4 comments about Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose.

1. Robin Hopper strikes again! For every potter who wants to get better, there is something to do, something to follow, something new to try. I could go on making the same stuff, day-to-day, month-in, month-out, but I like to stretch my abilities, fail a few times, then learn how to do it the right way. Robin's book, "Functional Pottery" helps me to achieve my goals. I have about 300 books in my pottery library. If I were to be forced to reduce that number to ten, "Functional Pottery" would be one of the keepers.



2. Robin Hopper has written a definitive book for all potters, beginners and masters alike. The chosen work for photos offers an excellent range of contemporary and classic forms for study.



3. I found Functional Pottery to be a pleasant surprise for the most part, although I was mildly disappointed by the more practical sections of the book. Roughly the first half of the book provides an interesting historical and cultural review of functional pottery, which went beyond what I had anticipated from the title and general description. A portion of the second half of the book focused on the mechanics of particular forms of functional pottery. This portion, which was my particular interest in buying the book, was a little less thorough and extensive than I had hoped. For the beginner/intermediate potter specifically interested in practical advice and detail regarding the mechanics of functional pottery forms, the material in the book, while useful, may not go far enough. I recommend this book as a general overview, keeping in mind that the scope of the book covers a broader range of topics than implied by its title, and that only sixty pages of the book are dedicated to the practical considerations and mechanics of designing and creating functional pottery.



4. This book is an excellent addition to my collection of pottery books. This book deals with the more technical side of pottery. This book is for people who have accomplished throwing but want to take it to the next level. The book covers everyhting from history of pottery, to correct proportions, and also has artist bio's. Excellent book, i rate it 12 out of 10.

1 comments about Warman's Hummel Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides).

1. THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM OTHER REVIEWS WAS VERY HELPFUL AND I
   CANNOT IMPROVE ON THEM THEY ARE VERY HELPFUL AND CORRECT !!

3 comments about Warman's McCoy Pottery: Identification and Price Guide (Warmans).

1. Everything was fine. I was very pleased with the price and how soon the books were sent to me. Thank you!



2. ...is a great source of many of McCoy pieces. Good photos with year made, brief description and appraised value as of I believe 2004 (which still seems to be the going prices in 2007.) Book is divided into specific chapters: Cookie Jars, Crocks, Dinnerware, Experiments, Flower Pots, Jardinieres and Pedestals, Jars, Kitchenware, Lamps, Loy-Nel-Art, Misc. Pet Feeders, Planters, Signs, Vases and Flower Holders, Wall Pockets and Catalog covers.



3. this book is a great book to have it tells you every little thing you need to know

3 comments about Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide.

1. Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide I collect Royal Doulton items and had hoped this book would be up to date, especially on their Bunnykins Series, animals, and figurines. However, most of what I look up isn't in this price guide. It is nicely illustrated. Maybe useful for beginners, but I was looking for a far more detailed price guide.



2. Good price guide for many (but not all) of Royal Doulton products (tableware not included). An improvement over Charlton in that it provides colour pictures as opposed to Charlton's mostly black/white.Antique Trader Royal Doulton Price Guide



3. This is a good resource for Royal Doulton items not found in the Charlton Standard Catalogue. The two books together will give you a pretty comprehensive resource for identifying & valuing "most" Royal Doulton pieces.
   
   This duplicates a small portion of the info in Charlton Standard, but includes most things missing from it. It is a great resource for animals, Bunnykins, Character Jugs, Flambe, Burslem, Lambert Art wares and more!
   
   To any Royal Doulton collectors, I recommend BOTH of these volumes! (Charlton Standard Catalogue & Antique Trader)

1 comments about Warman's Majolica: Identification and Price Guide.

1. I was trying to find out more information about Majolica. This book was a good start. The pictures are great and offers a lot of information. I really enjoyed this book.

5 comments about McCoy Pottery: Reference & Value Guide (McCoy Pottery: Collector's Reference & Value Guide).

1. This book has many nicely done photos and includes brief information concerning the individual pieces. A good thumbnail guide to McCoy pottery. I would however recommend that you purchase volums #1 & 2, unless you are well versed in McCoy, before you buy this one. I am a beginner when it comes to McCoy and I was looking for more history then I found in this volume.



