1 comments about At Home with Wedgwood: The Art of the Table.

1. The lovely lyrical language, coupled with classically gorgeous photography make this a wonderful book to own, and show off to others!
   I really love Catherine Calvert's literary style.
   Not just a coffee-table book!

5 comments about Kovels' New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain, 1850 to the Present.

1. Great quality of shipping. Found book to be in the best condition.
   Thank you so much and I would hope to have the opportunity to purchase
   a book from you again.



2. If you collect this type of pottery, you will have to get this book sooner or later as it provides an outstanding reference to marks found on these items and so permits you to assess the age of the item. But the lack of any real advice, wisdom, guidance, explanations, etc. about the subject of collecting these pieces, knowing when marks are real or fake, and assessing the quality of the pieces is essentially nil. So you will have to learn pretty much everything you need to know from other sources. A real disappointment given that the authors are almost certainly know a lot more about the subject matter than they put into these books. M Pezim



3. This is a good resource book. It has it's limitations, but I use it almost daily. I look up alot of ceramics marks, and I find the large majority of them in this Kovels book. It is great if you are looking for a specific makers mark, or decoratoras mark. The limitation is that there is no way to comprehensively view all marks from one particular maker. If you have a few treasures that you want to accurately identify, then it is very good. Don't get me wrong, I haven't found every mark I look for. But I haven't found a Marks reference that I do. This book provides a good clean and easy format to locate the mark I need, and quickly.
   
   Also, if you are looking for back ground info on the company, this isn't the book for you. While the Kovel's do an excellent job of showing literal thousands of easy to find marks, thats all they show. All in all a highly recommended resource. Any serious ceramics collector, dealer, or dedicated flea market/yard saler should have a copy.



4. Bought this as a gift for my daughter and she has really enjoyed it's contents. Now she can see if the "Junk and/or Antiques" she has purchased has any real value!!



5. I haven't been happy with this book since I purchased it. Haven't found one mark from any of the pottery or china I have from this book. Only one or maybe two examples of the companies which made the pottery but not the marks. For example I can't even find the simple "Anchor" from Anchor Hawking Co.(There are plenty of other anchors). I have a very nice Blue "Old Fashion"/juice glass fron A.H. but I have never seen one in blue. Looked it up and could not find MARK in this book. I was very surprised. I've been thinking about purchasing the Second Edition of Kovels' book, but been holding back... Can anyone tell me if it is better or if it's just me, I hope..Mary, techmom@usamedia.tv (No Solicitors Please! Only those wanting to talk about this book please reply. NO SPAMMERS!!)

5 comments about Lehner's Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain and Clay.

1. I find this to be among the very best books on American backstamps or marks for ware made just about everywhere in the U. S. It was published in the 1980s; some things are not accurate any more including references to companies that have since gone out of business or changed hands. I agree with another reviewer who wished for a more thorough index. I would also add a wish for an updated version with photographs rather than drawings.
   
   While Lehner's Encyclopedia is great for most American pottery, if researching ware made in the nation's Pottery Capital (the East Liverpool area) do turn instead to the Gates & Ormerod book "The East Liverpool Ohio Pottery District Identification of Manufacturers and Marks". Assume that the Gates & Ormerod book is best when it comes to East Liverpudlian ware. Lehner and Gates/Ormerod both wrote unfailingly useful reference books.
   
   If only interested in Harker, the most thorough book on that subject is the book by William and Donna Gray. They discovered over a hundred additional marks which were not included in either the Gates & Ormerod or Lehner books (which were published decades earlier).
   
   Otherwise the Lehner book is very useful, and I hope it stays in print!



2. The book arrived on time and the condition was as described (new). The secondary packaging could use improvement as the box had broken and opened at the bottom. The primary packaging was excellent and prevented the book from damage when the box broke.



3. This book is a definite 'must have' for anyone dealing in or buying collectible ceramics. I have just started selling glasswares and have come across a lot of different pottery marks. Without a reference book, you cannot determine an items' real worth.
   This book has thousands of different marks and artists' marks! This book is by my side when trying to determine the ceramic items' origin and age.



