A bold reorientation of art history that bridges the divide between fine art and material culture through an examination of objects and their uses Art history is often viewed through cultural or national lenses that define some works as fine art while relegating others to the category of craft. Global Objects points the way to an interconnected history of art, examining a broad array of functional aesthetic objects that transcend geographic and temporal boundaries and challenging preconceived ideas about what is and is not art. Avoiding traditional binaries such as East versus West and fine art versus decorative art, Edward Cooke looks at the production, consumption, and circulation of objects made from clay, fiber, wood, and nonferrous base metals. Carefully considering the materials and process of making, and connecting process to product and people, he demonstrates how objects act on those who look at, use, and acquire them. He reveals how objects retain aspects of their local fabrication while absorbing additional meanings in subtle and unexpected ways as they move through space and time. In emphasizing multiple centers of art production amid constantly changing contexts, Cooke moves beyond regional histories driven by geography, nation-state, time period, or medium. Beautifully illustrated, Global Objects traces the social lives of objects from creation to purchase, and from use to experienced meaning, charting exciting new directions in art history.

Using simple techniques, Tuscany-based woodworkers Samina Langholz and Andrea Brugi teach you how to make 20 beautiful wood objects for the home. From an egg cup made from a reclaimed beam and broom handle to a chopping board featuring a hand-carved "butterfly" - an old trick for stabilising a crack - here are a wonderful selection of approachable carpentry projects that don't require complicated tools, and can be done easily in the home. Suitable for all levels of expertise - even the complete beginner - the simple and accessible step-by-step instructions are accompanied by stunning location photography. Inspired by the rustic lifestyle of rural Italy and the unspoiled views of olive groves that surround them, Samina and Andrea make beautiful carpentry pieces and this book will inspire you to recreate them in your own home.

Make adorable mini plushies with Sew Your Own Ice Cream Animals by Klutz! The follow-up to the cute and popular Sew Your Own Donut Animals and Sew Squishy Cubes. In this adorable kit, kids can sew four ice cream animal treats with an extra topping of personality! Each scoop is its own animal so you can swap them around and put them in a sundae or on a cone. Included in the kit: a booklet for guidance and inspiration pre-cut felt pieces embroidery threads in different colours and a needle stuffing four pom-poms paper sundae dish paper ice cream cone. What is Klutz? Klutz is a premium brand of book-based activity kits, designed to inspire creativity in every child. Our unique combination of crystal-clear instructions, custom tools and materials and hearty helpings of humour is 100% guaranteed to kick-start creativity. Super-clear instructions Open-ended Creativity Rewarding Reading Skills to Build On Everything You Need

Build Stuff with Wood is a true beginner's guide to woodworking, aimed at anyone who is interested in the craft but has only a few tools and no real idea where to start. The idea behind the book is to begin with a basic toolset (a circular saw, chop saw, cordless drill, jigsaw, and a few hand tools) and then add tools as you go. Step-by-step projects are presented showing what you can build with that tool (plus the basic toolset). For example, adding a router to your tool arsenal allows you to gracefully round edges on tables and shelves; buying a simple doweling jig opens up the world of joinery. As well as power tools, hand tools are also introduced. In all, 14 fun projects will be presented, all built with just a few woodworking tools and off-the-shelf lumber.

A beautifully illustrated exploration of opulent tastes and the power of patronage in 18th-century Britain The central decades of the eighteenth century in Britain were crucial to the history of European taste and design. One of the period's most important campaigns of patronage and collecting was that of the 1st Duke and Duchess of Northumberland: Sir Hugh Smithson (1712-86) and Lady Elizabeth Seymour Percy (1716-76). This book examines four houses they refurbished in eclectic architectural styles-Stanwick Hall, Northumberland House, Syon House, and Alnwick Castle-alongside the innumerable objects they collected, their funerary monuments, and their persistent engagement in Georgian London's public sphere. Over the years, their commissions embraced or pioneered styles as varied as Palladianism, rococo, neoclassicism, and Gothic revival. Patrons of many artists and architects, they are revealed, particularly, as the greatest supporters of Robert Adam. In every instance, minute details contributed to large-scale projects expressing the Northumberlands' various aesthetic and cultural allegiances. Their development sheds light on the eclectic taste of Georgian Britain, the emergence of neoclassicism and historicism, and the cultures of the Grand Tour and the Enlightenment. Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art

