1 comments about Platinum by Cartier: Triumphs of the Jewelers' Art.

1. An extensive collaberation of Cartiers most beautiful Platinum works. Many beautiful photographs and historical facts about Cartier jewelry making. A must for any Cartier or fine jewelry collector.

2 comments about Bakelite Jewelry: Good * Better * Best.

1. This is a very good book for collectors of bakelite. There are lots of pictures of unusual and creative bakelite jewelry that is so hard to value. The pictures are big and easy to see and most include dates which is so important. I especially like the big collection of crib toy brooches that are not often seen. Most of the pieces are from the 1920's, 30s and 40s. None are from the more modern bakelite designers. Still, it is a rich reference for early bakelite jewelry.



2. I am a total novice who is just starting to learn about Bakelite jewelry, and even though this book is expensive, it's the best one I've seen and well worth the money. (I also have Tony Grasso's book but don't think it's quite as helpful.) Not only does Wasserstrom's book have loads of beautiful color photos (hence the high price), but it is VERY clear and answers every single question that has occurred to me about Bakelite. It is just loaded with valuable and easy-to-reference information. (Like charts about which styles correspond to which dates, the differences between Bakelite and other types of plastics, etc.) My only tiny complaint is there's no index (true of the Grasso book also). If you're interested in learning about or collecting Bakelite, buy this book!

4 comments about Oak Furniture - The British Tradition.

1. This is an invaluable reference book on early oak furniture, which is neccessary for anyone who wishes to have an understanding of the subject. It is both full of expert knowledge explained in a clear concise manner and also contains numerous photographs of the furniture which is depicted in an organised chronogical order that clarifies the text.



2. This is a great book, it has so many photos I could not count them, then has them all in the index - a photo of each item, making it easy to locate any specifically. My only complaint is the photos are not colour but it would cost 4x as much (but perhaps would be worth that price).



3. This is the most informative book I have seen on all subjects of wooden furniture and does not limit itself to only oak. It describes in great detail the facts on why varying woods were used in each time period due to availability and why only certain trades were allowed to do specific work due to guild laws. The descriptions and photos are amazing, ( WARNING, you will be spellbound for hours looking at these...:) ), and the index at the back of the book uses the best system that I have seen by far, each picture is displayed in thumbnail size pictures and arranged by catagory. Simply look at the index section for chairs, see the thumbnail photo of the one you seek and the page location is written underneath. Family and friends borrow this book so much that I have often contemplated buying a second copy just to be sure of having it around all the time...:) This book will never go out of date. If you only ever buy one book on earlier woodworking, this is the one you must see. Would also make the best coffee table book I've ever seen.... Its BIG, its impressive and its the best, what more could you wan't?



4. if you have an interest in the development of early furniture . . . and how to recognize real pieces that are still on the market . . .and still surprisingly available . . .this is perhaps the definitive book out there . . . it is highly recommended despite how costly it is . . .

No comments about Ancient Jewellery (Interpreting the Past Series).

4 comments about Jewels of Lalique.

1. This is by far the best book ever produced on Lalique's jewelry. The photographs in the book document nice close up details as well as front and back shots of his jewelry. Also nice to see is photographs of his beautiful jewelry renderings and nature studies. This book is a must for any Lalique fan. I highly recommend it.



2. This book is a great resource for anyone interested in not just art nouveau jewellery but master jewellers of this period.I had not seen lalique's work before and was completely besotted with the pictures in this book,it includes intial design sketches alongside the finished pieces and discusses his work in great length.Great book when I need inspiration.



3. For lovers of the Art Nouveau movement, this book is a must! Lalique was an amazing artist/jeweler, and this book covers the jewelry portion of his career well.



4. So you missed the exhibit in Dallas? True, this exhibit is possibly the only time these items from private collections will be on display. But do not despair. There is still a wonderful catalog out there to be had.

   When my friends and I went to see this exhibit, we were so enamoured by the beauty of the jewelry, we wanted to carry it all home with us. The catalog was the best we could do.

   The items in this exhibit that were designed and made by Rene' Lalique moved classicism to modernism. Although the luminosity of the jewelry is certainly lost in the book's photographs, like the sheen of the perfectly matched opals and the glow of the glass enamels, the level of detail is not.

   The exhibit was set up to light the plique-a'-jour from the rear of the pieces as well as from the front. Plique-a'-jour is similar to cloisonné. Both techniques use glass enamels separated by cells created from metal, but cloisonné is applied onto a metal surface, whereas plique-a'-jour is openwork, more like a stained glass window. The difference in effect is that plique-a'-jour has a glow that lights up the jewelry, whereas cloisonné receives its shine from the metal behind it.

   The plique-a'-jour technique was not new, having been used during the Renaissance but had been virtually forgotten. The influence of the relatively new trade with Japan opened up the eyes of those artists who were participants in the new arts & Crafts movement centered in London. In fact, Lalique studied in London and picked up on the Japanese influences. In addition, there was also a religious movement centered in Germany at this time that centered more upon appreciation of nature than a single deity.

   These influences combined in Lalique's jewelry that stunned the world when he unveiled over a hundred pieces of bijou at the Exposition Universalle in Paris in 1900. Critics of his work charged that he was merely trying to provoke the public. The public crowded around the exhibit during its run nonetheless, although not all of the items in the exhibit sold during the Exposition. The opal necklace that all of us loved when we saw this exhibit in Dallas was one that did not sell, surprisingly enough.

   So, if you simply could not get to Dallas, then the catalog rates a good look so that you can study Lalique's breathtaking style. He was never matched and, in fact, abandoned making jewelry for glass when cheap, shoddily made knock-offs began to appear. Lalique felt he had gone as far as he could go with jewelry and became a direct Tiffany competitor.

