3 comments about Heath Ceramics: The Complexity of Simplicity.

1. Definitely not a "coffee table" dust collector but a book that I have spent many pleasant hours enjoying. It gives the reader an appreciation of how the multi-faceted potter Edith Heath brought classic design into the home through her ceramics. This book is a wonderful addition to my library and it makes gift giving easy.



2. The book for anyone with a passion for Edith Heath's designs as well as people interested in ceramics from the 40s until today. What the book lacks is a catalog of Heath's ceramic designs. But this shortcoming is not a big deal. What this wonderfully designed and produced book boasts is the vision of a singular woman who will forever be a part of the design landscape. The book is an absolute steal at the amazon.com price. Dense editorials, fantastic photography. A beautiful tribute.



3. Finally, a respectable book on Edith Heath! Klausner's work really stands out in the small but discerning crowd of Heathophiles. The more I tuck into this extraordinary book the more I become fascinated by the miraculous and timeless techniques of the House of Heath. I recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in ceramics.

5 comments about Collecting Head Vases: Identification and Value Guide.

1. I was a little unhappy with the book. I had inherited 2 original ladyhead
   vases from a deceased Aunt. I couldn't find either one in the book. I
   wanted more info on the collecting of the vases and the book was lacking
   there too. I should have gotten another one that went into more detail.



2. The book is in great condition and exactly what I exected and useful to me. However the process after the purchase from Amazon takes far to long. A month for a book is rediculous.



3. For the amateur to the experienced, this is a fabulous reference guide for all headvase collectors! Definite must-have !



4. Quick and excellent transaction. Nice book and well packaged.
   Thanks



5. This book is the most comprehensive head vase book that has ever been written and I have them all. Beautiful color pictures and realistic up to date values. Loaded with useful information not available in other head vase books. A must have for the head vase collector.

1 comments about California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism.

1. This colorful and enjoyable book makes a strong case for the importance of California's commercial potteries in drawing on the state's unique cultural heritage to introduce dramatic new colors and styles to the United States. The book is easy to read and filled with interesting facts, with beautiful color photos on almost every page. I was fascinated by pictures of pottery from the 30's, side-by-side with the handmade folk pottery on which the designs werte based. This is a must for any serious pottery collector! Note that the book parallels an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The author, Bill Stern, was the curator for that exhbition.

3 comments about Painting the Maya Universe: Royal Ceramics of the Classic Period (Duke University Museum of Art).

1. As anyone who owns books on the ancient Maya will probably attest, they have a habit of becoming out of date rather rapidly; yesterday's Copan is today's Xukpi and yesterday's King 18-Rabbit is today's Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil. Don't get me wrong, I think this is a good thing. Unlike the vast body of scholarship that Egyptologists can only hope to add a sentence to here or a footnote to there, Mayanists are faced with a field where every turn of the spade yields material that is likely to keep them busy for decades. That is the exciting thing about Mayan studies; every year sees yet more exciting discoveries by both "dirt" archeologists and by "armchair" or more correctly "keyboard" scholars. Every new book on the Maya is welcome and if they are as well written and lavishly illustrated as this one, they are doubly welcome.



2. I've read much of what has been written about Mayan ceramics and can say with confidence that this is the best book on the subject ever written. The essays in it, by top professionals, discuss the forms and functions of the ceramics, the meaning of their calligraphy, their basic themes and the places particular styles of ceramics come from. Indeed, if you read it carefully and more than once, you too will be able to decipher the principal inscriptions even on pots that are not in the book. There are hundreds of full-color photographs of Mayan ceramic vases and plates in this book. These vases are decorated with pictures of formed the greatest Pre-Columbian civilization. These ceramics depict Mayan textile design, Mayan hair-dressing, Mayan head-dresses, Mayan ceramics (within the ceramic paintings), Mayan concepts of design and of the other worlds below this one. From them we learn of Mayan myth,Mayan ritual, Mayan daily life, and Mayan art. Leaving aside the great monumental art of sculpture and stucco that adorned major structures, leaving aside the structures themselves, and giving credit for a host of varieties of artistic representations ranging from the Tsimshian to the Moche... I think it is an absolute fact that the art that appears on Mayan ceramics is the best that America ever created prior to Columbus and arguably the best... period. This book discusses, describes, depicts and defends that incredible artistic legacy better than any other ever did.



