Once seen, never forgotten: that's a Moss lamp! Plexiglas bodies, spun glass shades, and spinning figurines were radiantly combined to transform humdrum 1950s home decor into something extraordinary. Today, these marvels of modern design continue to spark the interest of collectors. This book offers the first-ever, in-depth look at the Moss company and its shining array of lighting products. It traces the Moss success story through exclusive interviews with family members and employees, 750 current and vintage product photos, and never-before-seen materials from the Moss archives. Also included are a product index, price guide, and detailed information on the many collectible figurines that graced Moss lamps, from such noted design houses as Ceramic Arts Studio, deLee Art, Hedi Schoop, and Lefton. An illuminating and lighthearted look at the lamps, it's ideal for anyone attracted to the fresh, fun side of brilliant '50s design!

The first photographic investigation of the history, companies, people, places, uses, prices, and the kerosene lanterns themselves. Some of these lanterns are so rare they have never been photographed before. Each lantern is described in detail, over 200 photos and illustrations, over 30 color photos. Detailed restoration information, American and foreign lanterns, railroad lanterns, and lots of barn lanterns. Collecting tips, newly revised quick reference prices, and the Universal Value Calculator. The author is an antiques restorer with over 25 years of lantern collecting experience.

Fun Buttons is different! Humor in button subjects and design is featured in the nearly 400 color photographs, text and captions. From all over the world, over three centuries, this gathering of buttons is both delightful and informative. Organized by materials and themes, these funny buttons include children's subjects, animals, fairie, fruit, vehicles and sports designs which can't help but amuse and fascinate collectors, dealers and those who sew. The list of button clubs and organizations is a wonderful reference in itself. "The book...illuminates the myriad of subjects that the designers have used over the years to tickle the public's fancy. Seeing them pictured here has tickled mine! I dare you to read this book and not crack a smile or chuckle to yourself. I couldn't do it." (from the foreword by Tom Wolfe)

Royal Bayreuth porcelain's whimsical shapes and elegant tableware have delighted collectors for decades. Produced in Tettau, Bavaria, for over 200 years, Royal Bayreuth found the global market early and today there are collectors worldwide. With over 500 beautiful and detailed color photographs, the book is visual feast, displaying the Strawberry, Tomato, and Lobster lines, as well as other figural pottery motifs. Also well-represented are the Tapestry lines and scenics in various forms of table and boudoir pieces. Each photo has a concise caption and a current value.

The rich past of Daytona Beach is revisited through rare postcard views of one of Florida's most scenic and historic areas. A wonderful selection of over 260 charming scenes display Daytona Beach when visitors went to the ocean in heavy woolen bathing suits and automobiles brought changes that transformed the area. \nAccompanied by an engaging account of local history and lore, the images document the first half of the twentieth century and illustrate architectural embellishments and unique designs.

The largest blanket manufacturer under one roof in the United States by 1920 was the Beacon Manufacturing Company, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and later of Swannanoa, North Carolina. Cotton, wool, and blended blankets came off their looms in plain, geometric, and Indian designs by the millions. They were sold at dry goods stores and large orders were filled for American troops in the World Wars. This book displays a large selection of Beacon blankets and color catalog pages from 1917 to 1957, together with original blanket designs, a history of the company, advertisements, and all the Beacon labels. There are special sections on crib blankets, bathrobes using Beacon fabric, related blankets, and Skookum Indian dolls dressed in Beacon remnants. These blankets are diligently searched for by collectors of folk art and textiles because they represent a nearly-lost chapter in textile history and bring a sparkle of color to interior decoration.

This companion volume to other books on Tiffin Glass by this authoritative team offers important information on Tiffin's pressed ware. It includes a color identification guide, nearly 500 archival and color photos and catalog pages, detailed captions, and a price guide. Vases, bowls, candlesticks, and ashtrays are shown in many colors and styles in addition to the popular figurals and paperweights produced by Tiffin Glass. This volume is a must for collectors and dealers of Tiffin and 20th century American glass.

In the collectibles world, this durable antique art form is a perfect example of the old "forest for the trees" maxim. Despite their bold designs and colors, only recently have collectors caught on to the value of these antiques of Americana. And the hunt is on. Once posted in every corner of the nation, this durable art form has yet to shed its luster. At the turn of the century, porcelain enamel signs became a standard form of advertising, and they maintained their dominance until the 1970s. Taken down and tucked away, these signs are starting to re-emerge, more valuable than ever. As you page through hundreds of rich color photographs of the signs, learn everything, from how they were made to who was making them, and how many hundreds of dollars they're worth today.

Turning these pages, the reader plunges deep into a fantastic and spooky world inhabited by all manner of lively, animated vegetables and fruit folk that caper and dance under the Halloween moon. These figures, led by the ever-popular jack o' lanterns, are shown in over 580 color photographs in their many collectible forms, including Halloween figural candy containers, lanterns, and postcards. Assorted noisemakers, wall decorations, hats, masks, and party decorations are also included in this thorough presentation. These collectibles span quite a range from the very old to the modern. Also included is sound advice about how to collect your favorite Halloween characters and prices for all of the items displayed. This wonderful romp through the woody underbrush of Halloween will bring back childhood memories of trick or treats past to all who read it!

