1 comments about Royal Doulton Collectables: A Charlton Standard Catalogue, Fourth Edition (Charlton Standard Catalogue).

1. If you collect Royal Doulton, you are probably already aware of the Charlton Catalogues--as far as I know, they are the only current price reference guides. It is black and white, with 32 pages of color inserts of Bunnykins figures. The following is listed for each figure: photo of figure, photo of base, name, number, designer, height, color, dates issued, versions, quantity made if a limited edition, series (if applicable), varieties, and prices for each version in US, Canadian and Australian dollars, and British pounds. (I generally find that figures will sell on eBay for 25-50% of the book value, though rarer figures can be higher).
   
   This paticular guide features figures produced through 2005 (copyright is 2006) in the following Royal Doulton lines:
   - Bunnykins Tableware
   - Bunnykins Figurines (porcelein and resin)
   - Alice in Wonderland
   - Brambly Hedge
   - Frosty Family
   - Harry Potter
   - Noddy
   - Nursery Rhyme Collection
   - Old Bear and Friends
   - Paddington Bear
   - Rupert Bear
   - St. Tiggywinkles
   - Snowman Gift Collection
   - Thelwell
   - Wind in the Willows
   - Wizard of Oz
   - Disney Characters (101 Dalmations, Cinderella, Disney Princess Collection, Disney Showcase Collection, Disney Villains, Fantasia 2000, Film Collection, Mickey Mouse Collection, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Winnie the Pooh)
   - Advertising Characters (figures dating from 1999, in limited editions of 2,000)

2 comments about Noritake Dinnerware: Identification Made Easy (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Finally, a book on Noritake collecting that does not sound like it was written by a snobby, snooty museum curator! Most Noritake collectors are lovely people who enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" and delight over every lemon plate and berry bowl they are able to obtain no matter how common and inexpensive the pieces may be. Who needs a book with pictures and prices of Noritake pieces they will never see except in private collections? Robin Brewer writes in a "down to earth style" and communicates her love for porcelain beautifully. Her photographs are excellent and her prose is charming. Some of the names she assigns the backstamps are homey and silly but descriptive. (Alot better that decimals) A wonderful book for the experienced Noritake enthusiast but especially appropriate and helpful for the beginner.



2. A wonderful guide to Noritake. History, basic patterns, unusual pieces and much more. Any collector or dealer in Noritake should have a copy of this book.

No comments about Clay Tobacco Pipes (Shire Library).

2 comments about Warman's Fiesta Ware: Identification & Price Guide.

1. I love all things Fiesta, but this book is terrible. My main complaint is the "quality" of the photographs. They are so grainy-- sort of clear but fuzzy at the same time. And the color is way off. I mistook several pictures of gray Fiestaware for lilac at first glance! So forget about his "comparison" of the greens because it will not help you. What gets me is that any crap digital camera would have done a better job but from the reflections in the dishes it looks like he had a professional shoot the pictures. By the way, I also completely ignored the text (even though it is in LARGE print), since the Huxfords' book and the HLCCA's book cover everything. The bottom line: don't waste your time or money.



2. First off Fiesta is beautiful, but the photographs in this book are terrible!!! Not one photograph shows an accurate depiction of the subject. Many photographs seem blurred or fuzzy.
   Pass this by and get "Fiesta, Harlequin, and Kitchen Kraft Dinnerwares" by The Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association. You will not ne disappointed....unless you purchase Warman's book.

2 comments about Ceramic Form: Design and Decoration.

1. This is another excellent book by Peter Lane. A good all round reference for design and decoration with a collection of work from many leading artists. The variety offered in this book will keep your inspiration going for many years.



2. I'm just involved in ceramics and I am more interested in homelife ceramics. This book gives me much ideas of vessel forms and decorations, it's very helpful, especially in the chapter 6 "forms in profile"!

2 comments about Rookwood Pottery over Ten Years of Auction Results: 1990-2002.

1. Excellent depictions of Cincinnati Rookwood vases, plus listings of sale prices and estimated values.



2. Any person interested in Rookwood Pottery will find this book entrancing, both as a price guide and as an opportunity to admire great examples of Art Pottery. Of course price guides are obsolete the moment they start rolling off the presses, but the auction prices in this book will give you ballpark estimates for any similar piece you may have. Each piece of artist-produced art pottery is unique, so assigning values is difficult simply by using price guides and auction results. I bought the book because, after owning a few pieces of Rookwood throughout the years, you can't get enough. This book is great for admiring pieces of art you may never come upon in person.

2 comments about Faberge: Fantasies And Treasures.

1. This is a companion book to the catalog of the traveling Faberge exhibit, written by the exhibit's curator who is also a Faberge expert. It shows Faberge art in American collections, acquired over the past 100 years.

   Part of the focus is on Faberge's famous Easter eggs, the majority of which belong to American collectors, but the book also presents gold, enamel, and hardstone pieces by the artist-jeweler.

   Carl Faberge joined his father's jewelry business in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the last quarter of the 19th century, an archaeological revival in jewelry was in fashion. Carl copied antique Greek jewelry and exhibited it, under the patronage of Czar Alexander III. This was a great success, and afterwards he branched out from making conventional French-style jewelry to making art pieces (such as enameled gold snuffboxes and the first of his Easter eggs). He gained international fame and more honors were bestowed on him. His workshops produced an endless stream of objects of incredible beauty and workmanship.

   A total of 56 of Faberge's eggs were made: 44 survive and two are known only from photos. Most were made for the royal family of Russia. The preparation alone to make an egg could last as long as two years.

   Despite the fame of his Easter eggs, they were just a minute part of what Faberge produced. His 500 craftsmen designed and made over 150,000 pieces of jewelry and other art objects. Most of the jewelry was destroyed after the Revolution - only smaller objects survived this purge. The silver objects that survived were mostly functional ones - others were melted down.

   Fantasy objects, many made of gold and "hardstones", brought Faberge his greatest fame. His most zealously guarded secret was the process used to make his enamels.

   Faberge fled Russia in 1918 and died in Switzerland two years later.

   I learned so much from this little book...well worth reading!




2. This is a delightful little book to brouse and enjoy. The chapters give a brief overview of many Faberge subjects. I love the stories about the pieces - especially about who owned them.

No comments about The World of Wade Ireland.

No comments about The Persian-Hellenistic Pottery of Shechem/Tell Balat'ah (ASOR Archaeological Reports).

No comments about Jugtown pottery: History and design.