Reviews (13)

Dissapointed - book too technical
This book was not what I thought it would be. I wanted a book that showed how to make jewelry, and actually this was a book that showed how to make jewelry components. I was looking for design and "how to" techniques on putting together jump rings, and store bought components and and this was more like how to make a jump ring etc . . I didn't like it. If you want to make jewelry components this is the book for you. If you want to make jewelry from store bought components and beads, I suggust you find a different book.

Should have been called metal smithing
As someone who makes a lot of wire/clay jewelry but doesn't work with metal, torches etc...this book will probably just collect dust.Everything in here required special tools I'm not interested in buying.Maybe if you have some knowledge of working with metals you could find this very useful but for me it was a waste of money. I used just one tip in book and the pictures did not inspire me to learn more.

Gotta have
This is probably the best guide to what you need to start and be successful in Jewelry. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Encyclopedias    4. Hobbies/Crafts    5. Jewelry    6. Jewelry making   

Reviews (1)

Fascinating Look at Victorian Jewellery
Lots of pictures (wish more were in colour, but understandable as to why they're not! The cost would be prohibitive) and information on Victorian jewellery. Recommended to anyone who is interested in that time period or just jewellery in general. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

An absolute must for every metalsmith / jewelry designer.
In this volume Oppi Untracht offers an excellent overview of metal jewelry making. The seemingly limitless information offered is technically precise,and beautifully illustrated.
Overview versus Technical Know How
This is a good book for those wanting a broad overview of all aspects of jewellery making with metals.It contains good illustrations of finished pieces; however, it is not a book that gives step by step instructions.So, if you are looking for a 'how to' book, look elsewhere.Otherwise it is a useful reference but not essential.

MY NUMBERONE BOOK!!
It is my so called bible.I bought it 15 years ago at $50.00 from a mall bookstore and was so happy how cheap i bought it for as its return its value 50 times over since...if you had to own just one book this is it!...grant you it should be reprinted and up dated. alot of what we do does not change much but in some fields it does.color would be great. mine has many color plates (1985 ed).it seams alot for a book but if it was printed today would cost alot more(id buy a new one at what ever cost), and imho compared to many that ive spent more on do not compare..buy it,and hug it as ioften do.its a jewel!lol...i wonder if "oppi" is still liveing?. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Jewelry    5. Jewelry Arts And Crafts    6. Jewelry making    7. Metal Manufacturing    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Jewelry   

Reviews (3)

Must have,
This book is unparalleled in its information about precious metals. I would almost trade all my other metal books for this one alone. Well worth the cost and indispensable to a Goldsmith. If you want to work in metal, from iron to platinum, you need this book. Very technical but the information is invaluable and can be applied to any metal medium. My copy has some duplicate pages in the 50-60 range, but nothing was left out. That is my only complaint and I am sure it was just a binding error that may be in only my book as none of the others I have seen do.

great book
The depth and amount of information in this book is staggering. The translation is great it doesn't seem stilted as a lot of translations do. It was edited by Tim Mcreigth of "the complete metalsmith" fame and was translated and published by his company. It gives way more information on the reason of why and how techniques work than any other book I have seen. In some ways it is the prefect companion to "the complete metal smith" it has a lot of the same information as it and a lot more depth. My only caveat is it can be a little dry and some times overly technical. but still it is a great work.

This is the best theoretical book in jewelry
The Brepohl's book surely is the best book about the theory of the jewelry's affair's that I know, but isn't a project book. Is a textbook well written, with a very good english translation (the original is in german).The theory of metalurgy, that is lacking in the others books on the field, is update and well presented.In the end of some chapters there are few examples of student work, but their level is very high, and isn't showed all details of how to get it. If you want to know why and not only how, you must have this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Goldwork    4. Metal Work    5. Reference   

Reviews (14)

Good, but not the best
I have purchased this book to learn about the fundamentals of metalsmithing. Unfortunatelly in most cases the final product is shown and only theoretical description is provided without pictures or description of tools needed. The book is more theoretical than practical and other literature is needed in order to get a full idea of what is needed and how job gets done.

