No comments about An Illustrated Dictionary of Glass.

No comments about Popular '50s & '60s Glass: Color Along the River (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about British Glass 1800-1914.

4 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Glass.

1. The dust jacket and the hard cover have the same big color cover photo and a smaller color photo on the back. What's key about the photos is that it's not all just pictures of glass designed by Wright. Most of the photos are of glass in the context of where it is in the home, either imbedded in the wall or in furniture or as part of the building. A number of the photos show how the light affects the building.
   
   I love FLW photo books when they're large like this one is. I always hope they'll take full advantage of the size and offer as many full page photos as possible. In this case the majority of the pages have a white paper border with only 14 full page photos, all color except one that is of Wright. I didn't think I'd be interested in a book just of his glass but the way they are photographed, most in the context of the building, it really does give you a detailed view of the impact Wright had on his buildings by designing even the glass. This books reminds you that much of the glass he designed were windows, not just lamps or a part of furniture. This makes it an excellent supplement to a collection of large FLW photo books of his various buildings. The text is a bit dry. It takes up about a sixth of the book which isn't bad. The author really does let the photographs speak for themselves in terms of giving them much more space than she gives her writing. Because of her focus on glass you see a lot of detail that is never shown in most large FLW photo books. There are only 4 black and white photos and only 2 drawings.
   
   This is a book well worth owning, particularly if you are really into Wright's work and would like to see detail that you pretty much don't find anywhere else. Certainly, it's worth obtaining if you can get it for less than the asking price.



2. This book contains fantastic full-color photos spanning Wright's career and use of art glass. Unfortunately, the text and editing are dreadful, one has to plod through most of the paragraphs. The writer appears to have been attempting to pack as many words into each sentence as possible; she also has several pet phrases, such as "proof, if proof were needed" that are over-used the first time they appear. A few factual errors are also scattered throughout the book that should have been caught in the editing process (e.g., on page 83 she places the Dana-Thomas house in Chicago [its in Springfield, Illinois]). I still recommend buying the book solely for the photos. If you are interested in reading a history of Wright, there are many more well-written books in press. Five stars for the photos, one star for the text.



3. This book deserves more than five stars for overall excellence and its ability to extend your appreciation of how glass can improve our ability to enjoy public buildings and homes. The photographs and essays could not have been better, more in point, or easy to understand.

   If you are like me, you feel that Frank Lloyd Wright's use of glass was one of his most distinctive and attractive features. He employed glass to create a "quality of repose" by diffusing light, and using "window curtains" to separate spaces without denying light by employing patterns in the glass. In doing this, he wanted to create a "vista without, vista within." For many of his urban homes (especially those in Oak Park, Illinois), there was no opportunity to have much of a vista without. In those circumstances, he emphasized creating internal vistas, and using access to the sky through skylights and elevated windows for the external ones. In the S.C. Johnson Administrative Building, he relied on pyrex glass to let the light enter while providing structural support. The geometric shapes (often in color) on his art glass also added eye appeal. The book contains many wonderful designs such as his famous tree of life and of hollyhocks. Glass was also an integral part of his lighting fixtures, which often evoke Japanese lanterns.

   The bulk of Mr. Wright's buildings are in private hands, which you cannot visit very easily to see the insides. So much of the beautiful use of glass is hidden except in the external windows viewable from ground level. This book is a remarkable resource to overcome that handicap. If you are like me, you will come away especially impressed with the Dana-Thomas house glass in Springfield, Illinois.

   The book is superb for beautifully displaying and exploring these many dimensions of Mr. Wright's use of glass.

   After you finish enjoying this volume, I suggest that you think about how you could use some of Mr. Wright's ideas to make where you live more filled with vistas and repose. For example, can you use cellophane and constuction paper to create art glass effects when placed atop windows?

   See the light in more beautiful ways!




4. Although lavishly illustrated, this title has more than just pretty pictures. Frank Lloyd Wright Glass offers a close up examination of some of Wright's greatest achievements, structural and decorative, discussing what they have meant to those who have followed. It looks through the window of architecture to see the broader cultural horizon, profiling specific sites to illustrate Wright's ideas and his legacy.

No comments about Old Glass and How To Collect It: An introduction to antique glassware.

