3 comments about Tiffany Lamps and Metalware: An Illustrated Reference to Over 2000 Models.

1. If you have Duncan's earlier book "Tiffany at Auction" and a reasonably complete collection of Sotheby's and Christie's auction catalogs for items made by the Tiffany Studios, then this book will not add all that much to your body of knowledge.
   It's mostly a clever repackaging of earlier works by Duncan, including all the B&W photos from Tiffany's promotional materials.
   Having said that, I still bought it because it brings together a lot of materials from both auction catalogs and earlier works by Duncan.
   Donna, a one-time Tiffany collector in California



2. With the advent of Duncan's new book 'Tiffany Lamps and Metalware' we have a NEW referrence guide that will surely replace 'Tiffany At Auction', also by Duncan. This will take place for two reasons - first - the cost of 'Tiffany At Auction' has become, like the lamps themselves, out of the reach of many prospective buyers and students of the Art Nouveau movement in America. Second - the new volume offers far more pieces to see so that those just getting into the collecting or the study of 'Tiffany' will be able to have a greater number of examples - both common and rare - that the individual may not have seen prior to this publication. A wonderful effort on the part of Mr. Duncan. And, at an affordable price!



3. This book is a stunning follow-up to Mr. Duncan's incredible "Louis C. Tiffany, The Garden Museum Collection". As a 30 year collector and enthusiast of the works of Tiffany I can confidently state that this volume will become an essential reference guide to any collector in this field and dramatically expands upon his "Tiffany at Auction" which was published over 25 years ago and is a highly sought after collector's item. The world of Tiffany collectors owes Mr. Duncan a huge debt for bringing us a seemingly endless series of spectacular books on this subject.
   ~Allen Michaan
   President, Auctions by the Bay, Inc.

1 comments about Stickley Craftsman Furniture Catalogs.

1. This fine book, actually a union of two sources, Gustav Stickley's catalog and the Stickley brothers' undated catalogue, also contains some interesting text from both sources.

   The pictures, although small, are faithfully reproduced from the original catalogues, and can be used to more fully understand the general concepts of the Arts and Crafts style of furniture. Enough items are represented to be able to design similar items on your own.

3 comments about Furniture: A Concise History (World of Art).

1. This is a well written and engaging book about the history of furniture from the Egyptian civilization to the present. It is full of examples and great photographs and emphasizes the meaning of furniture within the context of the society and the psychology of the individual.



2. Lucie-Smith addresses more than just stylistic developments in this book. He makes it easy to understand furniture history as it relates to social and political developments over time. For example, the advent of the printing press had a strong impact on furniture design in the 16th century. Of course! This all makes perfect sense now. Lucie-Smith's book is a great primer for those interested in furniture history.



3. Edward Lucie-Smith wrote so many books that I would be surprised he remembers this one. Every body needs to start a passion with a guide. This might be your choice. You will choose the directions you want to explore and will buy more recent and more specialised books afterwards.

1 comments about Grand Rapids Furniture: The Story of America's Furniture City (Shopping & Antiques).

1. This was not what we thought it would be, but it had other attributes that make it a good book. I was looking for more photos, more splash -- and was inititally disappointed. Then as I explored it (there are great photos) and realized the last half of the book gives the maker's marks and a history, even if brief, of SO MANY small and large companies -- we realized it is a find we will use again and again. A good reference book for dealers and designers; not a coffee table book

1 comments about Refinishing Old Furniture.

1. I really got a lot out of this book. It is a lifesaver for the beginning wood worker like myself. I have referred to it countless times, and I thoroughly enjoy it every time I open it.

5 comments about Step-by-step to a Classic Fireplace Mantel.

1. If you are fairly new to woodworking and need a mantle, this is the book for you. I just finished our mantle and it looks great. All the materials used in the book can be found at Lowes or Home Depot and the entire mantle and surround cost me around $85. It does call for a table saw, biscuit joiner, brad nailer and miter saw, but if you are wanting to get serious about building, you will need these tools anyway. This book will lead you through every step so there are no questions. Save yourself $200-300 and buy this book and build it yourself!



2. This is a very good book with some basic designs. If you are a beginning woodworker or have some basic tools, you can build one of these. As pointed out, the design is simple, but it is flexible and you can customize your own design. I build a surround from stain grade birch with pine trim and moulding. It was finally painted white and primed. We are very happy. I give the book 4 stars, ...



3. Great instructional book for building a traditional style fireplace surround (title a bit misleading - the mantel is only the shelf above a fireplace - the surround is the mantel, columns, etc.) Limited, though in that it only covers one style surround with different variations.

   If you like the style of fireplace surround on the cover of the book, then buy it. It steps you through building that style in "great" detail.




4. this book cleared up a lot of questions i had about building a mantel.written clearly so that most anyone could understand the sequence to get a very professional job.this was money well spent.