Fundamentals of Metalsmithing
This book is a required book for a college class I'm taking.
Great Introduction with beautiful pictures
This book covers basic jewelry metalsmithing techniques in a way that you can understand.The step by step instructions allow a good jumping off point for creative minds.Everything is very detailed and the images give reasonable explanation on how to create pieces.Included instructions are how to achieve heat scarring with SS, making bezels, designing boxes, and different forms of casting.With that said there are pictures that have techniques that are not included and seem very interesting; it is somewhat annoying to look at something and have no idea how to make it (Pg. 50, 81, and 86). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Crafts & Hobbies    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Jewelry    5. Jewelry making    6. Metal Work    7. Metal-work   

Reviews (3)

Catalogue of a 1995-96 exhibition with 7 papers and pictures of the artifacts
This quite beautiful book is the product of an exhibition by the Art Museum of Princeton University that ran from December 1995 through February 1996.It was called "The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership".The first half of the book contains seven very interesting papers that made varying degrees of sense to me.Not because the papers were poor, but simply because I am not an authority in the field.Trying to weigh and interpret the scant threads of evidence (but the evidence is actually amazing) is tough for professionals.For amateurs like me, it is quite impossible to do much more than pay your money and take your chances.We follow along as best we can and watch developing trends in the scholarship.
Reconstructing a culture entirely from religious art
Mesoamerican archaeology is a little world by itself - I know, because I used to live in it. It has a very cosy relationship with museums and the "art" collectors who buy the objects that are looted from archaeological sites, which lie destroyed, torn into shreds under the forests all over Central America and Mexico. But it has almost no touch with reality any more. The things they say about the ancient Olmec are almost fantasy, because in truth we know so little about these people. Almost all the objects in this book were stolen from Mexico, ripped from the archaeological context that might tell us something about their real meaning. These are probably religious articles - we may never know. But imagine trying to reconstruct the rich life of rennaisance Italy by looking at reliquaries in Catholic churches! If you are still persuaded by the "mysterious Olmec" propaganda spouted by Coe and his looter buddies, go read Flannery & Marcusin the first 2000 issue of the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, and think it over.

A Must Have for any Olmec Enthusiast
The Olmec World is an amazing resource for those who study or have an appreciation of early Mesoamerican Art.At its most basic level The Olmec World is the catalogue of the 1996 Olmec Exhibition at the Art Museum at Princeton University the first comprehensive show of Olmec art in America.Drawing upon nearly all of the major Olmec museum collections in North America from Dunbarton Oaks to Princeton's own expansive holdings, the exhibition also drew heavily from many private collections never before shown to the general public.For instance, John Stokes' amazing collection of ceramic babies and jade masks are showcased in this catalogue.However, almost as impressive as the pictures are the essays in this collection.Michael Coe has done a marvelous job of soliticing and editing a myriad of papers on the mysterious Olmec. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - Native American    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    5. Criticism - Native American    6. Exhibition Catalogs    7. Exhibitions    8. History - General    9. Indian art    10. Mexico    11. Olmec art    12. Archaeology    13. Central America    14. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass    15. History of art: pre-history    16. Museum, historic sites, gallery & art guides    17. Sculpture & other three-dimensional art forms    18. Social Science / Native American Studies   

Reviews (2)

Excellent reference - but a work in progress
I have been using this book since this edition was published.It is an excellent compilation of summary information about makers of Native American jewelry and other collectible wares.I expect that thishas - to this point - only about one-third or one-half of the people listed who make jewelry.I annotate mine with added marks for unlisted jewelry makers, together with summary information on them.When I can, I ask the artisan to autograph the book, preferably near the added information.

Hallmarks of the Southwest
This book is an excellent reference to anyone who collects or sells Native American Jewelry. It shows the mark of the well know artists in Native American silver jewelry. The Navajo , Hopi , Zuni Indians are all included in this book. Very detailed, I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Antiques/Collectibles    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. General    5. Hallmarks    6. Indian art    7. Indian silverwork    8. Southwest, New    9. Textiles & Costume    10. Antiques & Collectables    11. Base metal & ironworking   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    4. General    5. History - Contemporary (1945- )    6. Sculpture    7. USA   

Reviews (4)

If you want to learn Rhino ....
This book provides plenty of examples, grouped in a context in which they will be used. Some Nurbs, modeling theory and troubleshooting tips. Enough to answer questions as you go through the text but not so much as to be overwhelming.
Horrible
Do not buy this book. Instead buy the online Rhino video tips from Mcneel. I bought this book expecting to learn something only to discover that the stuff I learned was useless. Save your time and money
Numerous omissions and typos made for a very frustrating read.Mislabeled drawings and missing or erroneous instructions made exercises difficult to follow. Fundamental exercises were superficial and fragmented without logical development or context making retention difficult.Rhino's supplied Level 1 and Level 2 Training Materials are far superior in all regards. Don't waste your time and money.The publisher and author were e-mailed regarding problems but no response. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automation    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer-Aided Engineering    6. Computers    7. Computers - Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Drafting & Mechanical Drawing    10. Rhino (Computer file)    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Three-dimensional display syst    13. Three-dimensional display systems    14. Computer modelling & simulation    15. Computers / Information Technology    16. Sculpture & other three-dimensional art forms   

