Inspiring Ikebana is the sequel to Exploring Ikebana, the first book by world famous ikebana artist Ilse Beunen. Throughout her career she has been inspired by many different things and as all artists do, she is continually looking for inspiration to create something new and innovative. Having written a comprehensive introduction to the ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement, she reveals in this new book several sources of inspiration: nature, the four seasons, festivals, vases and containers, artificial material, art and emotions. More than 40 stunning ikebana creations, both in traditional and modern styles, are lavishly illustrated with detailed step by step photographs of the creative process, making it easy to follow and achieve a great result.

Enduring Splendor focuses on the rich and diverse silver jewelry traditions of India's Thar Desert region, stretching across the western states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These traditions are considered against the background of the five-thousand-year history of jewelry making across the vast Indian Subcontinent. Drawing on recent field research carried out in the city of Jaisalmer, a thriving center of contemporary jewelry production, Enduring Splendor explores for the first time the life and work of four sonis (silversmiths or goldsmiths). To contextualize this recent production, numerous illustrations of very fine examples of ninteenth- and twentieth-century jewelry types that are still worn are included. These objects have been borrowed from the Ronald and Maxine Linde Collection of Jewelry and Ritual Arts of India, part of a promised gift to UCLA, where it will find its future home with the Fowler Museum. The Linde Collection is one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Indian jewelry in the world. This volume highlights elaborate rural styles rendered in silver as well as selected ornate examples, largely associated with the elite, made with gold and gemstones.

Hillwood Museum's Russian silver collection is the largest and most comprehensive outside Russia and curator emerita Anne Odom provides a cultural, political and historical context in which to view this fascinating collection. "Russian Silver in America" surveys Russian silver production, its changing forms, styles, imagery and techniques over more than 250 years.
Drawing on the collections of both the Hillwood and other US museums, the book features colour plates of over 160 pieces: presentation gifts, commemorative and liturgical objects and pieces made for the court and growing merchant class, including drinking vessels, tea and coffee services, and chalices used by the former imperial family.
Anne Odom charts the history of Russian silver through the baroque styles of the reigns of Peter and Elizabeth, the move to Rococo and Neoclassicism under Catherine and Paul, revivalist styles under Alexander I and Nicholas I, 19th-century styles up to Faberge, modernist production, and the fate of Russian silver after the Revolutions. Running throughout is the fascinating story of how and why so much Russian silver found its way into American collections--much of it sold by the Soviet government in the 1920s and 30s as it was considered to be of no artistic value. These sales mean that much of the extant Russian silver produced after 1835 is now housed in America.

Chess pieces and their boards are a thing of beauty that serious players often like to display around their home. The 15 one of a kind designs in this book are sure to become conversation pieces. The use of exotic woods and interesting designs will inspire woodworkers, chess players and scroll saw enthusiasts alike. Chess pieces and their boards are a thing of beauty that serious players often like to display around their home. The 15 one of a kind designs in this book are sure to become conversation pieces, like the Berlin, with its vertical board that mounts to the wall. Other patterns in the book are inspired by the beautiful cities of Paris, San Francisco and Venice. From classical to modern these chess sets will be cherished for years to come for their heirloom quality and high level of craftsmanship. The author's use of exotic woods and interesting designs are sure to inspire woodworkers, chess players and scroll saw enthusiasts alike.

Learn how to master hundreds of knotting and braiding techniques to create stunning jewellery and accessories. Written by renowned jewellery crafter and first Ambassador for Swarovski Elements, Dorothy Wood, The Knotting & Braiding Bible is the essential guide to knotting and braiding techniques for jewellery craft. The book covers kumihimo (braiding), plaiting, knotting (including macrame) and fusion, with techniques for adding beads, using different cords/wire and attaching findings. All the instructions have step by step photography to make them suitable for beginners. Choose from a selection of contemporary jewellery, accessories and home decor projects to create beautiful gifts and home decorations.