4. This book is about U.S. marks.
   
   .... So, if you need a piece of U.S.A pottery identified, then this book probably has the mark. (Please note that this book is not about finding markings of European pieces. As stated on the cover, this book is strictly about U.S. marks).
   
   P.S.: This book also includes all the U.S. RESTAURANT-WARE markings. Very helpful if you collect "RESTAURANT-WARE", along with other American pottery and china.



5. This book is prodigious in scope: the pottery marks (with huge varieties within each company) and historical information are both invaluable and interesting. However, the indexing is weak, which leads one to thumbing through pages trying to find an elusive mark. This is such a well-researched, vast collection of marks, however, that laborious searches are rewarded.

5 comments about Pictorial Guide to Pottery & Porcelain Marks.

1. The good news: this book has thousands of photos of ceramic items with their backstamps. The bad news: there are many inaccuracies of company names, typographical errors, errors of dating, and other errors. Given the over 7000 photographs in the book, perhaps it is to be expected that there was insufficient proofreading or fact checking before the book was published. The book is interesting to browse, but it has not been a reliable reference book. However, it is useful as a jumping off point, when used in conjunction with other reference materials.



2. This is the first mark identifier I bought and was really impressed with the color photos of the marks along with an example of the piece. I was able to identify and date many of the pieces from my collection and date items I've found since buying this book. It became very handy when it came time to clean out my great aunt and uncles home this past winter. That being said, I've since discovered there are many marks not included or variations missing, i.e. Nippon marks and Frankoma. The dates on some are too broad. The color photos are nice to have but some marks or the coresponding piece did not photo well. I understand no guide is ever complete, and if you were to compile every single mark and variation this would probably be a multi-volume set. For me, this book is a good starting point, but I usually have to use other sources to narrow down dates.



3. I have been using this book faithfully for over a year. I enjoy that it features actual photographs of the marks as well as examples of the pottery. It is easy to use and until this week I have found it to be reliable.
   
   The Moorcroft marks do not have entirely accurate dates. This is why I am giving it only 4 out of 5 stars. If I had done this last week, it would have been 5!



4. This is a very good reference book. The pictures are very clear and precise. A good addition to your reference library.



5. This book is a must, for all those interested in Pottery, and the manufacturers marks, obviously they cannot put every mark in the Word in it, but it has a fantastic range, and is interesting both to read, and study the photographs supplied, a great investment that I will use over, and over again.

3 comments about Antique Trader Limoges Price Guide.

1. Two hundred and forty pages of color photographs illustrate why the Limoges porcelain has been a favorite of collectors for more than two centuries. The many kinds of Limoges pieces are grouped in their own chapters--brooches, charges, cider pitchers, fish sets inkwells, punch bowls, and others; for thirty chapters in all. Many readers will be surprised at the great variety of Limoges pieces. There is wide decorative variety within each type too. Although each piece is distinguished by detail and rich coloration. Captions for each piece include identification, a note on the coloration (mostly underglaze or overglaze), factory marking, and in most cases a current value. The 26-page appendix Limoges Factory Markings or Backstamps groups hundreds by periods of years with pictures of each one. The author Debby Dubay is a widely recognized expert on Limoges porcelain who has written previous studies and price guides.



2. Antique Trader Limoges Price Guide by Debby DuBay is fantastic! The only price guide in paper back form on Limoges porcelain. A beautiful book with hundreds of colored photographs of unique pieces of antique Limoges porcelain. The quality of this paper back book is outstanding. A wonderful price guide. Each piece has a current value - DuBay is a member of the Appraisers Assoc of America and is a USPAP appraiser - found by using the comparative market data approach. Each piece has a complete description that correlates with the marks section in the back of the book. Each factory has been researched and their actual marks are photographed and the dates of their use are annotated. Using this easy to read Price Guide a collector can research their pieces; identify which factory produced the piece, date the piece, find the back stamp and marks, know the exact use of the piece, determine if a piece is handpainted piece or transferware or decal and determine the exact value of the piece. I have attended several seminars by Debby DuBay and her enthusiasm is contagious and she is always available to assist and appraise. I recommend the Antique Trader Limoges Price Guide and if you have further questions on your piece I recommend you contact Debby DuBay at 20 Post Office Avenue, Andover, MA 01810 or call her (978) 470-8773.