Editorial Review

For more than 30 years, Dale Chihuly's work, principally in glass (but occasionally including such unconventional media as neon and ice), has challenged traditional distinctions between craft and art. Chihuly's oeuvre is notable for its vibrancy of color, the boldness of its shape and execution, and, in recent years, its studied mimicry of natural forms, from cacti to seaweed and jellyfish. The scale of these blown-glass works ranges from pieces suitable for a coffee table to vast hanging chandeliers that drape from ceiling to floor or shoot up like Christmas trees from below. At times, Chihuly's work is merely decorative, a collection of brightly colored, softened glass forms that resemble melted Christmas tree ornaments, sea anemones, squash, wriggling eels, and other organic shapes. The dizzying abundance of work created by Chihuly himself and his students-cum-assistants at his Pilchuk Glass School, and the enormously successful marketing of this art (Pilchuk, located near Seattle, is open to visitors), has lead some viewers to an overfamiliarity with the work. But art critics Donald Kuspit and Jack Cowart argue for its originality and importance in their introductory essays. (Perhaps overly so: Cowart compares the pieces to Matisse, Turner, and Walt Disney's Read more

Reviews (5)

Magnificent Chihuly Art
This book is beautiful!I visited the botanical gardens in St. Louis and saw some of Dale Chihuly's work close up. I've never seen anything like it. What an incredible art form this is. This book brings back the same feelings I had while looking at his work in person. The pictures in this book are breathtaking. The great thing about this particular book is that it has pictures of his work located all over the world. Many of the pictures have a location listed and some of them have Mr. Chihuly's comments on the piece and how he felt about creating it. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a general book on his work. I have it on my coffee table in the family room and everyone who opens it up, can't put it down. Every turn of the page brings a "WOW" or "Incredible". Truly a `must have' book for your collection.

Hypnotizing and beautiful
I was introduced to Chihuly through a special on my local PBS station many years ago.I couldn't remember his name, but I always remembered that he was the brilliant man with the unorthodox style.His vision and his artistic talents are immense.This book is absolutely mesmerizing and gorgeous with page after page of color photos.From the "Chihuly Over Venice" project to his designs for the set of the opera "Pell�as et M�lisande" for the Seattle Opera.This book truly is a feast for the eyes and the soul.Chihuly is a master of glass and this book proves it.

Truly a worthwhile book
Among the thousands of art books on the market, Kuspit's exhaustive look at Dale Chihuly's career in glass is a bargain for the Amazon price. Filledwith gorgeous color photos of Chihuly's unique work, and intelligentlywritten, this book will grace any art lover's shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1941-    2. 20th century    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Chihuly, Dale,    6. Crafts & Hobbies    7. Criticism and interpretation    8. Essays    9. Glass & Glassware    10. Glass Arts And Crafts    11. Glass art    12. History    13. Individual Artist    14. Sculpture    15. United States    16. Art / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    17. Ceramic arts, pottery, glass    18. Chihuly, Dale    19. History of art & design styles: from c 1900 -    20. Individual artists    21. USA   

Reviews (18)

making concrete garden ornaments
this book is so easy to follow! i have made so many cool things!if you think concrete is just for sidewalks,think again.this book really opens up new horizons you had never thought about.

I love it!
This is a great book, with lots of information. Even if you have never worked with concrete before this book makes it easy. I highly recommend this book! I was right out the next day making things. ENJOY!

Great!
I am a true beginner working with concrete.I wanted information on making stepping stones and I found this information and a whole lot more!It was written for anyone to be able to understand and start projects immediately.You won't be dissappointed if you purchase this book.I love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Do-It-Yourself    2. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    3. Garden Furnishings    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. House & Home    6. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    7. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY ACTIVITY    8. Building skills    9. DIY    10. Garden design & planning    11. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas    12. Sculpture   

Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Erte    4. Ertâe    5. Individual Artist    6. Individual Sculptors And Their Work    7. Sculpture    8. Erté   

Reviews (12)

Perfect book of Human Anatomy
If you're looking for a book that will once and for all give you an indepth idea of how muscles and bones work to produce the form of the human body, this is the best I've found. If, like the reviewer below, you're looking for pictures of genitalia there are plenty of other places where you can see all you want.