Best of Woodcarving Illustrated: Chip Carving will take you on a journey into this old-world art form that originated in Europe and is still thriving today thanks to artisans like Roger Nancoz, Barry McKenzie, Dennis Moor, Tom Douglas, and Darrell Janssen. You'll discover patterns, tips and techniques from these experts, as well as a beautiful gallery of their work to spur your imagination for your own creations. In this collection of the best chip carving projects from the pages of Woodcarving Illustrated, both beginner and experienced chip carvers will find this book a useful reference. Whether you are looking to make a decorative accent for your home such as a charming teapot clock, or a personalized gift like a beautiful wedding plate, the variety of projects presented will provide you with inspiration. With carvers being more inventive in their approaches to chip carving, the art form has come a long way over the years. This book will introduce you to the methods, styles and signature works of these trendsetters that are easy to follow. Covering everything from what is chip carving through ways to finish and enhance your piece, this book is a must for every chip carvers library.

Re-energize your crafting space with innovative ideas for organization and accessibility! Packed with over 150 photos of studios, storage, and ideas to help keep creativity flowing.

*Kitchen-table jewelry makers get their knowledge and build their skills by experimenting in their homes or in small retreat workshops and classes. This book is for them! *Techniques demonstrated are supported by great, simple metalsmithing projects that allow the reader to hone their skills while making something wearable to treasure *Best-selling author of Simple Soldering, Kate Richbourg demystifies rotary tools with a comprehensive guide to this common tool. What the micro (creme brulee) torch was to making soldering simple, the rotary tool is to surface effects and professional finishing

'It is more motivating to make something that you genuinely desire, to create an object that you want in your home. The things we choose to have around us say something about who we are, but things we have made ourselves do that even more strongly. I want every project in the book to be something that the reader wants to make, to work really well in use and be something that can be proudly shown to others.' Tom Trimmins This wonderfully practical book is aimed at anyone looking to balance their busy lives by mastering core woodworking skills. Working with wood will challenge, stimulate, relax and reward - and you'll be proud to display the beautiful objects you've made with your own hands. Here you'll find a range of practical and pleasing projects to display around your home. Initially you'll need a small collection of readily available tools - as your skills develop and expand, so too will your tool collection. Every project has step-by-step instructions, and you'll learn about the properties of different woods, design techniques and how to fix-up vintage tools. The book mainly uses hand tools as they're cleaner, take up less room, are quieter and offer less potential for accidents than power tools.

This is an account of the unique assemblage of silver and silver-mounted artefacts belonging to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, some of them dating back to the College’s foundation 650 years ago. They include extraordinary objects such as a thirteenth-century drinking vessel made of the horn of an extinct animal, as well as the everyday tools and utensils of past centuries. Although some of them are well known to art historians, they have never been published in detail. The objects are especially significant for being documented in the College’s archives from the fourteenth century onwards. The book investigates the objects’ construction, how the College came by them, their original meaning and context, how they came to survive the depredations of the Civil War, what happened to those that do not survive, evidence of wear and repair, and what they were (and still are) used for.

The Carthusian monks at San Martino began a series of decorative campaigns in the 1580s that continued until 1757, transforming the church of their monastery, the Certosa di San Martino, into a jewel of marble revetment, painting, and sculpture. The aesthetics of the church generate a jarring moral conflict: few religious orders honored the ideals of poverty and simplicity so ardently yet decorated so sumptuously. In this study, Nick Napoli explores the terms of this conflict and of how it sought resolution amidst the social and economic realities and the political and religious culture of early modern Naples. Napoli mines the documentary record of the decorative campaigns at San Martino, revealing the rich testimony it provides relating to both the monks' and the artists' expectations of how practice and payment should transpire. From these documents, the author delivers insight into the ethical and economic foundations of artistic practice in early modern Naples. The first English-language study of a key monument in Naples and the first to situate the complex within the cultural history of the city, The Ethics of Ornament in Early Modern Naples sheds new light on the Neapolitan baroque, industries of art in the age before capitalism, and the relation of art, architecture, and ornament.

Many basic questions confronting antique lamp buyers, from "Where do I look for a manufacturer's signature?" to "How do I distinguish reproductions from originals?" are answered here. Using color photographs and catalogue illustrations, a wealth of information is presented including buying or selling old lighting, restoration issues like rewiring, practical uses for fixtures originally made for gas or oil, and restoring and protecting metal finishes.

Designed to be a companion to our classic title 1000 Chairs, this edition contains an awesome selection of over 1000 lights. Presented chronologically by decade are the 20th century's most interesting electric lights, from Tiffany's beautiful leaded-glass shades to completely outrageous designs from the late 1960s and 1970s to the latest high-tech LED lamps. All major styles are represented here-Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modern Movement, De Stijl, Postwar, Pop, Radical, Postmodern, and Contemporary-in 640 pages of truly illuminated works. This definitive reference work is a must-have for collectors and design fans. About the series Bibliotheca Universalis - Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe!

