An Assembly of Iconic, Forgotten and New Vitra Characters During Milan's Design Week 2018, the Vitra exhibition "Typecasting," curated by Robert Stadler, presented 200 objects in the former sports hall La Pelota in the city's Brera district. In addition to generous photographic documentation of the event, this eponymous publication , designed by Zak Group, critically investigates how design evolves under the influ ence of social media. By presenting the objects as characters, "Typecasting" is as much about furniture as it is about ourselves. Whereas furniture's practical function is a given, its representational role has dramatically evolved: furniture and objects become props for self-staging on social media and online.

Covering the period from the publication of Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers' Director (1754) to the Great Exhibition (1851), this book analyses the relationships between producer retailers and consumers of furniture and interior design, and explores what effect dialogues surrounding these transactions had on the standardisation of furniture production during this period. This was an era, before mass production, when domestic furniture was made both to order and from standard patterns and negotiations between producers and consumers formed a crucial part of the design and production process. This study narrows in on three main areas of this process: the role of pattern books and their readers; the construction of taste and style through negotiation; and daily interactions through showrooms and other services, to reveal the complexities of English material culture in a period of industrialisation.

Fraktur is a manuscript-based folk art tradition brought from Europe by German-speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the seventeenth century. Fraktur documents are exuberantly decorated with distinctive lettering and painted tulips, hearts, angels, unicorns, and eagles. Resembling illuminated manuscripts, fraktur documents were usually domestic and personal documents, such as birth and baptismal certificates, writing samples, music books, and religious texts. Framing Fraktur takes a unique approach to the study of traditional fraktur by connecting it to the work of contemporary artists who similarly combine images with texts. Examining masterworks from the Free Library of Philadelphia's vast collection of fraktur as well as manuscripts, books, and broadsides, the first section of the book provides historical background, analysis, and recent interpretation of fraktur material culture. In the second section, fraktur is linked to modern practices and movements from around the world, including Dada, Pop Art, Imagism, graffiti and street art, and contemporary folk art genres such as samplers, block prints, and sign painting. Vividly illustrated in full color, Framing Fraktur traces the resonances of this unique and vibrant art from the past to the present. Contributors: Lisa Minardi, Janine Pollock, Matthew Singer, Judith Tannenbaum.

In 2020, in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in new design concepts and developments in craftsmanship, the Danner Prize, four honorary Danner awards, and an impressive exhibition were conferred for the thirteenth time. This publication presents the selected works with large-format photographs, descriptions of the artisans, and texts by renowned artists. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Danner Stiftung, several choice objects from the foundation's own collection are also being exhibited, alongside exquisite items of jewellery by the court goldsmith Karl Rothmu ller. This diverse series of highlights is complemented by photos from the exhibition in the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. Read, view, and enjoy this all-round fascinating publication! Published to accompany an exhibition at Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum - in Munich from 15 October 2020-17 January 2021. Text in English and German.

The art of welding wrought iron has been practiced by village smiths in their forge fires for centuries. Gas and electric arc welding are however comparatively recent developments. This introductory book explains the process as it has been developed and used in industry, and its applications to model engineering. Welding, by oxy-acetylene or electric arc, is a skill in increasing demand and one for which the basics can be learned without great difficulty. In this book, the author sets out the basic techniques and the art for oxy-acetylene welding, brazing, flame-cutting and electric arc welding with mild steel, cast iron, stainless steel, copper, brass and aluminium etc in sheet plate or cast form.

An explosion of patination methods from beginner to advanced skill levels! Patina offers a collection of over 300 metal patination recipes, application instructions, and full-sized samples for anyone working in metals, including jewelers, sculptors, and metal artisans. This all-skill-level book covers steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, silver, and aluminum. Neatly organized by metal type then by color for ease of reference. Patina discusses variables that affect the overall metal coloration such as surface preparation, chemical formula, application method, and more. Cross-references take you to the variety of patination techniques offered, including immersion, brush application, spraying, fuming, layering, using resists, hot and cold applications, and more. All recipes feature step-by-step illustrated instructions. Patina also discusses safety issues and handling and disposing of hazardous or corrosive materials as well as proper ventilation. This book is an inspirational resource, a how-to guide, and a book that you have long been waiting for.

