats (African, Asian & Oceanic Art).

No comments about Modern Design: The Fabulous 50s (Schiffer Design Book).