3. This handsome book covers a wide range of Maya ceramic imagery, and is filled with stunning photographs. The imagery is also broken down by catagory, and is supplimented with explations of glyphs. The accessible text that explores the mythology, culture, iconography, and hieroglyphics on and related to the ceramics. The information is thorough without being overly specialized.

3 comments about Boyds Tracker Resin, Vol. 2: Value Guide, Second Edition.

1. I thought the guide was pretty good but had missed some items. The pictures were not real clear or true color to the real item.



2. I have a Yesterday's Child (Dollstone) figurine collection and had been looking for a book to tell me how many figurines there actually are in this series and THIS IS IT. It is a fantastic book. It has everything that a collector would like to have and I highly recommend it. There are even logs in the book you can record your figurines. Thank you so much for your informative pages that led me to this book. ITS A MUST AND A KEEPER!!!



3. Have you ever wondered how much your Boyds bearstones are worth? Have you asked how many pieces are actually in the Boyds village? How many Uncle Beans Treasure boxes? Did you even know Boyds made collectible dolls too? This book explains it all!
   
   Much more than any previous value guide that came before... the 2nd edition of the Boyds Tracker Resin is your complete reference guide. Use the Tracker to inventory your treasures or just spend hours drooling over all the pieces you didn't even know existed.
   
   The editorials are a valuable teaching tool for the new collector:
   Boyds 101
   The Heart of Boyds
   Those Elusive Exclusives
   Boyds Alphabet Soup
   The Gnomes Homes
   ... and more!
   
   A true Boyds encyclopedia for every resin collector.

2 comments about The Complete Guide to Corning Ware & Visions Cookware.

1. Kyle Coroneos has written a lovely, informative book that I find myself using constantly. I originally purchased this large paperback just so I could identify my mother's Corning Ware pieces, in the hopes that I could fill in her pattern set (once I realized Corning Ware was no longer being made!).
   
   Soon, I found myself purusing eBay, book in hand, wondering if I should start my own collection. Now, whenever I visit thrift or garage sales, I leapt upon the Corning Ware items I see, eager to take them home and check them against the pictures and information in the book. Then I sell them myself on eBay!
   
   This book has become my Corning Ware Bible. Not only an almost complete list of every product Corning made through the 20th century, but each item is accompanied by great photos, making it a simple task to identify pieces and match patterns and casserole sets. Furthermore, Coroneos did a through job of giving a history, not only of the Corning Works company, but also of the items made, so that you're learning all those technical, nitty gritty details about an item that adds value to it. He even bothers to translate one pattern's french words, just in case you can't be bothered to look up one online yourself.
   
   Most importantly, a section on how to clean your Corning Ware is in the back, and the book was worth the $15 just for that information alone! I've been saving many scorched pans with Coroneos' tips. Whether you are a collector or a seller of Corning Ware, if you don't have this book, you are losing out.



2. The brown and raspberry glass is so seventies and they were created POST seventies. They came in these giant boxes in the stores and they seemed a good idea so people bought them ... for other people as well as for themselves. Well, that's why you see with regularity Visions cookware for sale on ebay (at affordable prices) and sometimes NIP i.e. New in Package. LOL.
   
   The problem with this cookware is that it heats up very quickly and whatever you are cooking very easily burns so you end up with a hard to clean black crust on the bottom. I've heard that the nonstick version is worse because it chips off. *shudder*
   
   Now that I have a dishwasher, I love them because they are good enough that I don't have to go on the torture trail after Le Creuset and the other likely suspects. I use them all the time in addition to a thin metal wok. I like what other people liked about them - that you could see into the pot - but for most people that was not enough to stick with a pretty annoying cooking experience.
   