- First book to chronicle the life and artwork of June Schwarcz, a pioneer craftsperson in the enamel and decorative arts fieldJune Schwarcz (1918-2015) was among the most innovative artists working in the contemporary enamels field. Best known for her electroplated metal sculpture embellished with rich enamel color, she produced an extensive body of work that, while linked to long-standing vessel-making traditions, defied convention. In a field known for visual opulence, preciousness, and adherence to traditional craft practices, Schwarcz was a renegade. She learned enameling on her own and adopted a highly experimental approach to process, inventing new ways of creating sculptural objects in metal and unorthodox strategies for their embellishment. Believing in the power of opposing principles, she created forms that were at once raw and elemental, elegantly composed, and lushly beautiful. A seminal figure in the American craft field, Schwarcz led enameling workshops across the country and influenced several generations of young and emerging artists. She also played a central role in the craft community of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lived and worked for more than fifty years. June Schwarcz: Artist in Glass and Metal is the first publication to investigate Schwarcz's work in depth. It explores the rich trajectory of her career along with the sources and influences that helped shape and define her singular vision. It also investigates the themes and subjects that intrigued her as it examines the role she played in advancing enameling in America in the late twentieth century. This lavishly illustrated publication celebrates the extraordinary body of work Schwarcz created over a period of sixty years.

Of the more than one hundred experiments in communitarian living that proliferated in America during the nineteenth century, the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, whose adherents are best known as 'Shakers, ' is certainly one of the most interesting, successful, and enduring. This book is a collection of furniture made by members of this remarkable American religious sect.

Whether you want to fill your home with a riot of different patterns, or are looking for a single motif for a feature wall, there's an amazing array to choose from, and Love Pattern and Colour is the perfect place to start. Bursting with beautiful images of pattern designs from all over the world, this book shows how clever use of pattern can change a room: it can create a bold and striking space filled with drama, a cosy, comforting corner, or a cheery, colourful place that lifts the spirits. Being creative with pattern doesn't just mean choosing it for your walls: there's a feast of styles displayed here for furniture, lampshades, floors, tableware, curtains and cushions. Looking at eight popular themes and how they can be used in a huge variety of ways, Love Pattern and Colour shows you designs and styles that can transform your home. Chapters and motifs featured include: Abstracts - brush strokes, marbling, random swirls Botanicals - trees, leaves, grasses, seedheads Scenes and Stories - Chinoiserie, toile du jouy Florals - spectacular blooms, country garden Cultural Travellers - paisley, Ikat, Islamic arabesques Geometrics - stripes, spots, squares Animal Kingdom - animal motifs and prints Textures - visual and tactile Charlotte Abrahams loves pattern and wants you to love it too. With her expert advice on how to choose and use pattern, and how to make it work in different spaces, you can find your personal style and decorate your home with flair.

Discover Beadwork magazine's most popular designs! Dreaming of creating your own wearable art? This gorgeous guide is a must-have for aspiring and experienced jewelry artists alike. Featuring projects for all skill levels, 50 Beaded Bracelets showcases the top techniques and styles from one of the country's most beloved beading magazines. Turn the pages to find: Detailed tutorials on popular beading stitches-including peyote, herringbone, right-angle weave, and more. Illustrated, step-by-step directions for 50 beautiful bracelets with graduated skill levels, so you can learn the basics before moving on to more detailed designs. Tips on choosing the right beads for your project and working with a variety of shapes beads. Whether you're a new to beading or an experienced crafter looking for inspiration, 50 Beaded Bracelets is the ultimate resource for creating one-of-a-kind adornments to keep or give.

Add Instant Rustic Charm to Your Home with Easy, Custom Woodburnings Kick your crafting up a notch with incredible handmade woodburnings! Whether you want to combine inspirational hand lettering with alpine charm in the Mountain Scene woodburning or complement your farmhouse aesthetic with one-of-a-kind Deer Silhouette Wall Decor, the art of pyrography is an easy, enjoyable way to fill your home with custom art. Aney Carver is the founder of Pyrocrafters, and in this book she shows you exactly how simple this impressive craft is. With just a wood canvas and a woodburning tool easily found at craft stores, you can make anything you can imagine! Each easy-to-follow project provides a traceable design template, then walks you through essential techniques like outlining and shading. With a variety of pieces like the darling Keepsake Box with Ink and the majestic Eagle Eye portrait, you can hone your pyrography skills as you create your own wonderful woodburnings. So grab your canvas and woodburning tool, because it's time to play with fire.

In "The Art of the Japanese Sword," master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara offers a comprehensive view on the making, finishing and appreciation of Japanese blades.
The Japanese sword, a unique work of art in steel, can be appreciated from a number of viewpoints. Its functionality as a weapon, the sophisticated metallurgy and scientific thinking utilized by the swordsmith, the shape of the blade itself, and the different crystalline forms in the steel all contribute to the beauty of these remarkable weapons. "The Art of the Japanese Sword" conveys to the reader a basic background regarding the Japanese sword, as well as an explanation of how to view and appreciate a blade. It also illustrates the details of how a sword is made and finished today.
Modern craftsmen use completely traditional methods from the past to prepare their steel, forge the sword and create the unique hardened edge. By gaining a good understanding of how a sword is actually made, the reader will be able to appreciate the Japanese sword more fully.