The Elements Of A Great Art Reference Book
This is the greatest book on human anatomy for artist, especially sculptors that I have in my extensive collection.I really appreciate the way Mr. Goldfinger lays out the origin and insertion of each muscle, showes the relationship to other muscles, and finally shows a real image.Don't forget the cross secional images that help so much in orienting you to where the muscles and bones really are in 3-D.The extensive text is clear, concise, and necessary to fully understanding the relationship of bones and muscles.I am currently taking a gross anatomy class at the local medical school and would be lost without the wonderful book. Thanks to the author for a gift that keeps on giving accuracy information and inspiration.

Great reference book
As an anatomy reference for artists, this book is fabulous.I have not yet seen its equal.It has detailed drawings of all the bones and muscles of the body from multiple angles, and goes through the layers of muscles as well (again, from multiple angles), showing where the muscles connect to the bones.It also has useful text descriptions for increased clarity where pictures might not be enough (such as explaining the function of a muscle).
Read more

Subjects:  1. Anatomy, Artistic    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Human figure in art    5. Special Subjects In Art    6. Techniques - General    7. Techniques - Life Drawing    8. Anatomy    9. Art & Architecture | Art Instruction    10. Art / Techniques / Life Drawing    11. Art techniques & materials    12. Drawing & drawings    13. Sculpture & other three-dimensional art forms   

Reviews (5)

An AbsolutelyInspiring Book
A truly beautiful book, with rich photographs and nice summaries. Inspiring to the last page - and particularly useful for igniting one's creative juices. A small note to the Amazon reviewer: Andy Goldsworthy was born in England in 1956. He lives in Penpont, Scotland, but is English - not Scottish.

Astonishing natural art
In "Stone," as in his other books, Andy Goldsworthy takes the natural play of a child--fooling around with sticks, leaves, water, stones, mud, and more--and elevates it to something above and beyond its natural status.He uses his adult design skills to create great manmade beauty from existing natural beauty.He never falls over the line into obvious, coy, or precious art--he simply lets nature be what it is with a tiny little bit of rearranging on his part. breathtaking simple beauty of nature & imagination
Andy Goldsworthy's art is so inspiring.In this book, the art pieces focus on, as the title says, stone.It's unbelievable.He just unveils so much magic in the world with his brilliant thinking."Otherworldly" is surely the word to describe how much of the art in this book feels.I keep thinking it couldn't possibly be this planet, but I suppose it's not even a planet anymore; it's the mind of the artist.Time also plays a significant role in this art.He builds pieces with the intent to photograph it when the day moves & the light hits it a certain way.Or he builds things that the incoming tide tears apart.In a piece I love in this book, he gathered ice from a lake & put it on the shade side of a rock.The ice gradually melted & was shed.I wish I could have listened & watched.Something that adds so wonderfully to this book's beauty made from such simple natural materials is that he also accompanies photographs with very Haiku-like, very poetic, short descriptions of the art pieces & how they existed in time & in the act of his making them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1956-    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Criticism and interpretation    5. Goldsworthy, Andy,    6. Individual Artist    7. Individual Photographers And Their Work    8. Outdoor sculpture    9. Photography of sculpture    10. Sculpture    11. Themes, motives    12. Photographs: collections    13. Science / Geology   

Reviews (7)

Bowl (n) 1. A hemispherical vessel...
I have a hunger for bowls. Objects that can hold other objects, particularly food, fascinate me.This book feeds my hunger with beautiful color photos of more bowls than my brain can hold in one sitting.Bowls that make me laugh, purr, gasp with amazement, and covet.Oh how I covet.Bowls that hold other bowls that hold other bowls...
Disappointing, but here's another recommendation
This bookfollows the current trend in ceramics which says if it isn't "far out " , misshapen, weird, and/or ugly it isn't "in". A lot of these pieces are not even recognizable as bowls.If you want a really great book of bowls that look like bowls and yet are not ordiinary, get 500 Wooden Bowls. Many of the designs will translate very well to clay

500 ideas
500 BOWLS & its companion 500 TEAPOTS is a source of inspiration for any potter.I hope the keep publishing these books.Oh, I love Lark Publications! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Ceramic bowls    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Hobbies/Crafts    6. Pottery    7. Pottery & Ceramics    8. Ceramics    9. Crafts & Hobbies / Pottery & Ceramics    10. Handicrafts    11. NY CITY/LONG ISLAND - NYC PICTORIAL   

Features

• Box set

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    4. History - Contemporary (1945- )    5. Individual Artist    6. Sculpture    7. Catalogues raisonnes   