A beautifully illustrated guide to the world of Victorian stained glass and its manufacturers and designers. Victorian stained glass - magnificent, colourful and artistic - adorns countless British churches, municipal buildings and homes. Across the decades, several artistic movements influenced these designs, from the Gothic Revival, through the Arts and Crafts Movement and into Art Nouveau as a new century dawned. Historian Trevor Yorke shows how craftsmen re-learned the lost medieval art of colouring, painting and assembling stained glass windows - but also, in this age of industry, how windows were templated and mass produced. Showcasing the exquisite glass generated by famous designers such as A.W.N. Pugin, Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, and by leading manufacturers such as Clayton and Bell, this beautifully illustrated book introduces the reader to many wonderful examples of Victorian stained glass and where it can be found.

Madge Garland, Janey Ironside, Joanne Brogden and Wendy Dagworthy, a quartet of remarkable educators and doyennes of style and skill, encouraged their students with rigorous determination to produce nothing but the best. Garland, previously Fashion Editor of Vogue magazine and a brave pioneer when the educational establishment regarded fashion as 'frippery', laid foundations on which Ironside, the sparkling innovator built. Then Brogden took the School into a more competitive commercial world with fashion becoming a major economic force. When Dagworthy took over in the final decade of the 20th century, she guided her students into a new era while still respecting the inheritance of her predecessors. Today's markets demand high-fashion-ready-to-wear, with the RCA School of Fashion's reputation second to none for innovation in design and manufacturing techniques, and its alumni now in positions of influence throughout the world. From retail and industrial connections forged in the 1950s, RCA designers such as Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes, established their reputations, and top world-wide brands including Kenzo, Givenchy, Gucci , Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein, clamoured to employ star RCA students.

Just moved into your new home? No idea where to start or what to do? Landlord won't let you paint your walls? Hate your sofa but can't afford a new one? Wondering if you can paint your horrible plastic chairs? Look no further, interior design stylist and expert Joanna Thornhill will guide you through an array of design dilemmas, from minor tweaks to bigger projects. Packed with inspirational and practical advice for both homeowners and renters, this book will help you achieve a home you can be proud of, even if your office is at the end of your bed.

Little magazines made modernism happen. These pioneering enterprises were typically founded by individuals or small groups intent on publishing the experimental works or radical opinions of untried, unpopular, or underrepresented writers. Recently, little magazines have re-emerged as an important critical tool for examining the local and material conditions that shaped modernism. This volume reflects the diversity of Anglo-American modernism, with essays on avant-garde, literary, political, regional, and African American little magazines. It also presents a diversity of approaches to these magazines: discussions of material practices and relations; analyses of the relationship between little magazines and popular or elite audiences; examinations of correspondences between texts and images; feminist modifications of the traditional canon or histories; and reflections on the emerging field of periodical studies. All emphasize the primacy and materiality of little magazines. With a preface by Mark Morrisson, an afterword by Robert Scholes, and an extensive bibliography of little magazine resources, the collection serves both as an introduction to little magazines and a reconsideration of their integral role in the development of modernism.

This essential book will show you everything you need to know to create beautifully handmade scroll saw art and wooden signs. Featuring comprehensive sections on tools, materials, scroll saw basics, safety, and troubleshooting, equip yourself with the essential skills needed before you dive into the sign-making technique sections. From the basics, like cutting lettering, adding a graphic and painting to the more challenging skills of using epoxy resin, engraving and woodburning, you’ll have a blast building your woodworking skills and seeing all the possibilities of what you can make. This book includes step-by-step projects to try, as well as practice patterns. Perfect for housewarming and wedding gifts, nurseries, and other personalized keepsakes both for you and your family and friends, this exciting and fun guide to sign-making will inspire your DIY projects and original designs for years to come.

The mid-20th century was one of the most popular, collectable and dynamic periods of international design. Drawing on the inventive style of the era, this range of gift products features exclusive illustrations of iconic mid-century designs, from Eames chairs to Poul Henningsen lamps and George Nelson clocks, all rendered in a distinctive graphic style. Featuring over ninety pieces by sixty designers and design duos, Mid-Century Modern: Icons of Design is arranged chronologically, and includes chairs, tables, storage, lighting, and product and industrial design. Each spread includes a graphic depiction of the piece and a concise text. The models, materials and designers index offers easy reference through the book.