5. We just completed our fireplace mantle construction using the techniques outlined in this book, and I must say I'm thrilled with the outcome. A detailed layout guideline, what to measure and how, and what to buy made the project come together more effectively. Although a fairly complete woodworking shop will be needed to complete your project, the instructions and closeup pictures will aid even a novice in reaching the ultimate goal of an attractive centerpiece of the home to be admired for years to come.

3 comments about Antique Trader Tools Price Guide.

1. Excellent photos and descriptions of a huge range of joiners tools and equipment - really interesting.



2. We like this tool price guide book, but we just wish it was set up so you could look up tools by their maker rather than by just what they are. If you wanted to look up a certain Stanley Plane you would have to go to the planes section and read each description to find a Stanley plane. The index does not go by the maker of the tool, it just goes by what type of tool you are looking up. Still a useful price guide with beautiful photos.



3. I purchased this book for my boyfriends birthday. He is very interested in old tools, and old things in general. He Loves it. He takes it out to the machine shed and compares tools, or just glances at the pages in the evenings. The two largest sections are those on plumb bobs and planes.

No comments about American Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: I. Early Colonial Period: The Seventeenth-Century and William and Mary Styles (Metropolitan Museum of Art).

5 comments about Fine Woodworking Design Book Seven: 360 photographs of the best work in wood (Design Book Woodworking).

1. As a woodworker it is always good to see what some of the leading edge furniture designers and builders make. Some are conservative, to see how the profession has reached it's height throughout furniture building history, others are way out there trying out the new possibilities, all awesome work! It truly is fascinating what these books inspire in furniture designer/builders and interior designers. The photography, in most cases is truly spectacular and very detailed there where it is supposed to be detailed. The only, slightly negative, comment I have is that information is cheap at best. Don't expect any information of why a piece was designed / built the way it was, or some of the woodworking difficulties that were overcome in building a particular piece. I am sure that there would be some very interesting captions and explanations to be written about the furniture and other items displayed in this, otherwise, wonderful coffee table book.



2. There is a considerable difference between the following plans part of woodworking and the artistic design part. Like anyone else who enjoys the thrumming sounds of a happy workshop, following plans is a soothing process with a satisfying result. But getting an idea into my head (and then trying to make it real) is more frustrating - my life lacks the spare 'dream time' needed. As a substitute, I like to look at the work of others. And Taunton Press's series of design books is a fine place to start.
   
   Each book is like a juried shop with some 10,000 original entries. There are sections on cabinets, chairs and benches, tables, boxes & chests, desks, beds & furnishings, sculpture & carvings, turnings, and accessories & musical instruments. Some 266 individual pieces are presented. While the pieces will appeal differently to different individuals, they all remarkable in some fashion and invited serious thought on possibilities and techniques.
   
   The range of style and approach presented is wide. There is everything from the ultra-modern to the ultra-traditional, from traditional furniture to sculpture and toy. One of my favorites is the clean lines of Jay Bonaventura's dining chair, that seem echo Arts & Crafts without ever becoming that style. Another is a deceptively simple sideboard by Michael Hoffer. And then there is the jaunty enthusiasm of a Randy Morris clock. I hope one day that a piece of my work merits appearance in a publication like this. Not likely, but with such good sources of inspiration, you never know.



3. Another fantastic collection of woodworking masterpieces. Anyone can appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of these pieces. To have this many excellent works in one book is awesome. One of the best woodworking books I have ever seen.



4. This book contains a compilation of photos of great masterpieces. This book really shows the diversity of design with an wide variety of beautiful hardwoods. This is one of the books I use for inspiration when designing a piece of my own. I recommend it to anyone with an eye for the arts and the confidence to push his/her own limits.



5. Great photo quality of all the designs categorized by type. Almost 100 more photos than Design Book 6. Each design listed with creator, dimensions and wood type used. I was trying to get some ideas from the book, but only less than 30% the designs fall in my interests. Most of them are way difficult to make for someone like me who has only a little shop at home or require fancy tools (extreme skills). And some of the designs are just unpractical, they are not even good taste, only for showing off the skills in making them, I guess. I was able to get an idea on how different wood were used in the design to have certain artistic effect or looks to enhance the piece. But you have to guess what kind of finish was used on it.

1 comments about American Furniture: Queen Anne and Chippendale Periods in the Henry Francis Du Pont Winterthur Museum (Winterthur Book).

1. I was excited from the time I opened the package. The volume has high quality photographs printed on gloss pages. The photographs represent a broad spectrum of works by superior funrniture makers. The comprehensive text explained the obvious and not so obvious distingtions in form, format, style, constrution approach, and a host of like details.
   
   I took the volume with me to Marc Adams School of Woodworking for a Philidephia Lowboy class with Allen Breed. The pictures aided in layout and construction of the item. Class members were impressed with the quality and quanity of the photographs. This book is well worth the price.