3. Antique Trader Limoges Price Guide by Debby DuBay is a wonderful field price guide with over EIGHT HUNDRED photographs of Limoges pieces with prices and complete descriptions. A complete marks section covers all of the Limoges factory marks and backstamps including common reproduction marks. This book has a great chapter on valuation and another on identifying your pieces. In addtion - new documented research by DuBay and her researcher geneologist - on the American artist - specifically E. Miler.
   
   I love Debby DuBay's books on Limoges! This one is just as beautiful, in an easy to carry format with new information and completely different colored photographs of unique pieces of Limoges (and at this price is a must!)

5 comments about Antique Trader Pottery & Porcelain Ceramics Price Guide (Antique Trader Pottery and Porcelain Ceramics Price Guide).

1. What do you get in this overall pottery guide which is clearer than specialized ceramics price guides? For one the ability to contrast values for different specialized ceramics, from American and English to European and Oriental. For another, you get a general 'bible' of over 10,000 price listings, over 3,000 color photos, and collecting guidelines key to successful pottery and porcelain investing. A 'must' any serious collector should have.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. This great little reference guide is a bargain - the price and the information. It is a easy to use price guide - not a table top book - but useful anyway. I collect Limoges and love Debby DuBay's books but I can't carry them while antiquing - The Antique Trader's books give me enough info so I don't make any major mistakes while purchasing Limoges.



3. to read about the history of antique Limoges or want info on the back stamps or marks suggest Antique Limoges at Home or Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain.



4. Thanks to the editors of the Antique Trader, I found the wonderful books by Debby DuBay, Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain, Antique Limoges at Home and Living With Limoges. Thank you! Highly recommend!



5. I purchased this from Amazon based on the reviews listed here and was sadly disappointed. I had expected sort of a systematic catalog of porcelain and pottery pieces. This listed a number of items, but with no real depth at all. It is hit or miss. The chances that you can evaluate any individual item you may be interested in is very small. I returned mine to Amazon.

3 comments about Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques.

1. This is the best overview of Chinese furniture that I've seen. It is mainly directly to the the interested layman, who might be interested in buying some Chinese furniture. It describes both the classical hardwood furniture (very expensive) and the more vernacular softwood furniture (quite inexpensive). You get a good understanding of the different styles. What the book doesn't help you with is the details of purchaing, e.g. understanding how well a cabinet is made, understanding how much of a fake a cabinet is, etc.
   
   If you are exclusively interested in the very beautiful hardwood furniture. I would recommend Wang's "Classic Chinese Furniture".



2. For those interested in learning about Chinese furniture, this is a very useful book. It is well written and illustrated and gives a good over-all survey of the field. It isn't written for experts, but for the "lay" person who wants to know something about the field either for personal interest or because he/she is beginning to collect.



3. Hi,
   Have not yet recieved the book from Amazon com. It was ordered 11/22 2006. Date today is 01/09. Maybe the delivery from Amazon to Sweden is not working??

5 comments about Collectible Cups & Saucers: Identification & Values (Collectible Cups and Saucers).

1. The layoutis fantastic. A person is able to find and see the information they are looking for. Being in color is an absolute necessity. I have read thru the book several times. It is a valuable tool in collection. Thank you very much. Kay Brashers.



2. Too bad someone didn't bother to edit this book - especially as it is a SECOND EDITION! It not only is missing 20 pgs (in the early 100s from what I recall - I sent book back and hope for a refund), it also had 20 duplicate pages! I can't believe NO ONE here who raved about this book noticed this! It's one thing to buy it and get pleaure looking at pictures of someone's pretty cups, but quite another when you are doing research and spending money on books! Checking for brands in the index and not finding a page listed is how I found this gross error! A lot of cups would have been covered on those 20 missing pages. The seller I purchased book from said "it was publishing error and not picked up on reprint" and had the nerve to ask ME to "let him know if I find one that was corrected" as he said all books are like this. Unless the seller is misrepresenting...I say "BOO" to the editors/publishers - no excuse on 2nd edition!)



3. This book is fantastic, beautiful pictures. A pleasure to just look through. Very happy with this purchase!!



4. This book is great for finding different cup and saucer types.
   I would like to have had more information on pottery markings included in the book. Wish the authors had a web-site for questions.