   The best piece of Visions cookware is the stockpot on the cover of this book. I never need to buy a designated popper or a microwave because with this stockpot all I need do is coat the bottom with olive oil, sprinkle a layer of kernels, lid on and watch them go. I don't get burned kernels and only one or two unpopped kernels. It's deep enough to steam a pyrex bowl of rice and a platter of some savory. It's also the best looking of the set. I also use all the different sizes as mixing bowls with long handles. They are great.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of Fiesta: Other Colored Dinnerware, Post86 Fiesta, Laughlin Art China (Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta).

1. I am brand new at collecting Fiesta Ware. I really enjoyed this book. Great pics. It has been a wealth of info for someone new like me.



2. This is the third book in this series I have purchased by these authors. I like the book a lot.



3. One of worst of the newer "collector" books out there. There isn't even a color chart with the names, you need to deduce them by flipping through all the pages and guessing at collections of variuos colors and doing a process of elimination. Fakes are mentioned, and the author says "you'll know them when you see them". Thanks alot! All the marks aren't even listed. What about newer peices versus old?
   
   Some Encyclopedia, more like ramblings of a collector. The medium green issue is already covered by others, the book mentions it everywhere but gives very little evidence of it (maybe the author has medium green envy?).
   
   Not worth the bargain price spent on it. Certainly not a reference book.
   
   p.s. I give other collector books 5 stars, so I'm not just a grump.



4. I just received the 10th edition copy of Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta, and other related items. The new layout and design are exactly what this edition needed to set it out above the previous ones. It seems the forward is a bit lengthy. Each page is framed in the turquoise color. The new pictures are numerous!! And for those who collect New Fiesta (produced since 1986, the pages for this are expanded to include up thru Scarlet and quite a few of the pieces produced thus far in color pictures. I rate this book at 4 stars for one reason. I feel the prices are inflated and out of line. Yes, there will always be some "rare" items at high prices. There are a fair share of pictures that are the same as previous books as well.



5. The title of this book "Fiesta" can be a little misleading to the novice or seasoned collector. Beyond actual Fiesta and Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin the author's detail company history by delving into Harhequin, Riviera, Mexican lines, Kitchen Kraft, even promotional items and advertising.
   
   For Fiesta identification pieces the pictures and Plate descriptions are very good. Pictures, specifically are very clear and concise while the page quality is excellent. In particular, this book will provide a very wide range of history and the wide variety of products offered by Homer Laughlin Co. over many years. Although the title suggests a book on Fiesta, this portion is limited.
   
   If your looking for price comparisons or rule of thumb the book is weak in this department, it does not effectively handle all colors preferring to provide information strictly on the "hot" collector pieces such as 'medium green.' Of course, prices quoted in books are strictly "guides" as the internet, antique malls and live auctions mix up values on a weekly basis. Current research and personal perspective will be the true guides for market value at any given time.
   
   Fiesta is covered in the first 73 pages of this book (pre/post 1986) and then moves on other topics or products produced. This book would be a fine starter for the novice but additional resources will need to be added for a complete library on Fiesta and Fiestaware.

No comments about Kovels' Depression Glass and Dinnerware Price List, 8th edition (Kovel's Depression Glass and Dinnerware Price List).

2 comments about Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide.

1. Good price guide for many (but not all) of Royal Doulton products (tableware not included). An improvement over Charlton in that it provides colour pictures as opposed to Charlton's mostly black/white.Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide



2. This is a good resource for Royal Doulton items not found in the Charlton Standard Catalogue. The two books together will give you a pretty comprehensive resource for identifying & valuing "most" Royal Doulton pieces.
   
   This duplicates a small portion of the info in Charlton Standard, but includes most things missing from it. It is a great resource for animals, Bunnykins, Character Jugs, Flambe, Burslem, Lambert Art wares and more!
   
   To any Royal Doulton collectors, I recommend BOTH of these volumes! (Charlton Standard Catalogue & Antique Trader)

No comments about Warman's Hummel Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).