Three classic books on Louis C. Tiffany's brilliant Art Nouveau works are combined here in one volume. Louis C. Tiffany Rebel in Glass, Louis C. Tiffany's Glass- Bronzes-Lamps, and Louis C. Tiffany's Art Glass by Robert Koch, the foremost scholar in the field, informed and delighted a generation of art lovers before they went out of print and became hard to find. This combined edition brings the innovative career of one of America's most original artists to a new generation of collectors. It retains all of the original text and photographs of the former editions and has many additional color photographs of Tiffany's most treasured designs from some of finest museum collections in America. Here are the glass windows, lamps, and vases from the flamboyant 1880s to 1920s era that made Louis C. Tiffany famous. Tiffany's bronze desk sets, paintings, ceramics, mosaic tiles, room interiors, lighting devices, decorative glass, and jewelry are all prominently featured. Every art student, museum professional, historian, antique dealer, and art collector will be dazzled by the variety and exquisite craftsmanship displayed here. The book is a treasure itself.

Here is a guide for the rookie who is just taking the field in the wide world of baseball memorabilia. The authors offer both money-making and money-saving insight on collecting uniforms, equipment, autographs, Hartland statues, Ethan Allen All-Star Baseball, and much, much more. Learn the best strategies for visiting shows and even the Hall of Fame induction weekend in Cooperstown. The real charm of this book is that it ventures beyond the straight investment potential of baseball collectibles to address collecting for the pure fun of it. Between these covers are contributions from collectors of all kinds, who all share their love of the game not only through their diverse collections, but also with memories, anecdotes, and humor that would appeal to any baseball lover. Learn 10 reasons why baseball is the greatest game there is, and the 10 best and 10 worst baseball movies of all time. Test your knowledge with the challenging "Culminating Activity" the authors have prepared for you. With full-color photography, price information, and a useful source directory this book belongs in the library of every baseball fanatic.

A hot, new collectible has gone international as great M&M's*r items are being released all over the world! Now M&M's fans can see lists and values for all known M&M's dispensers, toppers, tins, and other items, plus related ads and displays from the USA and around the world. NASCAR M&M's items, French pocket surprises, and examples of earlier collectibles are all included in this expansive and colorful guide. Get in on the ground floor of this fast-growing hobby and join the hunt for "the collectible that smiles back at you!"

It is difficult to overestimate the impact of plastics on our modern way of living. A quick look at your surroundings will give you the idea. Almost everywhere you look you will see them. Kitchen items, jewelry, radios, flooring, car parts, toys, furniture: plastics can be used for almost anything, and they have been. It is not surprising, then, that plastics are a rapidly growing area of collecting. Here is a field guide for the collector; written by one of America's foremost dealers, it presents over 500 items illustrated in full color, with helpful background material, descriptions, and a comprehensive price guide. This is a collectible field that is still open to the new collector. The prices on these objects are reasonable, and the objects themselves bring color, beauty, and a touch of nostalgia to the homes of their owners. In addition, the price on these collectible plastics has risen in coming years, as reflected in the newly revised price guide. This is an essential tool in this burgeoning field.

Collecting of black memorabilia continues as an area of growing interest, attracting new collectors every day. It includes everything from household figures to artifacts from slavery, and covers both the stereotype and the reality of the black experience in America. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Jeanette Carson, a pioneer of black memorabilia, estimated that "of the 30,000 collectors of black memorabilia, the majority are black. "This is a way of preserving a heritage and educating a new generation about how things were." In her second book on Black Memorabilia, one of America's foremost authorities explores the use of black images in advertising, home decoration, office decor, and restaurant themes. Nearly seven hundred items are illustrated in full color and prices are given which reflect current market values.

When investigated with curiosity and enthusiasm, items that may seem mundane and commonplace can prove to be fascinating subjects! Commercial oyster cans have become important collectibles today. This book has over 800 color photographs of oyster cans, jugs, and bottles, and the text provides wonderful details and anecdotes about the history of the oyster industry in Europe and America.

Creating the V&A tells the definitive story of the formative years of London's world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum and the gathering of its early collections in the decade between the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the death of Prince Albert in 1861. The story of the V&A's genesis is often centred on the first director and first curator (Henry Cole and J. C. Robinson), and their competing agendas for design reform and connoisseurship. And yet there is an untold story of how the young royal couple for whom it is named were highly instrumental in the establishment of the museum, as public supporters and large-scale lenders before a permanent collection was in place. The book is also full of fascinating and colourful stories of the strategies deployed to harvest treasures on the market as the young museum sought to fill its rapidly expanding buildings and compete with the British Museum and the Crystal Palace. For anyone interested in the history of collecting and curating, and for all fans of this legendary London museum, Creating the V&A explains how the foundational collections established parameters which still inform the museum's collecting policies, role and identity today.

Many people enjoy collecting antique figures, dolls, toys, containers, sheet music... etc. that show black people in all styles of dress and function. They often depict famous people, musicians, and advertising figures, and the variations are many. This book displays 425 color images from several private collections, each item described with measurements and an estimated value range.