5. The first book I've purchased on tea cup collecting. The gorgeous photos alone taught me a great deal about the art and fun of collecting tea cups. I've enjoyed every page. When the world is so frustrating during the day I can't quite concentrate on reading weightier matters, I pick up this book and lose myself in the gracious and lovely world of tea cup collecting. A big thanks to the authors!

5 comments about The Collector's Encyclopedia of Homer Laughlin China: Reference and Value Guide.

1. I bought this book quite a while ago. At that time, this was about the only book on the HOMER LAUGHLIN subject.
   
   It all started when I had inherited a beautiful set of Homer Laughlin "Georgian" fine china, and I wanted to know more (& get more pieces). Unfortunately, fifteen+ years ago, there weren't too many H.L. china collectors and/or identification books on this subject, (aside from the avid FIESTA WARE collectors).
   
   Needless to say, I never did find more pieces to my H.L. china set, since the H.L. Georgian pattern had sooooo many various flower styles (ie: since the early production of the 1940's Georgian pattern).
   
   However, the thing that I did find most helpful from this book was that it gave a nice history of the company. I was very excited to get any information on the early history of this china company.
   
   But as far as finding a H.L. book with all the patterns and styles, that never came about. Even the later re-prints of this book did not have all the flower styles of many of the H.L. fine china patterns.
   
   (By the way, REPLACEMENTS INC, has no early H.L. chinas either.Thus, the older pieces are definetly hard to find).
   
   Anyhow,if you are interested in a Homer Laughlin book that gives a nice history of the company, then you might find this book helpful.
   
   But if you have inherited a specific early H.L. china pattern, as I did, then you may be out of luck in finding more information about it.
   The reason being, is that H.L. changed their flower patterns so often and also it really depended upon the store that carried the H.L. fine chinas. (FIESTA was a different story though, since FIESTA was issued for many years. And plus, there are so many other books specific to just FIESTA, that this book only touches on the FIESTA subject, but mainly focuses on H.L's history and various other H.L. china patterns).



2. After my aunt's demise several years ago, I was the recipient of some odd pieces of old china. I wondered as to the age of the pieces, and so I went to the Internet. What do you think I found. You're right, my china was listed in the book that I purchased through Amazon.com.
   Thank you very much.



3. DISAPPOINTED THAT THE BOOK DID NOT GO BACK TO THE EARLY HOMER LAUGHLIN. LITTLE INFO ABOUT VARIOUS MARKS. NOT COMPLETE ENOUGH FOR THE PRICE.



4. I recently aquired some Homer Laughlin china and was unable to identify the patterns. This book helped me tremendously! The pictures and descriptions were very useful. Also, there is alot of trivia about the company and some of the designers. I highly recommend this book.



5. This is a very well organized reference for those collectors of Homer Laughlin who enjoy the "other" HL pottery (other than Fiesta, of course). Jasper has put a great deal of effort into categorizing the various patterns, and includes hundreds of photos. Each pattern has a little history that goes with it, and often the backstamp (mark) will be shown alongside. She includes an extensive history of the pottery, discusses the difficulties in identifying certain patterns, and includes pages from some of the old catalogs. All in all an admirable work and well worth the purchase price.

2 comments about Masters: Porcelain: Major Works by Leading Ceramists.

1. The entire project looks, reads and feels like busywork designed to keep a bunch of people busy without anything to really say and nothing new to offer except to say "There - I've finished that task. Now what else can I do to look busy?" And I say this even being represented in the book. Some or most say that it counts just to have your work seen, good or bad. I disagree.



2. I have to say,I am in love with lark 500 books,and this publication is no exception!
   Porcelain is a tricky clay body to work with.I have tried it,and managed it,but still have not the capacity or patience for shrinkage,coloration,or for the historical fact that at one time, the clay was made from ground bones of the deseased!- even though some of my own stuff is in permanent gallery collections,according to what I have seen in this book,I am still an amateur. The wide variety of styles,colorations and applications of techniques held are more than most people can absorb in a single viewing. It's a volume that will last me,for years to come.
   
   Very,very,highly recommended.If you want a library of the best of the best,to your personal tastes,this is a book to have and own.