2 comments about European Designer Jewelry/a Schiffer Book for Collectors (Design).

1. There are not enough superlatives to describe this book. The photos leap from the page and are simply splendid. The author is knowledgabe and writes in a clear, understandable manner. Covered well are famous designers plus those designers who are relatively unheard of in America but who produce a quality portfolio of work.
   
   This is one of my prized books and would be the last I would ever part with. If there was a 10 star rating, this book would have earned it!



2. Compendium of knowledge about designers of European jewelry. Very useful for the collectors and historians of art. Many (some hundreds!) of great pictures of jewelry.

2 comments about Indian Silver Jewelry of the Southwest, 1868-1930.

1. Excellent reference on Southwest Indian Jewelry. A good read before going in search of old or modern day Native American jewelry teasures.
   
   Wilford
   Wilford's Trading Post
   Gallup, New Mexico



2. This book depicts the best from collections of early Native American Pueblo silverwork. The photographs allow the reader to identify key characteristic features of traditional Native American jewelry. The informative verbal descriptions do not insult the reader nor the makers. There are few books that portray the early Southwest jewelry as well as this one.

4 comments about Starting To Collect Silver (Starting to Collect).

1. Pickford's Starting to Collect Antique Silver is splendidly innlustrated, clearly and entertainly, not to say gracefuly, written (with just a touch of irony in a few spots!), well laid-out, and very useful and informative.
   
   Pickford includes short chapters on the history of silver and its production, the history of hallmarks, a discusion of how silveware is made, and one of the most useful and well-presented tables of date and place marks I have seen. There are generous color and B&W plates illustrating different kinds of silverware and the evolution of each type. Pickford gives valuable hints as to how to begin collecting (and what is collectable) as well as very useful information about the care and cleaning of old silver.
   
   The book does not include a list of silversmiths and their marks, for which the interested reader must go elsewhere, but these are perhaps beyond the intended scope of the book. Make no mistake, this is a splendid achievement and a very valuable book, and no one with an interest in the subject should hesitate to buy it.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. This book has the same faults as similiar books on furniture,
   china, etc, in that it assumes you are a new collector of
   moderate means, say, $250,000. Most of the material is 18th century or earlier, and it should have gone to the end of the 19th, if the title of the book means anything. The people who write these books are used to dealing with museums, well-heeled collectors and high-profile dealers, people with whom I rarely come into contact in my modest collecting experiences. I do not question the knowledge imparted by Mr. Pickford, merely the usefulness of it. "Only rarely will a rococo salver of asymmetric shape be found". Thank you, Ian, I will keep that in mind.



3. Ian Pickford is my kind of writer! He approaches the stuffiest of subjects with a down-to-earth style that fascinates his reader with neat silver facts beginning on Page 1! For example, did you know that pure silver is self-sterilizing (bacteria cannot live on its surface) or that silver is so malleable that one Troy Ounce can be made into a wire 40 miles long? The book also contains a clear and concise explanation of hallmarking systems and how silver is made as well as good examples of the types of items a new collector is likely to encounter. Unlike some other books on the subject, his explanations are not limited to a specific piece but cover things to look for within a category, such as candlesticks, coffee pots, or cigarette boxes, to name just a few. Other chapters cover the subjects of silver plate, fakes & forgeries, and how to care for fine silver. This is my favorite book on facts about silver (not just the antique variety) and I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.



4. a fundamental guide to evaluate antique silver

4 comments about Collectible Souvenir Spoons: The Grand Tour (Book 2).

1. I have found this book invaluable as I am a collector of souvenir spoons. If you collect souvenir spoons, thinking about collecting them or just enjoy looking at them - you need this book!



2. A recommended pick for any collector's reference library, WayneBednersh's Collectible Souvenir Spoons Book II ... considers both usual and unusual categories of spoons, from historical and art spoons to rarer prison spoons.



3. Published in 1998, this 336 page book contains 750 large, sharp, black and white photos, plus 12 full color pages. Although difficult to photograph, the pictures clearly show the designs on the spoons. The volume contains informative text, covering the history of spoons, introduction, and details. Major topics range from Inspiring A Nation, First Americans, and Modern Vision of Government, to Inspiring Our Children, Our Bowl Overfloweth and Craftsmanship and Painted Silver. Price ranges are provided as well as a comprehensive bibliography and index. A valuable reference tool for souvenir spoon collectors.



4. Everyone who is interested in sterling silver and other types of collectible spoons, needs to purchase a book like this. The author has made a grand effort to bring together a great many styles of spoons for the reader and viewer......ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Bringing It Home: England: The Ultimate Guide to Creating the Feeling of England in Your Home (Bringing It Home).

