No comments about Women, Art, and Technology (Leonardo Books).

No comments about Back Bar Beer Figurines.

3 comments about The Rohan Master: A Book of Hours.

1. the most beautiful manuscript ever !
   the hardcover is recomended.



2. I too am biased (I'm a historian of Italian Renaissance art), and while the as yet unknown master who illustrated the Rohan Hours meets none of the usual criteria for "beauty" in 15th-century painting (say, the style of Fra Angelico's angels or Botticelli's maidens--both of these painters produced fine book illustrations), there is no question that he was a brilliantly inventive, keenly expressive artist. His illustrations for the standard repertoire of Christian Bible stories totally push the envelope of what was usual within a book's pages. He combined achingly precise realistic description with a total freedom in the scaling and placement of figures, and a luxuriant decorative sense, creating powerful images that virtually burst from the page. Gestures, facial expressions, accessories from hair to drapery, seem driven by powerful currents generated from the prayers to which they give shape. A Renaissance original, with a refined, if bold, technique.



3. This is one of many fine reproductions produced by the Geo. Braziller company. This particular manuscript is a 15th c. book of hours generally considered to be a masterpiece in the book-art community. It's a very nice reproduction.

   My personal opinion, of course, colors my perception of the quality of the art of the Rohan hours. Frankly, I think the art in the Rohan Hours is of medium quality; its miniatures are cetainly emotional, but the technique is rougher than most of the books of this era that are considered to be "masterpieces."

   Individuals who find the art charming, of course, would give this book a higher star rating, because it has all the usual nice qualities of a Braziller publication. There is an essay detailing the history and discussing some of the manufacture information , followed by lots and lots of pictures of manuscript pages accompanied by a short paragraph detailing the actions of the people in the pictures. The clor reproduction is nice.

   I own it; it's a pleasant enough book. I don't mean to discourage a lover of the illuminated manuscript from buying this book. However, you should also be aware that the art of the Rohan Hours isn't quite as finely done as you might expect.

No comments about Art Of Book: Its Place in Medieval Worship (Exeter Mediaeval Texts & Studies).

2 comments about Newcomb Pottery: An Enterprise for Southern Women, 1885-1904.

1. Professor Poesch has done a wonderful, scholarly work which is both readable and "reference-able". I was lucky enough to see the Newcomb Pottery retrospective exhibition (many years ago) at Tulane during an architectural history meeting and hear a few words from Prof. Poesch. This author's humbly priced volume is a priceless record of some very important research and history on the topic of Newcomb ceramics, as well as an insightful report of the enterprise and its craftsmen and craftswomen during this interesting period. The collection of pictures is a rare treat to the eye, given how far-flung are the presented examples.



2. This book gives an excellent history of the Woman's role in decorative ceramic Pottery during the early 1900's. It is a beautiful sourcebook that introduces not only a destinctive Art form, but highlights the individual Artists involved. The Art reflects a respect for the South and Southern enviornment showing designs of animals and plants found in the Deep South. It is a true American history of Pottery displaying a unique, refined Southern Style.

No comments about Frankoma and Other Oklahoma Potteries (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

No comments about Eddie Martinez & Chuck Webster.

No comments about Santiago Sierra: House In Mud.

No comments about Ann Hamilton: An Inventory of Objects.

3 comments about Hull Pottery: Decades of Design (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I should have read the editorial review more closely. It means it when it says this is a sweeping survey. Not even close to being a helpful book for buying Hull. I bought it hoping it would be of help when looking through ebay listings. So far, I am batting less than 50% at finding items in this book. Patterns are not complete listings, only 'surveys' as the editorial review says. Patterns are not even always grouped together in the same pages of the book, either. And there is no kind of listing by Hull ID number to be able to find items quickly. Even when they are, pictures show many items in one picture and the description is sometimes confusing as to which piece is what. Labeled pictures of collections are sometimes shown, but not priced, and some of the items show up no where else in the book. I am very dissapointed. On the positive side, the pictures are great, and as promised it shows a wide variety of the types of items Hull made. Prices are right next to each picture, so you don't have to do the annoying 'flip to the back' unless you are doing it to try to find your item in the idex because it isn't with the rest of the pattern on its page! Overall, a nice book to look at and read, but if you are planning on using this for identification and pricing, get something different.



2. I am an amateur collector, and I reviewed more than a dozen books on Hull Pottery at several book stores (then, of course, I purchased it from Amazon). This one was by far the best of the lot. Best photos. Best variety of items. Best organization. If there is a better book out there on Hull Pottery, I sure would love to know about it, because I haven't ever seen one. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Hull pottery.



3. This Hull reference is thorough, but certainly not definitive. Synder's photos are vastly superior to those in Brenda Robert's The Collector's Encyclopedia of Hull Pottery. Color quality is better and shows the subtle variations found in the same lines of Hull art pottery making accurate identification much easier for the novice. Prices are also included in the cutlines with the pictures eliminating the need to flip back and forth between the photos and a price list somewhere else in the book. All in all I would recommend this book to any serious Hull collector.