5 comments about Omega Designs: Feast for the Eyes.

1. great explanations on the concept of omega watche



2. This book tells the long history of Omega and describes all watchlines (Constellation, Deville, Seamaster, Speedmaster etc) very well. There is not much depth, but the book do give you a lot of information about the used movements, great photos and information on all watchlines by Omega. For indepth stories about how watches work, buy Chronograph Wristwatches : To Stop Time; Reinhard Meis, Gerd R. Lang or Wristwatch Chronometers : Mechanical Precision Watches and Their Testing; Fritz Von Osterhausen.



3. With a far from comprehensive collection of color photographs of vintage Omega's, a smattering of vintage ad reproductions, and a barely comprehensible company history, this book's only saving grace is the illustrated history of Omega movements.

   If you need more movement info than can be found in Cooksey-Shugart, buy this book. Otherwise your money is better spent on something more generic, like (Heinz Hampel's) Automatic Wristwatches from Switzerland.




4. If you are interested in more than how Omega watches look and need to know what's inside them, this book is a great resource. As a collector it's frustrating to see watches listed for sale with movement calibers listed, but not have a source of information that provides details on the movements. For Omega watches only, this book seems to be definitive in this area. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the major Omega lines and the other information on the company, although it's far from comprehensive. I would only recommend this book if you want or need the technical data on the Omega movements.



5. It amazes me that a well-known maker as Omega has a paucity of books in print detailing the history and products of this renowned maker (at least in English). Other than a hard to get and doubtless expensive official history, this leaves the gentle reader with this book by Mr. Kreuzer. A translation from German, this book is an exception to the overall thoroughness inherent in the German horological press. The history of Omega is very general and reads almost like a sales brochure from the company itself. Little effort is given to chronicling product development, especially in the era following WW 2, the most prolific period for the company and of most interest to collectors. Much better in this respect is the book "Tale of the Seamaster" by Messrs. Nakamura and Noda (Tokyo, World Photo Press). Unfortunately, this is in Japanese. On a positive note, the section in the back of the book detailing Omega movements is quite helpful, and I have often used it to identify watches.

1 comments about Collecting Antique Meerschaum Pipes: Miniature to Majestic Sculpture (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. As a collector and admirer of meerschaum pipes, this is the book I've been waiting for. The author, Ben Rapaport, is well known among antique pipe fanciers for his earlier works, including the standard work, Complete Guide to Collecting Antique Pipes (which discusses all types of antique pipes not just meerschaums, published in 1979 and recently reprinted) and the lovely and informative Museum of Tobacco Art and History Guidebook (1996). But his newly published book, Collecting Antique Meerschaum Pipes, is in a class by itself. Although Rapaport is the leading authority in this area, he primarily lets the pipes do the talking. Of the 176 pages, the first 50 contain the scholarly background which addresses the questions of how, who, why and where these pipes were created. But even in this section at least half of the pages are dedicated to wonderful photographs of pipes, old catalogs, craftsmen and workshops. The remainder of the book is an absolutely gorgeous album of some of the most beautiful and extraordinary meerschaum pipes ever sculpted. The photographs are large so that one may see the exquisite detail, and where appropriate the reader is provided with additional particularly detailed pictures. The photography is of exceptional quality, as one would expect to find in a first-rate art book. At the end of the book the author provides a compilation of the 19th and early 20th century manufacturers and sellers of these pipes organized by country and city, and an international listing of museums and shops where one might view some of these treasures today. It is hard to imagine that anyone other than Ben Rapaport could have created a book like this. The book brings together his many years of experience as an author and collector. But just as importantly he is known and respected by the many collectors who were willing to provide him with their pipes for inclusion in this collection. If you collect pipes, if you enjoy viewing small sculptures, if you are a fan of "working art," if you want to take a look into a small and not particularly well known world of master artists and craftsman of the late 19th and early 20th century then you owe it to yourself to buy this sumptuous book.

No comments about Collecting Authentic Indian Arts and Crafts: Traditional Work of the Southwest.