1. This is a very TRADITIONAL (and Classical) English decorating book. It is not an "how-to" book at all, but rather, a visual journey throughout homes that are all decorated in the "Traditional" and/or "Classic" English style (in other words: this book is not about "modern" English decorating at all).
   
   I own two other books by this outstanding author (Cheryl MacLachlan) and she always does such a nice job at taking readers into the world of European decorating, by showing a variety of homes in the various styles... as stated in the book's title.
   
   If you own any of the Henrietta Churchill's books (ie: her books on decorating a 'la "English classical style") then you are probably familiar with Classical/Traditional English decorating. If not, browse through this book and/or Henrietta's many decorating books, and you will understand the English "classical" style a bit better.
   
   One difference: The homes in this MacLachlan book are homes that are probably owned by middle-class English families, and are NOT owned by upper-class English families , --- such as all of Henrietta's books show. Therefore, if you want to decorate your home in English style, then this MacLachlan book is more doable & relavent to you. Personally, I like both author's books (MacLachlan's and Churchill's books) because together they show all the possibilities when incorporating Classical English decorating in your current home(s).



2. A warm and wonderful volume for any hopeless Anglophile. Great gift.



3. Author Cheryl MacLachlan writes "...'English style' refers to the unique constellation of elements - homegrown and foreign - that the English have taken as their own". This book shows you how to create a beautiful, charming English atmosphere in your home, and in your life.

   My bedtime ritual now includes sitting down with a steaming cup of tea while browsing through every page of this book. After collecting and borrowing dozens of books on this topic, I find this one to be the most comprehensive and inspiring resource for the lover of anything English.

   "Like a house, Bringing It Home - England is divided into rooms"...The book's chapters cover the following topics:

   (1) The Substance of the English Style: common threads that unite all English homes, walls, motifs, graphics and everything out of the ordinary

   (2) The Living Room: how to arrange furniture, select fabrics, and my favorite topic: how to create the look of a traditional English drawing room

   (3) The Bedroom: creating a "cozy sanctuary", creating the romantic look (I can attest to the fact that her advice in this section works beautifully!), how to create the English look in your bath, and there is even a section on creating the look in a nursery!

   (4) The Dining Room: special emphasis on creating a "tailored, handsome" look. Includes information on English china, porcelain and crystal. There is even a guide to selecting tables and chairs.

   (5) The Garden: No book about English style would be complete without information on creating a traditional English garden. Includes a primer on the art of flower arrangement.

   )6) The Kitchen: The floors, cabines, furnishings and "cooker" are all covered in this section as well as my very favorite subject on the pleasure of "taking tea". Oh, life is grand!!!!

   (7) A Resource section which includes information on all the "English-style" essentials and where to find them. Includes a reading list and travel ideas.

   The information is practical and inspiring, as are the beautiful photographs. I feel this is the best book on this topic anywhere.

   5 Stars. Enjoy.




4. Being a lover of all things English, I have several books and this is the very best of all. This book is chock full of information on how to achieve the style, what makes it "English" and the photographs are fabulous. I have never read a book of this style that had so much research that went into it. I also enjoyed several receipes that were included and the section that dealt with the meaning of words and how Americans and British differ in their usage.



5. I like this book because it addresses a diverse range of topics on how to achieve the English style. It describes the origin of each decorating tradition, offering an explanation or rationale for why something is characterized as "English," rather than just laying out a blueprint to follow. I also liked that cooking was incorporated into the book, and several appealing photos of food and recipes are provided.

No comments about Bradbury's Book of Hallmarks.

3 comments about Tiffany Lamps and Metalware: An Illustrated Reference to Over 2000 Models.

1. If you have Duncan's earlier book "Tiffany at Auction" and a reasonably complete collection of Sotheby's and Christie's auction catalogs for items made by the Tiffany Studios, then this book will not add all that much to your body of knowledge.
   It's mostly a clever repackaging of earlier works by Duncan, including all the B&W photos from Tiffany's promotional materials.
   Having said that, I still bought it because it brings together a lot of materials from both auction catalogs and earlier works by Duncan.
   Donna, a one-time Tiffany collector in California



2. With the advent of Duncan's new book 'Tiffany Lamps and Metalware' we have a NEW referrence guide that will surely replace 'Tiffany At Auction', also by Duncan. This will take place for two reasons - first - the cost of 'Tiffany At Auction' has become, like the lamps themselves, out of the reach of many prospective buyers and students of the Art Nouveau movement in America. Second - the new volume offers far more pieces to see so that those just getting into the collecting or the study of 'Tiffany' will be able to have a greater number of examples - both common and rare - that the individual may not have seen prior to this publication. A wonderful effort on the part of Mr. Duncan. And, at an affordable price!



