Candle powered "fairy lamps" made Victorian and Edwardian homes glow with light, and make modern collectors glow with nostalgia. Over 800 lamps made from 1880 through the 1930s are shown in full color in this new book. The lamps range from the simplest examples given out with boxes of candles to the most extravagant chandelier assemblages made for lords, rajahs, and royalty. As part of the fascinating history of lighting devices and fuels, this work draws upon many primary sources to trace the development of fairy lamps, and catalog examples that can be found on today's market. It provides an indispensable resource for collectors and dealers, of lighting devices, pottery, and art glass.

Harnessing the romance of the world of fashion and high art, this fascinating story of a collection of miniature mannequins describes the birth of Theatre de la Mode, the Theater of Fashion. Full of stars such as Robert Ricci (Nina Ricci's son), filmmaker Jean Cocteau, and other members of the 1944 haute couture industry, the story follows 237 miniature fashion dolls through their epic tour of Europe and North America, bringing fashion, elegance, and beauty into a war-torn world. Also included are new colour photographs of the mannequins, the reconstructed sets, and close-up details of clothing so sewers, designers, and fashion mavens can appreciate the creativity of Paris designers at the end of World War II.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Graceful okimono figures in many forms, dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, are the primary focus of this book, while scholar's brush holders and wrist rests, cricket cages, card cases, match holders, sword hilts, and scabbards are also presented. Finely carved ivory from China and Japan is featured here, along with artist's signatures, in over 600 beautiful photos. An engaging text explores the history of the ivory trade from East to West, quoting nineteenth century European travelers' encounters with Japanese ivory carvers and merchants. Folk tales provide insight into many of the figural characters represented and beliefs they personify. This book will be treasured by all who enjoy finely crafted art.

This attractive pocket guide presents the story of Carnival Glass, with a chapter giving an overview of how Carnival Glass has endured. Included are brief histories of Dugan, Fenton, Imperial, Millersburg, and Northwood. Over 200 beautiful color photographs will teach you how to identify classic Carnival Glass patterns as well as contemporary Carnival Glass pieces, along with the values you can expect to see in today's marketplace. For anyone who enjoys the beauty of the classic patterns or for those who appreciate the timeless appeal of more recent iridised glass, this book is a must.

This new book explores liberating designs that the age of plastic has brought to kitchen items, toys, furniture, appliances, jewelry, and more. Over 350 items are illustrated in full color. They include a concise description and a value in today's marketplace. The passion for collecting plastic has continued to grow. What was once seen as commonplace is now looked at with nostalgia and an eye for its design. Besides, collecting plastics is fun. The colors, shapes, and design delight the eye and will add to one's personal appearance or to the decor of the home. The information and photographs on these pages will be a welcome addition to the collector's library.

The diverse and lively crafts of today's Navajo people in the Southwest are investigated through this new all color pictorial presentation. The traditional arts are joined by several newly evolving crafts which all reflect the heritage of Navajo culture. The book presents several hundred all color photographs and explanations of the crafts in sections devoted to weaving, pottery, basketry, jewelry, dolls, sandpainting, wood carving, stone sculpture and fetishes. Overall, this is a celebration of the artistic talents of Navajo craftsmen.

The pine furniture and tools gathered in this book have come from distant places in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. Painted with cheerful colors, they served every practical function in a home. Over 280 beautiful color photographs in this book show construction details and furniture design of great variety. Today, the warm tones of old paint on soft pine wood in antique furniture convey sability to a home and security among its inhabitants. They help to create a welcoming place to live.

This inclusive guide provides a detailed look at the beautiful Blue Ridge China wares produced by Southern Potteries of Erwin, Tennessee, from 1938 through 1957. Over 1400 color photographs display the hand decorated wares, including items never before displayed in any text! The authors have provided nearly 1400 new color photographs and much new information, for both the seasoned collector and newcomers to this fascinating collecting field. Also included are personal reminiscences and photos from Southern Potteries workers, information and photographs concerning the advertising wares and granny bowls produced by Clinchfield China (Southern Potteries predecessor), an exploration of many of the hand painted patterns produced for Blue Ridge China wares, and numerous examples of the company's manufacturer's marks. Additionally, modern spin off lines found in Erwin, Tennessee, today are also displayed. Values for the wares shown are found in the captions. A general price guide listing is also provided. An index rounds out this thorough presentation.

America sees the cowboys of yesteryear as native heroes. Cowboys were seen to represent American character and to stand for freedom in rugged big sky lands. Cowboys were tough, self-reliant, courageous, modest, and only turned to violence when absolutely necessary. With a reputation like that, it is no wonder that since the very first reel was created, the Western has been the single most popular movie genre. In this comprehensive guide, readers will find over 2000 Western movie stars photos and signatures from the 1920s to the 1970s. Also included are values for all those signed images and every star presented is identified. Among the cowboy heroes and heroines covered are the stars of the 1920s silent Westerns, the A and B movie stars of the 1930s through the 1960s, singing cowboys, sidekicks, heavies, Indians, women, veteran actors, supporting actors, and, of course, John Wayne. Enjoy this nostalgic ride through American cinema history.