Here's a little treat out of the attic. This may be today's penultimate guide for researching and pricing popular chairs from the past. This guide has hundreds of detailed illustrations of American wooden chairs ranging from golden oak to the Viennese-style bentwood. These chairs that furnished the nation's best-dressed homes at the turn of the century. An actual reprint of the detailed catalogue of the Phoenix Chair Company, each page is a careful reproduction of the Sheboygan, Wisconsin, company's own 1907-1908 list of wares for dealers. This time, however, it has current values for these treasured antiques. There is no more-authoritative guide to the chairs produced by this company, which helped set the styles that furnished a nation.

The power and beauty of traditional African sculpture has influenced 20th century art and design around the world. Found in many museums, its abstract forms, skillful rendering, and deep symbolism has also made it a welcome addition to the homes of private collectors. This new book offers a broad survey of the traditional sculpture that is available in the marketplace. The sculpture shown here covers a span of 100 years and focuses on masks, statuary, and architectural carvings in wood, bronze, and terracotta from sub-Saharan Africa with a sampling of the contemporary work in stone. The works are presented in beautiful color photographs, and accompanied by helpful, informative captions and a guide to values in today's market. The book helps the collector evaluate the quality and authenticity of African sculpture.

Florida is the land of pink flamingos, bathing beauties, palm trees, coconuts, and beaches. It is a tourist mecca and a treasure trove of souvenirs. This book is a salute to the popular Florida tourist culture of the 1940s through the 1970s, when mostly northern tourists embraced the Florida sun and beaches with open arms, discovering along with Florida's natural beauty, a lot of kooky kitsch. Kitsch is colorful, funky, fun, and collectible. This book, with its 250 photos, remembers the nostalgic, whimsical objects often bought on impulse, brought home as gifts or mementos, and then relegated to shelves, attics, and bathrooms to sit for years, undusted, as visible reminders of happy trips. Whether a native of Florida, a seasonal visitor, or one in need of a getaway, this book is sure to evoke a bit of Florida sunshine for all.

Cast metal coin banks have helped millions of people save money. They were often premiums given away by companies and banking institutions when a new account was opened. Over 1,000 color photos show the diversity of Banthrico coin banks, made in Chicago from 1931 until 1985. They resemble famous people, animals, trophies, vehicles, architecture, and more. For today's collector, there is information about the company, materials, 900 styles, advertising, sizes, and rarity. An index will help you find your favorites. Bankers, antique dealers, and toy and bank enthusiasts finally have a reliable reference to this fast-growing area of bank collecting.

A nostalgic look at a true American classic, this book was designed for collectors as well as dealers and anyone who can remember the thrill of their first sled ride. This is the first comprehensive guide to identifying, dating, and pricing sleds. Extensive research and more than 150 color photos of trade cards, illustrations, membership pins, buttons, and, of course, the toy that gave the ultimate ride. Today's collector still has a variety of sleds to choose from as the demand for sleds and ephemera is just starting to take off. Enter the world of collecting now, advises the author, before you are left out in the cold without a sled!

An overview of Swiss wristwatch designs in the 20th century with nearly 650 photo illustrations. The many forms and styles of casings, dials, and hands are covered, along with manufacturers' literature, advertising, and catalogs. The firms of Omega, Longines, Tavannes-Cyma, Breitling, Doxa, Universal, Movado, and Zenith are represented, and a price guide makes it a valuable reference for collectors of wristwatches.

United and Bally were the only two true US manufacturers of bingo pinball machines, and in the 1950s they fought an all-out battle to capture the elusive bingo pinball machine market. This comparative history details the intriguing story of mid-century, American industrial and entertainment innovation that pitted United engineer, Lyndon Durant and Bally's Don Hooker against each other in a battle royale to produce the best bingo pinball machine. Through more than 200 photos and illustrations detailing 60 games, Jeffrey Lawton, premier bingo pinball machine enthusiast, introduces Durant's United games and the simultaneous, and sometimes retaliatory, creative efforts employed by Hooker from 1951 to 1957. Lawton's analysis is complete with photos of rare games and playfields and descriptions of complex bingo pinball circuitry.

This is the first book exclusively about L. C. Tiffany's glass mosaic masterpieces, created from 1880 to 1931 at the Tiffany Studios in New York City for clients across the continent. Fascinating and well-researched text combines with over 700 color photographs to showcase Tiffany's magnificent art. Many of the images are published here for the first time, highlighting over 70 luminous installations in private mansions, public buildings, and churches. Beautifully decorated interiors, mausoleums, and domestic rooms are shown along with an explanation of Tiffany's technique of mosaic making and the unique glass he created and used in them. New information identifies the mosaic artists who worked with him. A useful glossary of mosaic and glass terms, chronology of events in L. C. Tiffany's life relating to his mosaic work, and complete listing of the locations of his mosaic masterpieces are provided. This book will enthrall lovers of mosaics, students, and scholars with an interest in Tiffany as well as decorative arts and design.