No comments about Persian Ceramics: 9th - 14th Century.

2 comments about Contemporary Japanese Ceramics: Fired with Passion.

1. This book is not a 'how to' book so if that is what you want look elsewhere. It is a fantastic book about contemporary ceramics in Japan. It has beautiful photographs and commentary on the works and artists.
   
   The vast majority of work covered is sculptural but even if you are interested in functional work I would encourage you to get this book. The work is so beautifully fired it will inspire everyone.



2. Chang, director of the Dai Ichi Arts gallery featuring Japanese ceramics, joins with the noted collector Lurie for an overview of Japanese ceramics from 1945 to the present organized by region. The dramatic, inventive ceramic works (most ceramic sculptures rather than utilitarian objects) are displayed in more than 200 color photographs varying from views of entire pieces filling a glossy page to close-ups of a few square inches capturing details of workmanship, design, and material. Each of the 45 artists from the six geographical areas is given a brief biographical profile which is followed by notes on the two to six ceramic art works of his shown. To each of the sections, Chang and Lurie also provide introductions focusing on their respective distinguishing styles and related historical and cultural information. General introductory material puts the relatively recent ceramic art in the broader Japanese tradition beginning many thousands of years ago and also notes four "Pioneers of Abstract Sculpture" who led up to the period of 1945 to the present which is the main topic. For its breadth and knowledgeable, succinct text, this work immediately becomes the leading guide to this relatively specialized field of ceramics.

3 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of Stangl Artware, Lamps, and Birds: Identification & Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of Stangl Artware, Lamps, and Birds) 2nd Edition.

1. I am a fairly new Stangl bird collector. I purchased this book to acquire more knowledge on Stangl birds.



2. The weighty Collector's Encyclopedia Of Stangl Artware, Lamps And Birds Identification & Values by Robert C. Runge Jr. offers a pleasing layout which lends to quick reference: color-coded sidebars of values accompany bright color photos and a guide which packs in Stangl company history and issues and reissues in an invaluable guide. Very strong recommendations for avid genre collectors, indeed.



3. Excellent book for the those interested in collecting Stangl. Great color pictures and helpful price guide. Highly recommend!

1 comments about The Potter's Primer.

1. I teach an evening college class and this book has been an excellent resource. It poses - step by step - exactly what to do and how to do it. The photography is superb - allowing students to derive their own ideas from what they see. For the beginner, I couldn't recommend it more. Excellent addition to any art lovers book collection.

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of Fiesta: Other Colored Dinnerware, Post86 Fiesta, Laughlin Art China (Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta).

1. I am brand new at collecting Fiesta Ware. I really enjoyed this book. Great pics. It has been a wealth of info for someone new like me.



2. This is the third book in this series I have purchased by these authors. I like the book a lot.



3. One of worst of the newer "collector" books out there. There isn't even a color chart with the names, you need to deduce them by flipping through all the pages and guessing at collections of variuos colors and doing a process of elimination. Fakes are mentioned, and the author says "you'll know them when you see them". Thanks alot! All the marks aren't even listed. What about newer peices versus old?
   
   Some Encyclopedia, more like ramblings of a collector. The medium green issue is already covered by others, the book mentions it everywhere but gives very little evidence of it (maybe the author has medium green envy?).
   
   Not worth the bargain price spent on it. Certainly not a reference book.
   
   p.s. I give other collector books 5 stars, so I'm not just a grump.



4. I just received the 10th edition copy of Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta, and other related items. The new layout and design are exactly what this edition needed to set it out above the previous ones. It seems the forward is a bit lengthy. Each page is framed in the turquoise color. The new pictures are numerous!! And for those who collect New Fiesta (produced since 1986, the pages for this are expanded to include up thru Scarlet and quite a few of the pieces produced thus far in color pictures. I rate this book at 4 stars for one reason. I feel the prices are inflated and out of line. Yes, there will always be some "rare" items at high prices. There are a fair share of pictures that are the same as previous books as well.



5. The title of this book "Fiesta" can be a little misleading to the novice or seasoned collector. Beyond actual Fiesta and Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin the author's detail company history by delving into Harhequin, Riviera, Mexican lines, Kitchen Kraft, even promotional items and advertising.
   
   For Fiesta identification pieces the pictures and Plate descriptions are very good. Pictures, specifically are very clear and concise while the page quality is excellent. In particular, this book will provide a very wide range of history and the wide variety of products offered by Homer Laughlin Co. over many years. Although the title suggests a book on Fiesta, this portion is limited.
   
   If your looking for price comparisons or rule of thumb the book is weak in this department, it does not effectively handle all colors preferring to provide information strictly on the "hot" collector pieces such as 'medium green.' Of course, prices quoted in books are strictly "guides" as the internet, antique malls and live auctions mix up values on a weekly basis. Current research and personal perspective will be the true guides for market value at any given time.
   