Editorial Review

To achieve the quiet beauty of his art, Andy Goldsworthy spends long hours in rough weather, engaged in a tug-of-war with nature. He wrestles heavy stones on top of one another to form tall, egg-shaped landmarks known as cairns. He painstakingly covers fallen logs with bright golden bands of Dutch elm leaves—a last hurrah for a proud species decimated by disease. He pulverizes white chalk to lay a long, wandering path in the woods that gleams in the moonlight. Works like these are as much about the transience of life as they are about a sense of place and the pleasures of color, light and form. In Read more

Reviews (2)

A modern naturalist
When I first heard of Goldsworthy my temptation was to label his art as New Agey because of his interaction with natural mediums and his works' outdoor settings.This would have been a gross mislabeling.I've also heard the term "environmental artist" bandied about, but that is just far too vague and I'm hoping we don't adopt that as part of our art-appreciation vocabulary.I think Goldsworthy and Christos are grouped together under that title, but they couldn't be more dissimilar.Christos' works always so statement oriented and meant to be observed from a distance, while Goldsworthy's evocative sculptures and leaf paintings invite you to examine them more closely and admire how well they fit into the landscape.And though his art is made from natural materials and dependent on the elements, the works themselves are very modern.Passage was the first book of Goldsworthy's work that I've been given, though I've seen some of his smaller pieces and photos in several galleries.
amazing
The pictures in this book are once again amazing - and also very touching. It's easy to forget the time when you flip through this book and read the artist's remarks about certain works. The artist is simply a genius. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1956-    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Goldsworthy, Andy,    5. Individual Artist    6. Sculpture    7. Art / Individual Artist   

Reviews (12)

comprehensive pattern compilation/hallmarks lack
Maybe if there was some way to put all of these people in one room and force them to print one reference book for sterling flatware, then MAYBE, just MAYBE, it wouild finally be complete. While this reference is comprehensive with its coverage of patterns and companies, its hallmark references for getting to that comopany are lackluster, but aA for effort!

My review on Flatware Book
This is an excellent book. I buy and sell sterling flatware and wish I had had this book years ago. The author does a superb job. The illustrations are great. I highly recommend this book!

Shines like Polished Sterling
Superb resource book, very well written and laid out.Pictures are excellent.It was so easy to use that my nine (9) year old nephew identified several obscure patterns by himself.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques & Collectibles / Silver    4. Catalogs    5. Collecting    6. Collectors and collecting    7. Reference / Catalogs    8. Silver    9. Silver flatware    10. Silverware    11. United States    12. Patterns   

Reviews (2)

A Celebration of African Masks
A wonderful book filled with great photographs and well wirtten text.Photographs illistrated, to allow the viewer to see every detail of each mask. A very informative book, almost like a museum tour, with the exception that the viewer will never see as many examples of African Masks in one place at one time. 100% Satisfaction

A representative sampling of African masks from the world's leading museums and private collections
The gorgeous Spirits Speak: A Celebration Of African Masks edited by Peter Stepan with contributions by Iris Hahner gathers a representative sampling of African masks from the world's leading museums and private collections, choosing samples which reflect powerful artistry and spiritual meaning alike. The power in Spirits Speak lies in full-page color photos of each mask making for a catalog which pairs an introductory section of history and cultural insight with plates which pack a visual punch. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Art And Society    5. Africa    6. Carving & carvings   

Reviews (22)

Wonderful origami book
This superb book contains an enormous range of origami models representing various forms of sea life.These range from sea urchins and starfish through to the Blackdevil Angler Fish and the almost impossible to fold Chambered Nautilus Shell.I have in my time folded most of the models and my favourites include the Angler Fish, Goldfish and the Murex shell which is wonderful in a textured foil.
Not Impossible, but a Challenge
I've owned this book for a number of years and only recently have I been able to fold most of the creatures in it. This book is definitely not for greenhorns, but if you look closely at every single diagramme in the book, and interpret them exactly and are very careful, every model in the book is foldable. The end result is gorgeous paper sea creatures that can impress basically anyone--yourself included. I've been amazed at how beautiful the things I'm folding from this book turn out.

Great Book
This is one of my favorite Origami books ever. If you are thinking about getting it you should. This book will appeal to any body, from beginner to advanced. I love the models in this book. It contains various models of many genera and cover many of the marine phylums such as variety of gastropods, cephalodops, crustaceans, and many fish from Angler Fish to sharks to Sun fish. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Crafts / Hobbies    3. Fishes in art    4. Origami    5. Puzzles    6. Games / Puzzles    7. Paper folding, origami