For many people the ocean is a source of relaxation and comfort, and this new self-discovery book takes that relaxation to the next level. The healing power of reiki energy combines with the magnificent forces of the ocean to encourage healing, clarity, and clearing available to everyone. Chapters address how to negotiate different aspects of daily life - compassion, fear, forgiveness, grief, faith, hope, and surrender - with deep breathing, journaling, and visualization exercises. This meditation will help you to embrace the ocean's limitless energies as you unlock the healing power that lies within you and each of us. Staring off into the ocean will take on a whole new meaning.

Possibly the most popular single pattern of ceramic dishes is Willow Ware and this new book tells its complete story. Stemming from ancient Chinese origins, the blue transfer pattern became standardized in the early nineteenth century in England and has gone on to be interpreted in many variations to the present in America, Europe and Asia. Today, collectors can find examples in many markets of old and new wares, so their search is often happily rewarded. This book will enable them to sort out the makers, dates, marks and range of values they encounter. Hundreds of clear color photographs show the many styles and range of quality. The price guide reflects the current market.

Collecting and displaying souvenir plates first became a passion in 1893, a passion still very much alive today. Over 560 color photos illustrate this survey of souvenir plates dating back to the 1800s. The views of prominent potters such as Adams & Company, Wedgewood, and Wood and Sons are included. Short histories are provided for each manufacturers or importer to which specific views are attributed. A list of views is also provided, using the name given to the view by each manufacturer whenever possible, and including additional information on border designs, unusual features, color, and size when possible. Information on recent oriental imports similar to older souvenir plates are also discussed.

This book represents the ultimate Hawaiian experience and art form: the Hula, through photographs taken in the 1880s and 1890s. These images were gathered by the last reigning monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani (1839 -1917), who reigned from 1891 until 1893, and were presented in an album to her personal nurse as a token of her Aloha. For the most part, the photographs were previously unknown and unpublished, and represent some of the most powerful and poignant images of Hula known to exist. Several non-Hula images are among the photos, adding interest to the album's contents. A brief history of the Queen's fascinating life is included. Anyone who has felt the magic of Hawaiian Hula will enjoy this unusual book.

This original book delves into the origins and contemporary interpretations of the Knifewing god in Zuni mythology and the sacred being Rainbow Man from ancient Zuni traditions, neither of which is an all-powerful and important Kachina. This thorough study of the subject was undertaken to establish the identities of twenty-eight, mid-20th century and current jewelers who made silver and mosaic inlay pins, bracelets, bolo ties and other ornaments. 168 color photos display subtle variations that indicate a particular master's work and distinctive style. Detailed analysis explains the changes and connections among early and recent makers and their individual styles, materials, and designs.

Lavishly illustrated and exquisitely deisgned, this book opens with a stunning series of images of style icons - historic and modern - wearing their favoured emerald jewelry. As befits a prized gemstone that is twenty times rarer than diamond, here we see together, for the first time, pieces worn by celebrities ranging from filmstars to royalty, all alongside classic images of emeralds from art, advertising and fashion, celebrated in a text by Franca Sozzani, editor of Vogue Italia . The second part of this major volume showcases more than forty of the world's most significant and famous pieces of emerald jewelry, including many previously unseen designs from private and royal collections. Historic creations that are up to 5,500 years old are represented alongside all the modern jewelry houses. The third and final part of Emerald tells the story of the emerald trade from mine to market, illustrated with specially commissioned photography taken across four continents.

There have been many top 100 books before, but rarely one like this. Here are the best of the early video games, shown in over 400 color photos and described in incredible detail in the entertaining and informative text. Each game's entry features production history, critical commentary, quotes from industry professionals, gameplay details, comparisons to other games, and more. This book celebrates the very best of the interactive entertainment industry's games from this highly crucial, fondly remembered decade. This pivotal period was marked by the introduction of the indispensable Atari 2600, Odyssey2, and Intellivision, the unleashing of the underrated Vectrex, the mind-blowing debut of the next-gen ColecoVision and Atari 5200, plus the rebirth of the industry through Nintendo's legendary juggernaut, the NES. Whether you're young or old, new to the hobby or a hardcore collector, this book will introduce you to or remind you of some of the greatest, most historically important games ever made.

On the banks of the Rio Grande, in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, and in the geographical center of the state of New Mexico lies the city of Albuquerque. Over 200 vintage black and white and hand-tinted postcards from the 1900s to the 1960s take readers on a fantastic journey back in time, to tour Albuquerque and beyond. Many interesting and famous spots are showcased. See the AT & SF Railroad Depot and the Alvarado Hotel in all their former glory. Browse through the selection of handmade Native American arts and crafts sold in Wright's Trading Post or by vendors in Old Town Plaza. Take in a show at the KiMo Theater, stroll among the historic buildings and shops of Old Town, or stop for a tour of the University of New Mexico's campus. Travel outside Albuquerque for a trip up the Sandia Mountains and a tour through Sandia Pueblo.