Woodturned Christmas ornaments are a delight to make and are beautiful pieces to hang on a Christmas tree or anywhere throughout your home during the holiday season. In this book, the author presents some of his favourite Christmas ornament designs. Each project is accompanied by detailed step-by-step instructions and photos, ensuring your success in every endeavour. The book includes information on making popular birdhouse ornaments and adding finials and mandrels to an ornament design. Nish has also included work from some of his favourite turners, resulting in a vast collection of elegant holiday decorations. Whether you're looking for something special to add to the tree this year or are searching for a gift idea, you're sure to find a design you like on these pages.

The brief Russian presence in California yielded some of the earliest ethnography of Native Californians and some of the best collections of their material culture. Unstudied by western scholars because of their being housed in Russian museums, they are presented here for the first time in an English language volume. Descriptions of early nineteenth-century travelers such as von Wrangel and Voznesenskii are followed by a catalog of objects ranging from hunting weapons to household objects to ritual dress to musical instruments, games, and gift objects. This catalog of objects includes over 150 images, many in full color. An essential volume for those interested in the ethnology, archaeology, art, and cultures of Native Californians.

With this book you will learn how to write the beautiful calligraphy that we associate with Celtic culture, and be taught how to develop scripts that are based on original medieval manuscripts into lovely projects to treasure. Starting with the materials you need and basic calligraphy techniques, the book will move on to the development and improvement of skills with design elements, exercises, clear instruction on lettering, using colour, knotwork illustration and illumination, with inspirational examples of Celtic art and lettering. Beginners will find much to help them in this practical guide and more experienced calligraphers will learn much about Celtic influences and the way lettering can be enhanced with stylised knotwork illustration and illumination.
Traditional letterforms can be transformed into unique works of art with an intertwining of colour, art and design. Stylised letterforms are ornament in themselves, but enhanced with knotwork, Celtic swirls and patterns, illumination, colour and design, Celtic calligraphy becomes an exciting art form based in fascinating ancient traditions. This can be taken into the realms of fantasy art, book illustration, crafting, written work -- and into tattoo design.

Paint the classic subjects that inspired ancient Chinese masters. This book introduces the venerable art of painting with ink on rice paper using traditional techniques developed over a thousand years ago. It is ideal for a beginner hoping to practice a large variety of techniques and subjects. With this practical guide, you will learn to paint: Towering landscapes The elegant Four Gentlemen Plants like bamboo, orchids, plum blossoms, and chrysanthemums Five animals from the Chinese Zodiac The basic strokes used in calligraphy And more! Known as a "soft martial art," brush painting is as meditative as it is artistic. As you move through the lessons and exercises, you'll gain insight into and appreciation for the symbolism, historical context, techniques, and mindfulness associated with this ancient art form.

The practice of mask-wearing has a long history, even becoming mandatory in times of global crisis. In this useful contribution to the performing arts curriculum, Maskword: The Background, Making and Use of Masks takes a new look at the creative and timeless art of masks and mask-making, while also exploring their cultural anthropology from prehistory to the present day. Drawing on her extensive experience in professional theatre and running workshops, Foreman promotes the life-affirming qualities of masks, providing us with an invaluable resource for artists and teachers, as well as parents seeking activities for children at home. Eight themed projects use photographs to document masks and mask-making techniques, with each one offering practical advice and design ideas; materials are inexpensive and easy to acquire. With photographs by Richard Penton.

Why spend hundreds of dollars stocking up on expensive manufactured clasps, jump rings, ear wires, bails, and much more when you can get exactly what you need for a fraction of the cost? With Handcrafted Wire Findings you can learn how to make all of these things and more with your choice of materials. From sterling silver, fine silver, and German silver to copper, brass, and artistic wire you can use whatever material fits your budget to make just the custom components you want. Who wouldn't want to have fun making jewelry AND save money at the same time? Included are over 30 projects for making many different and useful custom wire findings. Starting off for fundamental skills for beginners then progressing for more ambitious and sophisticated designs, Handcrafted Wire Findings offers great projects for crafters and jewelry makers of all skill levels. A variety of techniques are also highlighted, including basic wirework, texturizing, silver fusing, adding patina, and traditional finishes. With all of these possibilities, there is no limit to what you can create with your own money-saving hand-made jewelry components.