3 comments about Russel Wright (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Pro:
   -Many pages of large glossy color photos
   -Many rare items revealed in great photographic shots to make them easier to spot on your own
   -Very complete listing of pieces and prices (note: prices are subject to wide market opinion, one data point only)
   -We think Keller and Ross make many beautiful arrangements and color-pairings as Russel intended
   -A relatively lengthy book considering that it is intended for reference and identification purposes
   -Very complete listing of lines as they are known to us today, including Mary Wright and others
   
   Con:
   -Not information rich, for this seek out other texts
   
   Bottom line: excellent, recommended for identification of hard-to-find pieces.



2. For Russel Wright collectors who need more visual information and current pricing than Ann Kerr's more thorough narrative reference provides, this is a good option. Many of the photographs are lovely and make a collector drool! I particularly enjoyed comparisons of mold variations (American Modern sauce boats, Casual China butter dishes) and pictures of rare pieces (Highlight, Bauer art pottery) that Kerr does not feature.



3. Collectors really do need an ultimate compendium of Russel Wright's designs - this book isn't it, but then it doesn't promise to be. Photography proves to be both a strength and a weakness throughout. Photographs are numerous and sharp, but color is wildly inaccurate in some chapters (see "Cedar Green" looking grey). The irony is that so many of these photos are included for the purpose of showcasing color combinations. The other problem with the photos is that some of the most mundane single items get a half page photo while an important grouping of rarities gets a small one. This - and too much coverage of American Modern and Iroquois - was done at the expense of information about less common lines (particularly Knowles).

   Not including a chapter about Wright's furniture designs is forgivable in a book about dinnerware, but why is there no coverage of flatware? I can't imagine that the size of the book would've been impacted much by its inclusion. Also, aluminum is featured, but there is no trace of the Chase chrome items.

   The best feature of this book is its chapter about Highlight for Paden City. There isn't much information, but there are photos of extremely rare pieces. This is reason enough for an advanced collector to buy this book, but if you want a general guide or a better read, I'd stick to the latest edition of Ann Kerr's book.

No comments about Tom Patti: Illuminating The Invisible.

4 comments about Masterworks of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

1. This terrific book is the museum show catalog for an amazing Tiffany exhibit organized by Alastair Duncan the world's top authority on Tiffany glass and the most prolific author on the subject.To address the review regarding his conviction for selling a stolen window it MUST be noted that he was set up by a crooked Tiffany dealer who was working for a politically ambitious and corrupt federal prosecutor.



2. Mr. Duncan is currently being charged in connection with selling at least one stolen Tiffany window. He bought it for 30K andsold it to a party in Japan for 220K. The theft was not discovered until he tried to do it again 6 yrs later.



3. Hardback, 160 pps, 125 illustrations/72 full-color
   Shows Tiffany's wide range of versatility: enamels, jewelry, bronzes,ceramics, mosaics and paintings. A very good overview.



4. As a stained glass artist, I am impressed with the excellent writing and photography in this book. Mr. Duncan is an author whose name I associate with superb photography and interesting information.

5 comments about Fostoria Tableware: 1924-1943.

1. Lots of color pictures, catalog illustrations, and other reproduction of old Fostoria documents and ads make this the most detailed and comprehensive book I've found on Fostoria glassware from this period. It really increased my understanding of the importance of glass making in American history, and my appreciation for the talent and hardwork that went into making each piece of glassware an object of lasting beauty. The large number of pictures really helped identify pieces in my collection, and I use this book regularly when buying and selling Fostoria glass.



2. This is an exceptionally detailed book, but the dates can be misleading. Some patterns produced during the 1924-1943 time period are not included in this volume. My pattern (Colony)is in the 1944-1986 volume (as well as Raleigh, Coronet and part of others) due to limited space in the first volume. If you are looking for one specific pattern, do some research to be sure you are buying the correct book.



3. This book has become an essential tool in my glassware business. It is very comprehensive in its listings of the various Fortoria patterns and the pictures are extremely clear and helpful. The catalog inserts are especially interesting and useful. The research and love that went into the production of this book is evident in its helpful format. Browsing through this book is a joy!



4. This is absolutely the most beautiful and thorough book on Fostoria I have ever seen. It shines light on some of the mysteries and nuances in Fostoria production. It is a well organized, yet detailed reference which includes a large array of photographs, Fostoria advertising pieces and catalog pages along with an extensive listing of pieces and patterns, production dates and 1999 pricing. This is a great book for the new or seasoned collector and dealers. If you buy or sell Fostoria, you should buy this book!



5. This book is not only an excellent reference for Fostoria's Golden Years, but it is also a beautiful book. Highly recommended for all Fostoria lovers.

No comments about Dugan & Diamond Carnival Glass 1909-1931: Identification & Value Guide.