4 comments about Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks of England, Scotland & Ireland.

1. This book is a must for any dealer, collector, appraiser or precious metal enthusiast. It covers the hallmarks and many makers marks of the United Kingdom in detail. Dates covered in the 2005 edition are from 1300 - 1989.



2. Amazon.com offers "Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks of England, Scotland and Ireland" 2nd hand for a fair price compared to my local bookstores. Although not of great use if you collect English silver items late 19th century, it is a great book about the history of the British hallmark system and early silversmiths.



3. Having had the smaller pocket-version of this book, I found the larger one disappointing. Although it has an endless supply of lesser known makers, it is much harder to locate their synbols/names as they are not listed alphabetically (as in the pocket version) but listed on the date that particular company was registered with the guild. In other words you could find a piece of silver with the date letter of 1852 and the maker's mark IB. Instead of just looking up the IB's alphabetically and comparing those symbols with the silver in your hand, you must look up IB in the index (there are 53 different references in this case) and check each corresponding page to see if it's the same as the one you have. It's just not as easy - maybe I'm being lazy. Anyway...



4. Jackson's book is the definitive reference for the serious collector of English silver. It clearly explains the English silver standards, and provides a basis for understanding the silver standards of the world. It provides an in depth history of the development of the English system of hallmarks and provides a detailed study of intricate hallmark variations. A must in dating English silver.

No comments about Claywork: Form And Idea In Ceramic Design (Revised).

1 comments about Minimal Art (Taschen Basic Art).

1. Due to its brevity (94 pages), this book should be considered a primer on Minimal Art. The book is divided into two sections; the first is a brief history of the artists who immediately preceeded and were contemporary with early Minimalism (the 1960s), such as the Abstract Expressionists, Pop artists, Jasper Johns, and Robert Rauschenberg. The origins of the term "Minimal Art" are discussed; the fact that all of the artists whose work is considered Minimal rejected that label demonstrates that Minimalism as an art style is entirely a critcal construct, rather than an artistic one. The author then discusses the attitudes and works of the five artists who he considers to be squarely within the Minimalist framework: Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, and Sol Lewitt.
   
   The second part of the book illustrates individual works along with a brief commentary on each. This section is more inclusive of artists beyond the five discussed in the first section, embracing work by Robert Ryman, Robert Mangold, and Richard Serra, among others. It includes painting as well as sculpture, and works by more women artists than some other texts on Minimal Art.
   
   Although the author's understanding of Minimal Art is obvious and insightful, overall this book breaks no new ground in contextualizing or explaining Minimal Art, or the motivations behind it, but rather re-presents established discourse in an essay length format.

3 comments about Mold Making, Casting and Patina.

1. If you are already a technical person who is looking for more information...skip this book. Unfortuneatly it is vague and unhelpful. I say this technically speaking...if you are curious about the process and just want to pick up a bit of vocabulary.. have a look. They could have done a great job with this book... but once again the process falls flat. Don't let the cover fool you.



2. While I was able to glean some marginal information from the book, I found it totally unsuitable for an intermediate approach to lost wax casting. This is a great book for a housewife who wants to show her kids how to make relief sculture or simple plaster casts. If you want to find out about the intricacies of casting for bronzes, save your money; you won't find it here. "Moldmaking" describes waste molds and latex, "Casting" is in plaster, and "Patina" is only for gypsum products. I expected more from the title, and I was disappointed.



3. Very clear and simple instructions. Takes you step-by-step through several different basic mold making procedures, using simple latex molds and plaster casts. There are a multitude of pictures and line drawings with clear repetitive step-by-step instructions as though the author were working with you in your own home. It is a basic book and not so advanced as to confuse you. Great beginner book.

No comments about Tiffany Silver.

5 comments about How to Build 35 Great Clocks.

1. This book provides a good history of clocks, but that is the nicest thing I can say about it.
   
   The pictures are of very poor quality, the plans are incomplete - ignoring details obvious on the original shown. The author seems to think nails and butt-joints are a good method of joinery. The author shows no knowledge of wood movement in the designs. Most of the clocks allow no method for accessing the quartz movement after construction - so it is impossible to change batteries.
   
   This is a good book to browse at the library, but when it comes to actually building clocks, keep looking.



2. Joseph W. Daniele has written several books on historical reproduction woodworking. As a former editor for Early American Life, you have to believe he knows the subject matter. He does, in fact each design, no matter how simple or complex, has a history. Ask yourself, do I just want to make a clock or do I want to make a historical reproduction? Funny, some people buy a book without knowing what it involves and then write a crappy review, as if their ignorance is the author's fault.



3. I loved this book! Includes a brief history of each design, wide range of plans, from the simple plaque type clock to more complex cabinets. Easily followed directions,detailed drawings, and most importantly - construction can be done with tools from the average home workshop. PS If this isn't what you are looking for, don't blame the author!



4. I bought this book based on the title, which for me was a mistake. I was expecting drawing and guidance on making reproductions of time honored classics. While it is helpful it lacks the details about the originals that are needed to built future classics.



5. Maybe I'm crazy, but I've always considered a clock to be the inner workings - springs, pendulums, and such. This book doesn't tell you how to build those - it is merely a woodworking book that talks about the design of the cabinets that house clocks. Not for a horologist.

3 comments about R. S. Prussia Popular Lines: Identification and Value Guide.

1. My interest in R.S. Prussia porcelain was kindled recently by researching a chocolate pot that had belonged to my great aunt, leading to my discovery of Mary Frank Gaston's scholarly and fascinating first and second books on the subject, now out of print. Regrettably, I have been unable to locate a copy of her Third Series book. But I was hooked--and a quick perusal of "Popular Lines" immediately compelled me to purchase this volume. I have been amply rewarded. Historical material from the earlier books has been carried forward and updated, along with indispensable information on mold and pattern identification and an educational chapter on fakes, repairs, and reproductions. Estimated values are helpfully provided in the caption for each illustration. Not only does this beautifully illustrated volume supplement Gaston's earlier books, but it serves quite admirably as a stand-alone reference for the novice. A highly enjoyable, key feature of this edition is the grouping of illustrations by decoration, such that one can view, all in one place, a variety of different items that are similarly decorated. A cautionary note: this volume concentrates solely on R.S. Prussia, so that E.S. and other allied marks illustrated in the earlier books are omitted here. The serious student of R.S. Prussia might want to acquire the entire series of Gaston books. In summary, this handsome and informative reference work on R.S. Prussia porcelain serves as an excellent distillation of, and supplement to, its predecessors.



2. This book provides lots of great color pictures, not only of R.S. Prussia items but of the marks. It also has a section on reproductions. This is a very well done resource.



3. If you don't have Gaston's Vol 1-3 (now out of print), this is a must buy. Sadly, it is limited to Reinhold's red mark items (both marked and unmarked)and contains no new molds or decorations. A change of format for a Gaston book as items are divided by decoration rather then type of object. Values are with each photo, a nice change! For the experiences collector there is nothing new, but if you don't have the first three books by Gaston, you will find much to appreciate in this volume. Avid "red mark" collectors will enjoy having so much,all in one source.

No comments about Carving an American Eagle With Paul White (A Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers).

1 comments about Joseph Beuys: The Multiples.

1. simply must have ,lots of work I have never seen before in his books
   out of 5 I have my libling is most definite this one

1 comments about Pottery Technology: Principles and Reconstruction (Manuals on archeology).

1. This book constitutes a good starting place for the would be ceramist or ceramic analyst. Basic data on how to go about making pottery with chapters on the production sequence, materials used and their preparation, forming, and firing. Lots of terminology and illustrations.