3. This book is a stunning follow-up to Mr. Duncan's incredible "Louis C. Tiffany, The Garden Museum Collection". As a 30 year collector and enthusiast of the works of Tiffany I can confidently state that this volume will become an essential reference guide to any collector in this field and dramatically expands upon his "Tiffany at Auction" which was published over 25 years ago and is a highly sought after collector's item. The world of Tiffany collectors owes Mr. Duncan a huge debt for bringing us a seemingly endless series of spectacular books on this subject.
   ~Allen Michaan
   President, Auctions by the Bay, Inc.

No comments about Spratling Silver.

5 comments about American Sterling Silver Flatware 1830's - 1990's: A Collector's Identification and Value Guide.

1. I bought this book along with Sterling Flatware by Tere Hagan. I find it difficult to use and poorly organized. She has a lot of information on certian patterns and makers but little on others. There is no index and information is incomplete. I use it as a back up to Hagan's book as she sometimes will have a pattern that Hagen dosen't have. Neither book is complete and this book has some information and a couple of Manufactures that Hagan dosen't cover still both books are valuable but even together not complete. I still have quite a few unknowns in my collection.



2. The 1880s to 1990s American Sterling Silver Flatware is a reference guide to 23 of the major American Sterling Silver Flatware makers and their production. It provides an overview of the patterns and the individual pieces produced in this 100 or so years time frame. For someone who loves silver it is lovely to look at. Some of the images are, just as they are on the front cover; beautifully photographed images. Others seem to be poor quality computer scanned images that produce, in many cases, barely acceptable illustrations or examples of the pattern.
   If you know the name of the company you will be able to find the name of the pattern, the date of issue and an approximate price for four components. Not necessarily the basic four components of a place setting, as I understand it to be, i.e. a Dinner Knife, Dinner Fork, Dessert/Salad Fork and Tea Spoon. One also has access to a list of pieces that were originally produced. Here again, the guide could offer so much more. It does not provide insight into the difference between a Master Butter Knife and a Butter Knife nor does it include the measurements of different pieces, which I would have found invaluable. It is very useful to know that a Place fork or Luncheon Fork might be slightly less than 7 inches in length and that a Dinner Fork may be 7 ½ inches. And just what does an Orange Knife look like, or Strawberry Spoon an as compared to an Almond Spoon. More importantly, how does a Five Oclock Spoon differ from the more Basic Tea Spoon and those, which are mentioned as Full Size Trade Tea Spoon, Full Size Regular Tea Spoon, Full Size Heavy Tea Spoon, or Full Size Massive Tea Spoon. Again, the weight of different items would have been useful. While this book is a very valuable guide to American Silver Pattern, which does have a place in a collectors basic library, I feel it falls short of its possibilities as an Identification and Value guide.



3. I was simply much too impatient for quick and easy answers the last time I wrote a review for this book, and I am a bit ashamed of myself for having been so negative and hypercritical. After much more time and education on the subject of American Sterling flatware, I realized that Ms. Dolan's approach is actually rather pragmatic and useful (organized alphabetically, by manufacturer, with hallmarks being displayed before each section). I would have appreciated an entire section devoted solely to identifying hallmarks, a wider range of American manufacturers, and an index, but this book has indeed proven useful for me, regardless (even though I am only able to reference between 50 to 60% of the patterns in any given pile of mixed antique American Sterling flatware, using solely this book - but still). Though by no means a complete reference in itself, Ms. Dolan's book should indeed be included in any collection of American Sterling flatware reference material, and seems to fill some of the gaps in other existing reference guides.



4. This book purports to be for the identification and value of American silver flatware. It is woefully incomplete. Where is Tiffany & Co.? Where are all the patterns that I would like to identify? Why is the layout so reader-unfriendly? And who cares that "Baltimore City lies 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean..."?



5. As a collector, I have some sterling flatware purchased for daily use. However, I was unable to find one pattern in this book that matched the 50+ pieces I have. The photos and drawerings, however, are clear and detailed. Hopefully, someday I will be able to match a piece with the book!

2 comments about A guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins: A Complete History and Price Guide (Official Red Books).

1. I've just started collecting Double Eagles and this book offered many interesting details and excellent photos of all Double Eagles. There is good historical background offered also.



2. Dave Bowers has shown us all once again his superb writing skills and in-depth Numismatic knowledge with this fairly new release on what just may be the worlds most popular gold coin, the US Double Eagle. All that is missing from this superb date by date analysis of the US double eagle gold coins guidebook is up to date pricing information, which of course has seen many changes ( most to the upside) since the release of this book.
   Whether you are investing in these coins or collecting them , this is one of the guidebooks you need to study this facinating and important series of US gold coins. As a professional coin dealer and specialist in double eagles, I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in these coins. Buy the book before you buy the coins!