1 comments about Gems and Jewelry: All Color Guide.

1. There are an awful lot of fantasy writers who would benefit in reading, if not this book, then one very like it. But that's not a recommendation.

   I had the first edition, lost it, discovered the 2nd edition, was happy. Even if you're not a gem-shopper (I'm not), the book's worth it for the zillions of full-color photographs alone: you can *see* what all these gemstones look like.

   Arem discusses carats vs. karats, gem-cutting, mining, trivia and lore on various gemstones...a lot. There are other books on the same subject, of course, but this one's a decent survey.

5 comments about Collectible Silver Jewelry: Identification and Value Guide.

1. "Collectible Silver Jewelry" provides a brief, yet reasonably comprehensive, guide to silver jewellery and jewellery makers from around the world. This book covers most of the major silver jewellery producing countries of the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Peru, Scandinavia, the U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, China, Japan and Siam, and for each country, it provides a guide to all of the main silversmiths and manufacturers of that country. For each manufacturer, a brief history is given, along with a photograph or illustration of the maker's marks used. A valuation guide (with pictures) is also provided at the end of each section to give the reader some idea of the style of jewellery produced in each country and its value (although this book was first published in 2001, all values were updated in 2005).
   
   This book is very well presented. It is a large size hardback with glossy pages and full-colour photographs throughout. A glossary of jewellery terms is provided at the back, as is a detailed index, making this book very easy to use.



2. This was a general book on Silver and I felt it did not go into depth. I do not like it as much as others but it covers many country silver jewelry.



3. I haven't found another book that covers what this one covers. It is well organized and has lots of good photos. There are written commentaries about the various manufacturers of silver jewelry, discussions about mid century artisans, and great information about silver jewelry from Scandinavia, Mexico and other places in the world. There are additional resources in the back of the book and lots of information about hallmarks as well. I can go on and on but take it from me, this is the best book out there on silver jewelry.



4. This book has been fabulous because it includes a broad span of silver jewelry, not just one specific type. It has helped me identify many pieces. Great pictures, great explanations. Includes many different marks. I love it and use it all the time.



5. Whether you are an expert collector or a neophyte, you will find this book a valuable reference source. It is illustrated in full-color and covers the range of silver jewelry makers exhaustively, maker by maker, including illustrations of makers' marks.

3 comments about Miller's: Silver & Sheffield Plate Marks: Pocket Fact File (Miller's Pocket Fact File).

1. This book is great for identifying English and British hallmarks. Has a little bit on other European hallmarks which is very useful. It's a small size, so you can easily put it in your purse when going antiqueing (sp?). I'd definently recommend this to anyone seriously interested in silver.



2. This little book delivers the goods ~ well-organized marks for the English silver sleuth. Also has a credible selection of silver styles thrown in as a little bonus.



3. This book is a must have for anyone who collects antique English silver. Not as comprehensive as a lot of others I have seen which is actually a plus since it fits comfortably in your pocket when you go antiquing. I keep my copy next to my computer so I have it handy while surfing the silver listings on eBay. Well worth the price.

2 comments about Purse Masterpieces: Identification & Value Guide.

1. Purse Masterpieces is a wonderful addition to the literature on antique and vintage purses. Many examples pictured in this book have never been seen before, some of them dating to the 18th century. Seven other individual collectors contributed to this book. The sections on beaded, mesh and dance purses has some lovely examples, which any collector would be proud to add to her collection. Another section on frames shows some beautiful jeweled pieces that have not been seen in the exisitng literature. In her first chapter, Ms. Schwartz discusses the relationship of purse designs with the more traditional art form of painting, archeology (Egyptian) and literature. She makes a connection that has not been made in the past in other books on purses, which adds to the literature and makes for a very interesting read. Her value guide is just that, a guide. As all purse collectors know, prices vary from one end of the country to the other, from venue to venue, and year to year. I highly recommend this book to all antique and vintage purse collectors.



2. This is quite possibly the most self-serving book I have ever seen published. The misleading title, Purse Masterpieces, suggests that it will feature the very best extant examples of vintage and antique purses. Disappointingly, what we are given instead is a virtual catalog of the author's own collection, regardless of rarity, condition, noteworthiness or "masterpiece" status. Commonplace and unremarkable purses are included alongside finer examples. There are important categories of purses poorly represented or ignored entirely, presumably because the author either had none in her personal collection or had no interest in the type. The overwhelming majority of the purses included in the book are listed as being from the author's retail store or the author's personal collection. While the author did scatter here and there a limited number of purses from a few select other sources, the book reads like a photographic documentation of the author's retail store. To add insult to injury, the values placed by the author on her own purses appear much inflated, thereby rendering the book's worth as a price guide suspect at best and a disservice to the collectible purse market at worst. The text breaks no new ground and reveals little that hasn't been published elsewhere in other more comprehensive and more fairly written collector books on purses.
   
   The end result is that a book ostensibly purporting to document and value only the finest "masterpiece" examples of purses instead comes off like a means for the author to market all of her own purses by establishing "book" prices and published status of her collection.
   
   The author describes herself as "collecting, researching and writing about vintage purses for over a decade," and while she appears reasonably knowledgeable on the subject commensurate with her limited time in the field, I would humbly suggest a more accurate title for her book. She has a lovely collection deserving of cataloging, and my colleagues and I would certainly help her value them more accurately.
   
   There are many well-researched books and price-guides available on vintage, antique and collectible purses written by professionals with a wealth of time and experience in the field. In my opinion, this book does not add to the fund of knowledge or documentation on the subject previously published. The premise of a book solely focusing on masterpieces is a good one, and I will await the publication. ... This just isn't that book.
   
   A real disappointment.

No comments about Pretty Sharp: Jewellery Implements Products.