Master key carpentry skills, from simple joinery techniques to fine woodworking. Learn about basic woodworking techniques to more advanced types of wood joints, finishing, woodturning, and furniture restoration. This book provides all the information you need to become a master carpenter. It's the ultimate step-by-step guide to essential woodworking tips and tricks. Inside the pages of this beginners guide, you'll find: - Over 100 key techniques and 20 easy projects to get you started - Clear step-by-step photography and easy-to-follow instructions - Advice on all major wood types and veneers and how to use them - Tips and tricks on restoring old furniture This visual guide is packed with clear instructions, detailed photography, and expert advice on how to master more than 20 woodcraft techniques such as joinery and finishing. Discover how to get the best out of your woodworking tools by learning how to use and maintain them. This informative guide also includes a visual directory of all major wood types and veneers, explaining what they are best used for and tips on how to work with them. Woodworking 101 This updated edition includes a fresh design and brand-new photography making the step-by-step techniques and projects even clearer to understand. The ideal gift for Father's Day, or for anyone who's looking for an introduction to carpentry. Complete the Series: Fully illustrated and easy to use, the DK Step by Step series covers all the essential skills and techniques you need to succeed in a specific activity. Once you've mastered key carpentry skills with Woodwork Step by Step, sharpen up your survival skills with Knots Step by Step.

George Bankart first wrote The Art of the Plasterer in 1908. It was then re-issued, with amendments, a few years later. Now available from Donhead as a facsimile edition, this impressive, well illustrated volume offers an artistic interpretation of the way plaster was used in response to stylistic changes. Bankart was an architect inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement who cared passionately about the craft of plastering and sought to complement Millar's earlier craftsman's book by producing a volume which traced the history and art of plastering throughout the United Kingdom. It explores in detail how plaster materials and methods were developed and used, giving a fascinating insight into some of the unusual substances added to plaster. For instance, he tells us that ancient stuccos sometimes contained fig juice, curdled milk, blood or beer to make them harder. The book also contains an account of wattle and dab as well as parge-work, using practical illustrated examples to give an excellent description and record of the subject. With over 400 illustrations, comprising black and white photographs and drawings of ceilings and the profiles of mouldings, this volume will be of value to craftsmen engaged in plasterwork, conservation professionals and all architects and architectural historians with an interest in this field.

Peter Lloyd shares his skills and excellence in producing exquisite, solid wood boxes. Their seductive, satin-smooth finish and fine detailing beg to be touched and demonstrate beautifully Peter's trademark of using no material other than wood - even for the hinges. Follow his original designs, with clear, step-by-step instructions and photography with full plans, to achieve one-off pieces to be proud of.

Designer and TED star Ingrid Fetell Lee explains how to cultivate a happier, healthier life by making small changes to your surroundings.

When did you last feel joy? Changing your surroundings is the most easily accessible source in finding joy, says Ingrid Fetell Lee, former Design Director of IDEO New York.

In Joyful, she explains it's time to open our eyes to the physical world. By making small but powerful changes to the things around us, we can live happier, healthier lives.

Her TED talk has been viewed over 10 million times.

‘This book has the power to change everything’ Susan Cain

‘A completely original treatment of a completely new and original idea’ Arianna Huffington

Whittling is more than just a way of busying idle hands - it is a pastime for those who love the texture of wood and a way of life for those who feel a special connection between people and trees. This beautiful and practical guide to the art of whittling offers the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life and a means of getting back to basics and creating unique items from scratch. Inside you will learn about the ancient art of whittling as one of the earliest forms of artistic expression; the different types of wood to use in your work; the simple tools you need to get started; and the various cutting techniques. The Art of Whittling also preaches the idea of Danish hygge - translating to coziness and being with friends and family in a warm atmosphere. Here, author Niklas Karlsson gives us an insight into why the Danes are considered the happiest people in the world - and how you can bring some hygge into your own lives. More than just a manual, this book offers a contemplative view on a skill that is more popular than ever.