   Fiesta is covered in the first 73 pages of this book (pre/post 1986) and then moves on other topics or products produced. This book would be a fine starter for the novice but additional resources will need to be added for a complete library on Fiesta and Fiestaware.

No comments about Great & Noble Jar: Traditional Stoneware of South Carolina.

1 comments about Warman's Rookwood Pottery: Identification and Price Guide (Warmans).

1. Some great information about Rookwood marks and dating, but of course no pictures. Why are there never pictures of marks or artist signatures? Is it some copyright thing? Do the experts not want to give us too much information?
   
   Well done section on the history of Rookwood. Each additional section lays out a different finish or line and includes some good background information. The book offers lots of photos of each finish but the photos look really bad. I don't know if the photos were taken for the book or gathered from various sources. If the image doesn't have horrible glare, it's too dark to make out some of the details. I've seen better photos on eBay. Maybe they couldn't use a light tent to photograph the pottery, but certainly they could of used more diffusion.
   
   It's really a shame the photos aren't better. This could have been the best Rookwood book to date.

No comments about Kovels' Depression Glass and Dinnerware Price List, 8th edition (Kovel's Depression Glass and Dinnerware Price List).

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Nippon Porcelain w/ Price Guide : Updated, Series 3 (of 5 Series Set).

1. This book is well documented, thorough and the pictures are excellent. In addition, this book discusses the Nippon history, provides an excellent chapter on marks and backstamps with a short commentary on the different mark colors and their meanings.
   
   I particularly liked the glossary, and cross-referenced price guide index which is placed in the back of the book yet neatly references to pages and plate #'s. Because of the extensive patterns in the Nippon history, every pattern is not in the book but I was able to identify particular shapes of pieces which I could check against marks/backstamps and the price guide to get a reasonable value range.
   
   Any collector or dealer will suit their library well by having this book for education and reference to Nippon.



2. Joan Van Patten's Nippon Porcelain focuses on Japanese porcelain, from painted vases and stamps to plates and smoking pieces. Gorgeous color photos abound.



3. As part of the 5 series volume, this series contains some updates. From my previous reviews of the collection series, I've mentioned that if you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you need to have this book, along with the other series. Like the previous series, this book contains information on Nippon porcelains. It provides actual photos, and price ranges for each items featured. Nippon porcelains have their disctinctive mark, based on the year and place they were manufactured, so this book gives you what to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



4. Like the series 2 book, this is part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.



5. I bought this book as part of the 5 series volume. If you are beginner, a keen buyer/seller, or an experienced collector/trader of Nippon items, then you ought to get this book, along with the other series. The book contains a lot of information on Nippon porcelain collections. It provides nice photos, and price ranges on each items featured. It also gives you the marks to look and watch out for, in order to identify the authencity of the item.

5 comments about George Ohr, Art Potter: The Apostle of Individuality.

1. Excellent photos of Ohr's work, text good but oddly my copy did not have copyright/publishers info that is usually behind the title page of all books (?). I am considering returning book to Amazon but am not sure if this is a printing flaw or intentional.



2. A must have for any person that appreciated the work of George Ohr.
   Thank you Robert A. Ellison Jr. for this amazing book. If you can't see
   the actual work this book is the next best thing.



3. The book is beautiful and the photos are superb, but I was somehow led to believe I'd find photos of early utilitarian pottery in this book and I did not. I will use the book. It does enhance my knowledge of George Ohr and his work, but I wanted to see the really old pieces from his work with his mentors and beyond.



4. If you like pottery and George Ohr this is an outstanding book. Amazing photo quality of some of George's coolest work..He was truly one of the worlds best at what he did..This has become one of our favorites, and we found it for less money on AMAZON.COM!!! Thanks,TESSRS



5. Ohr does break the mold when it comes to art pottery. Whereas other potters, no matter how innovative or imaginative they are, stay within certain classic forms for vases, bowls, goblets, etc., Ohr often departs radically from the forms. His art pottery is perhaps best considered as free-form sculpture inspired by, but not made according to, traditional pottery. Thus, a "pot" has "elaborate configuration: sharp bends, angles, blades, swirls, and quasi-cylinders [making for] complexity from every angle." Another "pot" has "crinkling result[ing] in dramatically deep three-dimensional spaces...[which] radiate highlights that contrast with the dark-brown glaze...[giving] this piece...a brooding, enigmatic presence." The foregoing quotes are from captions of two of the color photographs of individual pieces of Ohr's pottery on nearly every page. The work is a tour through Ohr's artistic career from "The Early Years" to "A Final Phase" noting and illustrating phases of development and points of his individuality. With their colors and polymorphous, though mostly rounded, shapes, Ohr's pottery/sculpture has a deep earthiness, as if plucked whole from the ground's depths, though they patently demonstrate a clear, singular vision and matching consummate skill.