With contemporary advertising and sales catalogues as its sources, this book represents the first exhaustive survey of the Ikora and Myra lines in glass produced between the 1920s and 1950s by the Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) at Geislingen/ Steige. At the instigation of the then WMF director general, Hugo Debach, WMF had been making high-quality art glass (called "Unika pieces", indicating that they were one-of-a-kind) as well as lines in mass-produced art glas (Ikora and Myra). First presented to the public to great acclaim at the Wurttembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart by museum director G. E. Pazaurek, these pieces are now much sought after as valuable collector's items. Ikora and Myra Glass by WMF not only deals exhaustively with the history of this glass but also provides aficionados and collectors of Ikora and Myra glass for the first time with a complete catalogue of WMF products. The availability of this information makes it possible, first, to distinguish from the original later glass made as imitation of WMF glass by rival competitors and, second, to identify accurately each piece of Unika, Ikora or Myra glass.

From AD 500-1000, the Indian Ocean emerged as a global commercial centre, and by around 750-800 a sophisticated trade network had been established involving the movement of goods from Japan and China in the east, to southern Africa and Spain in the west. However, the Indian Ocean's commercial system has been relatively understudied, with many of the key assumptions regarding its development based on narrative textual sources and selective archaeological evidence. This study sets out the case for the unique significance of quantified ceramic finds as an indicator of long-term changes in the scale and volume of maritime exchange in a period for which few other sources of systematic economic history survive. The publication presents archaeological data from thirteen sites distributed across the western Indian Ocean, including Siraf (Iran), Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) and Manda (Kenya). The ceramic assemblages are considered in terms of their general compositional characteristics and the distinctions between local, regional and long-distance exchange. The volume concludes with a discussion of how this data can be used to address the broader issues of long-term economic change and the relationship between state power in the Middle East and the commercial networks of the Indian Ocean operating via the Persian Gulf.

This faithful reproduction of the Mintons China Works' 1885 catalog contains hundreds of tile designs. The glory of these tiles is captured in beautiful color illustrations. The catalog opens with its original brief history of Mintons' unique patented enameling technique, known as the "Reynolds's process". This process' origins date back to 1848, when it was first used by Mr. Herbert Minton. Historians and collectors will find the beginning pages of the catalogue valuable for their dimensional and design information. This catalogue will be an important source of inspiration and information for those who appreciate the beauty of Minton tiles.

From Rubens paintings to Chippendale cabinets to elaborate Palladian doll houses, the enormous range of priceless objects held in the Trust's hundreds of historic properties is unequalled, and many of them are still housed in the places for which they were originally designed or bought. Divided into themed chapters such as Paintings, Sculpture, Textiles, Furniture and Woodwork, and Ceramics, "Treasures from the National Trust" explains the pieces for those with little knowledge of art history and antiques and those more versed in the subjects alike. Special features illuminate the work of key painters, designers, and craftsmen while historical timelines give a quick visual context for the artworks. The treasures featured in the book range from single pieces, such as Andrea del Sarto's luminous "Madonna and Child with St. John" at Ascott and the monumental "St. Michael Overcoming Satan "at Petworth House, to collections of multiple pieces, such as majolica at Polesden Lacey, miniatures at Ham House, and the unrivaled collection of musical instruments at Fenton House. Pieces are chosen for both their beauty and historical interest, and range from precious clocks, costumes, and books to more unusual pieces, such as the bicycles at Snowshill Manor and even a decommissioned atomic bomb casing. The pieces span the centuries from ancient Greek vases to 20th-century modernist furniture. Featuring stunning photography and fascinating text, this book is an essential guide to the very best of Britain's heritage, and makes Britain's treasures available to all.

Since its founding in the early 1950s, the Spanish porcelain firm Lladro has attracted a large collector market. This book identifies all known Lladro figurine brand names, differentiates them from Spanish porcelain competitors, addresses some of the mysteries surrounding Lladro's production history, and makes the case for Lladro's right to a place among the most-esteemed names in the history of fine porcelain. In addition to analyzing known models, the book gives a tantalizing photographic glimpse of rare, prototypic, and one-of-a-kind models, including several not found in historical catalogs. Also included are pricing and value factors, the most-recent developments with the brand since its sale out of the family, and details on how to distinguish genuine pieces from Spain's several other companies working "in the Lladro style." More than 300 photos provide detailed visual reference.