The first major publication devoted to weaver and designer Dorothy Liebes, reinstating her as one of the most influential American designers of the twentieth century At the time of her death, Dorothy Liebes (1897–1972) was called “the greatest modern weaver and the mother of the twentieth-century palette.� As a weaver, she developed a distinctive combination of unusual materials, lavish textures, and brilliant colors that came to be known as the “Liebes Look.� Yet despite her prolific career and recognition during her lifetime, Liebes is today considerably less well known than the men with whom she often collaborated, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Henry Dreyfuss, and Edward Durrell Stone. Her legacy also suffered due to the inability of the black-and-white photography of the period to represent her richly colored and textured works. Extensively researched and illustrated with full-color, accurate reproductions, this important publication examines Liebes’s widespread impact on twentieth-century design. Essays explore major milestones of her career, including her close collaborations with major interior designers and architects to create custom textiles, the innovative and experimental design studio where she explored new and unusual materials, her use of fabrics to enhance interior lighting, and her collaborations with fashion designers, including Clare Potter and Bonnie Cashin. Ultimately, this book reinstates Liebes at the pinnacle of modern textile design alongside such recognized figures as Anni Albers and Florence Knoll. Published in association with Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum  Exhibition Schedule: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (July 7, 2023–February 4, 2024)  

Roger Billcliffe’s ground-breaking catalogue raisonné of the furniture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh first appeared over four decades ago.

This fourth edition has been completely revised and updated to take account of the host of discoveries and developments in Mackintosh scholarship that have taken place since the book’s first publication.

Among the 900 illustrations, many items that were previously shown in black and white now appear in colour.

An impressive and stimulating work of scholarship, this is the only comprehensive work on the furniture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the most important British designer and architect since Robert Adam.

After an introduction in which Billcliffe perceptively analyses Mackintosh’s career and scholarly interpretations of it, the main part of the book is arranged as a chronological catalogue of Mackintosh’s work as a furniture designer. In a working life of only 25 years, Mackintosh designed over 300 items of furniture, a number all the more impressive given that the majority of pieces were produced in the periods 1897–1905 and 1916–18.

As well as the entries on individual designs and pieces, the catalogue includes essays on all Mackintosh’s major commissions for interiors and on his designs in general at specific periods of his career.

Contemporary photographs are used extensively to show interiors (many of them now destroyed) as they were at the time of their completion. Untraced pieces of furniture are listed by reference to the job books that record the details of designs by Mackintosh or the firms of which he was a member.

The story of an innovative designer and farsighted art entrepreneur and the important role he played in the dissemination of 19th-century Aestheticism This book follows the phenomenal rise of Daniel Cottier (1838-1891) from an apprentice coach painter in Glasgow to the founder of Cottier & Co., a fine and decorative arts business with branches in London, New York, Sydney and Melbourne. This gifted designer and brilliant art entrepreneur keenly spotted one of the key aspects of late nineteenth-century bourgeois culture - its focus on family, home and church - and seized the artistic and commercial opportunities of the building and decorating boom that it brought about. Cottier was a proponent of the Aesthetic movement, an international trend in the history of culture, art and design from the mid-1860s to the late 1890s: he understood the era's desire for beauty and realised the economic possibilities of its commoditisation. Beyond biography, therefore, this book illuminates a significant event of late nineteenth-century cultural history - Aestheticism's cult of beauty meeting with the bourgeoisie's financial ability to possess it. Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art

In the past, studies of the history of bookbinding were mainly concerned with the exterior decoration. This book focuses attention primarily on the physical aspects of the binding and its construction principles. It is an expanded version of a series of lectures delivered by the author while Visiting Professor at the University of Amsterdam in 1987, supplemented with the results of ten years of intensive research in major libraries on the Continent, the United Kingdom and the USA. It surveys the evolution of binding structures from the introduction of the codex two thousand years ago to the close of the Middle Ages. Part I reviews the scanty physical evidence from the Mediterranean heritage, the early Coptic, Islamic and Ethiopian binding structures and their interrelation with those of the Byzantine realm. Part II is devoted to a detailed analysis of Western binding techniques, distinguishing the carolingian, romanesque and gothic wooden-board bindings as the main typological entities; their structure and function is compared with those of contemporary limp bindings. The book is illustrated with over 200 drawings and photographs and contains a comprehensive bibliography.

Chip Carving is the art of removing small sections of wood from a single piece of timber, usually to form geometric patterns. Finished pieces can be very intricate and complex but amazing results can be achieved surprisingly easily with the right guidance. Unlike many types of woodworking, chip carving requires very few tools, usually just two knives, and is a wonderful way too decorate all manner of existing objects including boxes, plates and furniture. The author guides the reader through the process of creating 15 distinctive projects. The necessary stages are explained with the use of detailed step-by-step photographs and accompanying text. The author also explains how to go about planning and designing each project in preparation for the actual carving process.