No comments about Arts and Crafts of the Cherokee.

2 comments about Lunchbox: Inside and Out.

1. I was really surprised by this book, as I have never collected lunch boxes and don't ever intend to, but I still loved it!
   As a fellow collector (of vintage toys) I really appreciated the broad overview of the lunch box collecting world. The categories are divided up well, with boxes from all eras and genres shown. The full colour photos are top notch, with alternate views shown when relevant. The descriptions of each box are especially enjoyable, with many interesting and humorous anecdotes included.
   The only negative thing I could think of was the value/price guide, which uses a certain number of ($) dollar signs to signify approximate worth. I found myself constantly referring back to the start of the book to check values.
   I think this book would appeal to most readers who have a "collector's soul" but I can't tell you whether or not it is valuable to a seasoned lunch box collector, 'cause I aint one!



2. This is a nice colorful book with lots of pictures of classic lunchboxes. This is not a price guide book.

1 comments about Hats.

1. This book is in essence a catalog. But what a catalog it is! There are 148 pages of hat photos, divided into chapters mainly by material (straw, felt, horsehair, feathers, etc.) Each page contains approximately three close-up hat photos, with a notation of each hat's year of vintage and a short description. There is little other text, except for a one-page essay at the begining of each chapter.
   
   These are current photos of real hats from collections: a few from the 19th century, most from the early through mid 20th. There is also a chapter on contemporary millinery, which includes a few pages of text and accompanying photos on today's millinery industry. At the end of the book is a price reference for each style depicted.
   
   With photos that are large, close up, and technically excellent, this book is a visual treat for anyone interested in hats or the history of fashion.

No comments about Country Collections: Ideas for Collecting and Displaying Antiques and Other Country Treasures (American Country).

5 comments about The Comprehensive Guide to Chocolate Molds: Objects of Art & Artists' Tools.

1. Wendy Mullen's The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds: Objects Of Art & Artist's Tools more than just a collector's price guide, Wendy Mullen, chocolate maker for 15 years, delves into the history of antique chocolate molds and their design and production, packing over 1300 photos of such antiques with discussions of all kinds of molds. Topped by an interview with the great-granddaughter of one of the best German mold specialists in history, Anton Reiche, The Comprehensive Guide To Chocolate Molds is unparalleled in depth and detail: there's simply nothing like it on the market, past or present.



2. this book was well worth the money, it was well done. very informitive, unique and happy to own it



3. Wendy Mullen found her first chocolate mold over fifteen years ago and loves writing about chocolate. She has published articles about chocolate molds and this book displays a wide array of antique chocolate molds that include everything from Easter eggs to cats and angels. There are molds for butterflies, bunnies, frogs, turtles, goats, roosters, pigs, lambs, dogs, elephants, teddy bears, deer and just about any other animal you can think of including storks, seals and stylized dolphins. Fairy Tales are also featured and you can may enjoy seeing a Hansel and Gretel house, Red Riding Hood and Snow White Scenes.
   
   All the prices are included so you can have an idea of how much you want to spend if you go looking for these molds. All the main holidays are represented, as are unique items like the the Krampus mold familiar in Austria. Neptune also appears and then there are may pages of Santa. If you love collecting Santa items, there is page after page. Christmas takes up at least one fifth of the book and is perfect for getting ideas if you make chocolates for Christmas. There are snowmen, angels, Christmas ornaments and even manger scenes.
   
   Even if you don't want to go looking for a three hundred dollar scallop shell, at least you can get ideas for what you want to go find online. Many of these molds seem to be useful for candy making and for making soaps.
   
   Additional creative finds at the end include hearts in a postcard style which are very beautiful once painted or if you use three types of chocolate. There are castles, temples, crowns, shoes, cars, boats and even hot air balloons.
   
   A special "Collector's Tips and Closing" section shows how to purchase antique chocolate molds, explains how they must be cleaned and handled to prevent rusting.
   
   From the information in this book, you could actually buy a new chocolate mold that looks antique. Additional information on suppliers is briefly discussed. To find most of the molds, you only need to do an Internet search because all the items have collection information and the names of the specific items.
   