If you enjoy making wirework jewellery and are looking for a new challenge then this is the perfect book for you. In this fabulous title by esteemed wireworker Rachel Norris, there are 15 intricate and beautiful wirework jewellery projects to make. Each has detailed step-by-step instructions with photographs, templates and Rachel's expert tips to follow, plus there are fully comprehensive tools, materials and techniques sections to provide all the know-how you need. Projects include pendants, brooches and necklaces inspired by nature and animals.

Written for both beginners and advanced beaders with over 200 illustrations and photographs of 47 bead-work pieces. The emphasis here is on traditional Native American techniques. The patterns include Ogalala Butterfly, Peyote Stitch, Apache Leaf, Zig-zag, Potawatomi Weave, and Lakota Chain among others. Includes sources for supplies, notes on knots and threading, and an illustrated section on how to make an Indian Bead Loom. Other techniques explained are pendants, ear drops, rosettes, applique, and sewn beadery. A complete beading resource.

Whether there is a fire burning or not, there is something about a fireplace that gives a room warmth. The mantel we build around the fireplace becomes a focal point of decorating, bringing to all that surrounds a sense of elegance. In this new book Steve Penberthy and Gary Jones help the homeowner build a classic fireplace from stock materials and moldings and tools found in the most basic of workshops. From measurement to the finished product, they take the reader through the complete process. Every step is illustrated with a color photograph and a concise instruction. In the back are drawings and photographs of many design variations that can be made using the same building techniques. This is the, without a doubt, the best book ever published on building mantels and will be a welcome addition to the woodworker's library.

Aesthetic seduction, superb workmanship, and historical interest are the three central themes in the collection of Fondation Gandur pour l'Art (Geneva), created in 2010 and still expanding. The aim of this first volume is to catalogue the works in the collection, whose decorative aspects are every bit as important as their narrative content. The works are for the most part sculptures - statuettes and ornamental reliefs - although two-dimensional decorations depicting figurative scenes associated with classical antiquity or Christianity are no less important. The periods represented by the sculptural works discussed in this book reflect the scope of the whole collection, which ranges from the 12th to the 18th century. And since the goal of the collection is to document centuries of cultural exchange between France and neighbouring countries, all the works included in the book come from these latter regions. The hybrid styles are closely linked, and this is an aspect of considerable importance, as is the originality certain pieces display and, last but not least, their aesthetic quality. The book is arranged by topic, which brings out the great originality and extraordinary richness of the collection, as well as the extremely varied nature of the subjects, narrative episodes, and figures portrayed. More specifically, the topics are divided into five sections: ancient gods and heroes; biblical and allegorical figures; scenes from the life of the Virgin; episodes from the life of Christ; and saints and intercessors. Each work has its own entry that describes the historical and geographical context in which it was made, analyses its iconographic content, and includes a bibliography and a list of the exhibitions where the work was exhibited.

"Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts" magazine is proud to present this collection of 60 of the best projects for both scroll saw beginners and those with experience. Readers will find this book a great reference not only for its detailed patterns, but for its tips, techniques, expert step-by-step instructions and crisp photos all guaranteed to help them master the projects featured or to spur their own creativity. From simple basic patterns for beginners to detailed keepsake portraits and beautiful compound cut pieces, the inspiration is abundant by the designs of contributors, such as John A. Nelson, Gary MacKay, Ron Brown, Kathy Wise, and Rick Hutcheson. This book is broken down by category so that the type of project can be easily found, whether it is intarsia and segmentation, fretwork, or inlays and relief.

Two of the country's leading woodturners, Nick Agar and David Springett, have collaborated to produce this new and exciting book. Together, they have developed a novel approach to woodturning using thin, narrow planks of wood (usually of little use to woodturners) to produce hollow, twisted vessels. This turning method is described in detail and there are 14 designs, each accompanied by fully illustrated step-by-step instructions plus an inspirational gallery. Nick Agar also describes how he uses his highly original decorative methods and artistic skills to complete the finished vessels. This is a fresh and exciting approach to woodturning that creates modern, dynamic pieces.