An attractive introduction to collecting paper money - a major hobby which has seen an increasing popularity in the last decade. It embraces art and can form a miniature art gallery involving the best engravers in the world and famous artists. For those who like research the field is wide open and new discoveries are being made all the time. Paper money is the history of the world, issued as war-time emergencies, often hand signed by famous men like General Gordon of Khartoum and printed by men who made history, like Benjamin Franklin. From its beginnings in China, hidden in the mists of time, the mulberry bark flying money which avoided transporting heavy cash coins, established paper money through the world. Wars sieges, inflation, forgeries were the breeding ground for paper money, and often help to prove historical events. There are very expensive notes - over a million has been paid for a note, but there are thousands of attractive notes from all over the world at 1-2 pounds or even less. This book sets out to introduce the new collector to the fascinating areas of the hobby.

From cave paintings to computers, this overview of the history of books and communication is written for the layperson and student. It provides clear information on how books shaped and reflected major social, political, and literary developments. As a general guide, it moves from the earliest writing in the Middle East and Egypt to Greece, Rome, and early Christian contributions to book production and literacy. Major sections discuss publishing during the Middle Ages and how the invention of printing drastically changed and improved the distribution of knowledge. Later chapters take the reader from the age of encyclopedias in the seventeenth century to the great technological advances of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. For those who wish to pursue specific areas in the history of the book in greater detail, there are three parts devoted to additional reading with descriptive, critical annotations: general histories and bibliographies, scribes and printers, and printing to the modern period. Extensive notes and documentation will lead to additional sources.

The Hagen-Renaker pottery company of California was founded in the garage of John and Maxine Renaker in the mid-1940s. They vigorously pursued the dream of having their own pottery company, creating appealing, yet affordable, figurines, along with a few table pieces. Their dream blossomed into reality, and the business has grown over the years, a testament to the desirability and durability of their creations. Here are the unique products the company produced as it grew, illustrating how it and the designers who worked there evolved and matured. It presents hundreds of charming Hagen-Renaker creations, from their realistic horses to whimisical or stylized animals in many varieties. Also included are some fabulous test pieces, a chapter dedicated to identifying and dating Hagen-Renaker pieces, and a current price guide. This invaluable guide identifies the period in which these items were created, and gives tips for recognizing Hagen-Renaker models and the imitations that have followed.

Starting in the early 1960s, the McDonald's*r restaurant chain has been creatively advertising their popular fast food products through the sale of collectible drinking glasses. A virtual parade of glassware fills the pages of this colorful book, which illustrates and describes McDonald's glassware promotions in the United States from 1963 to 1998. Organized chronologically and featuring convenient check-off boxes to help you organize and document your collection, the book includes glasses, cups, mugs, and steins--with tankards following closely behind. Over 250 color photos highlight glassware featuring Ronald McDonald and his McDonaldland pals; cartoon, movie, and television characters; sports themes; commemoratives; and many more. Values and a helpful index are provided. For a smashing time, don't miss out on the Losonsky team's exciting world of collectible glassware from McDonald's!

March 17th is known around the world as a day for people to wear green, drink green beer, and be just plain old jolly. But have you ever stopped to wonder why we do this and why on that particular day? Well, wonder no more! Accompanied by more than 860 images, a fun and informative text and detailed captions provide you with an illustrated history of the Irish, St. Patrick, and the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, as well as the wonderful collector items the culture has produced. From whimsical ceramics to vintage postcards and magazine covers, a wide range of memorabilia will have you wishing it was March 17th everyday so you could bring out all your greenery. Combining the authors' love of history and collecting, this book is perfect for historians, history buffs, collectors, and anyone who loves the Irish.

Beautiful Polynesian women will tempt you to linger on each page of this stunning new book. Be transported to Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Naratonga, Fiji, and the Maori regions of New Zealand to view their beguiling native inhabitants through 380 historic and rare color postcard images that date from 1898 to 1920. Concise text for each locale presents interesting pertinent facts about the geography, people, and local history that make them distinct. These include first sightings by European explorers, local crafts, and traditional customs. The women in Polynesian societies, as reflected in these images, portray exotic ideals that many European artists and writers have fallen in love with and immortalized. \nThis compelling book will be cherished for years to come.

Cast iron toys are among the hottest toy collectibles today. Some of the best known of these were made by Kenton, an Ohio firm that operated from the 1890s to the 1950s. Their famous Kenton toys include children's savings banks, toy stoves, trains, circus caravans, cars, fire trucks, nostalgic horse-and-buggy lines, and nodders, all identified and shown here in color photographs and original catalog illustrations. Most famous of all was the authentic Gene Autry toy pistol, which was unveiled in 1937. Two million of these were sold in the first year and a half, and the company prospered from the Singong Cowboy's popularity until 1951. This marvelously well-illustrated and researched book traces the history of Kenton from its days as a boomtown hardware manufacturer in the nineteenth century through the struggles of the two world wars. The growth of the American toy industry is reflected in the chronicle of this important company told with details from the company archives and with the engaging testimony of company employees. The story of Gene Autry's festive visit to Kenton is delightful!