2. The book had the information that I was wanting and much more. I recommend this to anyone who is interesting in collecting pottery or who is interested in being able to recognize valuable pottery pieces for resale.



3. A must have book for any true Mccoy collector. A lot of true Mccoy out there that is not marked Mccoy and the opposite which is not the real Mccoy.



4. While the book has beautiful photos, it is hard to use as a reference. Unless you know what the piece is exactly it is very difficult to locate in the book.



5. The authors are fitting and devoted source whose familiarity and love about McCoy Pottery shine through. Every collector of McCoy Pottery should and MUST have this book. This book is aimed at all levels of collectors. It has the wealth of information needed to help beginners make sense of things that may initially seem confusing. With its color photographs, lists prices, and careful organization this book will be of use to collectors and buyers in need of a general pricing guide. In light of the fact that there are so few books on McCoy Pottery I am grateful to the authors for their effort and dedication. Thank you!

5 comments about Collectors Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain (Collector's Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain).

1. This is a very thorough history of Limoges. I did not find the pattern that I inherited, but after reading the book, I now understand why there are an amazing number of patterns.



2. Purchased this book as a gift for my wife, who has some Limoges dinnerware. She loved the book and has been able to identify much of her collection with its help.



3. If you collect Limoges Porcelain this is an excellent reference book, with a large section on marks and their dates. The colour pictures identify many patterns, along with a detailed section on manufacturers and a history of Limoges porcelain.



4. I purchase books online based on the reviews so lets be honest. Debby DuBay's book Antique Limoges at Home is the book to purchase. Gaston's book has terrible photographs & just can not compare to DuBay's books.



5. Mary Frank Gaston wrote the foreword to Debby Dubay's Antique Limoges at Home and the introduction to Collecting Hand Painted Limoges Porcelain and I'm thrilled. Two experts collaborating to give collectors all of the info they require to collect successfully. Please write a book together.

2 comments about Warman's Cookie Jars: Identification & Price Guide.

1. I am a collector with most of the relevant guides. As this was a new one, which I felt was long overdue, I was very excited. However, this book falls far short. First, the author obviously accessed a few collections, and focused on those without seeking out many other jars, some more widely available, to include. Second, it seems to have taken the word of the owners of those collections as to current cookie jar values. You can take a look at Ebay to know the prices in this book aren't at all realistic. Third, there is no index, so if you don't already have an idea as to what a jar is, then you are out of luck. The best thing about this book is good photos.
   
   I'd still go with the Schneider book or the Roerig trilogy.



2. I am relatively new to collecting cookie jars and felt like I have all the books I can find about the topics. Many of them were published in the 1980's or the 1990's and so the price guides are off by quite a bit. This guide is Awesome! It has wonderful clear pictures, the current price, when to look for reproductions on a certain one, as well as all sorts of other helpful details. It is alphabetically organized and well written. By far the best book I have. I highly recommend to all. You won't be disappointed.

No comments about The World of Wade Whimsies.

5 comments about Collecting Head Vases: Identification and Value Guide.

1. This reference book has many well done photos of head vases with values at the time of publication. However, there is little detail about any of them and many vases are marked as the maker is unknown.



2. Excellent book well done. Wonderful display of head vases. He has divided his ladies into catagories. He includes cleaning tips, repair tips, head vase websites and best of all and added plus he has a numerical index in the back of his book very very helpfull to finding that special lady fast when you are checking out prices on Ebay. If I could only purchase one collection book I would purchase Dave Barrons book.



3. I was a little unhappy with the book. I had inherited 2 original ladyhead
   vases from a deceased Aunt. I couldn't find either one in the book. I
   wanted more info on the collecting of the vases and the book was lacking
   there too. I should have gotten another one that went into more detail.



4. The book is in great condition and exactly what I exected and useful to me. However the process after the purchase from Amazon takes far to long. A month for a book is rediculous.



5. For the amateur to the experienced, this is a fabulous reference guide for all headvase collectors! Definite must-have !