   As a coffee table book this is highly entertaining, but the usefulness factor is especially enjoyable because of the way the book is organized. A lovely gift or a research tool for your own journey of chocolate art.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



4. I have enjoyed the book on chocolate moulds and it is very informative for the antique moulds. I would recommend this book and am happy that I ordered it. It has many pages of information and pictures.



5. I absolutely love The Comprehensive Guide to Chocolate Molds: Objects of Art & Artists' Tools. It has beautiful photographs of molds with their values. This was of great interest to me since I have a mold collection. Also I use my molds for chalkware and have for more than 15 years. It was exciting to see photos of other chalkware artists' work. In all I love the book and hope Wendy comes out with Volume Two as there are many more molds to cover. Thanks, Carol

2 comments about Giuseppe Panza: Memories of a Collector.

1. Currently associated with the Art History Institute in Florence, Italy, Steffi Roettgen brings to bear an impressive level of expertise to this compendium of informed commentary and stunning examples of Italian art masterpieces in "Italian Frescoes: The Baroque Era, 1600-1800". Beautifully enhanced with the photography of Antonio Quattrone and Ghigo Roli, this 440-page coffee-table book features 330 illustrations of which 260 are in full color -- including lavish full- and double-page color plates, many of which feature recently restored frescoes. "Italian Frescoes: Baroque Era, 1600-1800" celebrates and provides historical context for twenty-five fresco cycles, each of which represents a notable achievement in the history of Italian art. Represented are masterworks by such luminaries as Domenichino, Sabastiano Ricci, Guercino, and Tiepolo. Their works of art still visible today on the walls and ceilings of palaces and churches from Venice to Naples to Rome. The concluding volume of the simply outstanding five volume series on Italian fresco art published by the Abbeville Press, "Italian Frescoes: The Baroque Era, 1600-1800" is an impressive, important and very strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.



2. A must purchase for readers interested in the various streams of "difficult" art, especially those with fountainheads in the United States, as they emerged between World War II and the turn of the century.
   
   This memoir contains the thoughts of a now aged Italian collector who apparently knew every significant artist in such movements as Pop Art, Conceptual Art, Los Angeles Environmental Art, the art of color.
   
   The story jumps around, sometimes things are repeated, points made are often overly cosmic, but after a full reading one is forced to admire Giuseppe Panza for his lifelong and relentless search for earthly meaning in new forms of beauty as expressed in types of art that many had rejected out of hand. (Count me among the many.)
   
   The photographs in this book are excellent and serve as evidence of the real beauty of Mr. Panza's collection.

5 comments about Gems: A Lively Guide for the Casual Collector (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones).

1. This book is very insightful. If you want to know anything about gems - how to care for them, where they come from, etc. - this book is a must. Highly recommended!



2. I can't begin to say how wonderful this book is. Whether you are a layman or a professional, this is THE book to turn to. Not only is it highly informative, but it is written so well that you actually WANT to read it. Dan's sense of humor and his love for gems shines here. I wouldn't trade this book for anything.



3. This man knows his gems and he has great stories behind each piece. He has great ways of romancing the stones like no one else. I get so excited hearing the little background stories he tells about each gem and the history behind the locations they come from. A great book by a renowned expert of gemology. I highly recommend this book.



4. I very much enjoyed this book mostly because it is written in plain ordinary English for the average person. With all the internet shopping that is now available, it is advisable to know something about the various gems so you know what you're getting.
   This book fills the bill perfectly!



5. This book is just what the title says - the author uses some humor and information is aimed toward a casual collector rather than a scientist or a super-rich collector. Besides the usual information about the make-up of a gemstone, there is also comparisons of the gem if it is found in more than one location, a bit of history of the discovery of a gemstone, and even a bit of information about the beliefs in the health benefits of some stones. It is not absolutely a complete guide, but more than just an overview of the main gems such as diamonds, sapphires, etc. The photos are very good, although not all are labeled.