Hundreds of fascinating color photos reveal the wearable artwork created by today's top art jewelers of Europe, including one-of-a-kind necklaces, brooches, bracelets, rings, and earrings in gold, silver, mixed metals, glass, enamel work, found objects, and more. The artists are arranged alphabetically so readers may see the entire scope of their work on the page together. The artists provide personal statements about their work and its significance. These artists have created small sculptures that adorn the body and draw attention. This is the first book in the series to focus solely on the artists of Europe. Included among them are new artwork from artists readers have come to know in the previous volumes and an introduction to the work of artists whose jewelry has not been previously seen. This is a valuable guide to current trends in art jewelry design for buyers, jewelry enthusiasts, collectors, and artists alike.

For the first time in the English language, this important book explores the subject of mother-of-pearl (MOP) production and art in depth, and includes over 5,000 photographs of MOP artifacts. The project was undertaken with the express purpose of recording as much information on the historic use of mother-of-pearl, before this information is lost for good. Classifications by use, age, origin, and size make this an indispensable reference for collectors, historians, and tradespeople alike. Mother-of-pearl has been part of humanity's aesthetics for thousands of years, but it was only in the 19th century that artisans reached their height of creativity, producing amazing decorative utilitarian items, presentation pieces, and artwork. This luminous, beautiful, natural material captured the imagination of the public and enjoyed great popularity throughout the 19th century.

A fascinating insight into the strange world of collectors of the macabre, Morbid Curiosities features 18 unique collections and an extensive interview with each collector, explaining how and why they collect, and showcasing the most remarkable pieces from each collection. The collections include skulls, mummified body parts, taxidermy, occult objects and various carnival, and side-show and criminal ephemera. Detailed captions tell the curious stories behind each object, many of which are being shown outside the private world of their collections for the first time. Morbid Curiosities includes stunning, specially commissioned photography of both the individual objects and the context of how the collector exhibits their work, forming a unique showcase of the bizarre and the intriguing.

Terrific Tablecloths from the '40s and '50s is a must have book for anyone interested in textiles. These tablecloths take us back to mom's or grandma's kitchen and the colorful prints inspired by wartime victory gardens, mountain dogwood, and springtime bouquets. And who can forget the wonderful souvenir maps from vacations in Florida? More than 400 color photographs are here to be enjoyed. Captions and updated values make this an invaluable resource for collectors, designers, and antique dealers.

Reflecting the trends of wartime, with an emphasis on the ever-changing roles of women in society, this book illustrates the movement towards more masculine styles and patriotic fashions and colors, while still representing the tailored and restrictive styles that had once dominated the lady's closet. Government rationing and limitations on everyday fabrics and textiles resulted in fashionable new creations. This book, drawn from the pages of the Sears-Roebuck catalogs, has over 400 images with thousands of items of clothing pictured. It gives the reader an insightful look at the fashions perspectives of the mid-1940s.

The 50th edition of Kovels', the leading antiques price guide, includes 25,000 listings and more than 2,500 full-color photographs. Kovels' is the most complete and best-illustrated price guide available, from the most trusted name in the industry. It features exceptionally well-organized, wide-ranging, up-to-the-minute information, and includes more tips, marks, logos, and photographs than any other competitive title. Kovels' is the only guide with prices based on actual sales from the previous calendar year, never estimates. Unlike other guides, which focus almost exclusively on English or high-priced items Kovels' covers all American and international items. The book is organized by categories most sought-after by collectors, including Depression Glass, Dolls, Jewelry, Furniture, Porcelain, and Sports Memorabilia. Indexes, cross-references, and expert commentary throughout empower readers to collect with confidence and price their own antiques.

China's art objects and traditional manufactured products have long been sought by collectors from porcelains and silk fabrics to furniture and even the lacquered chopsticks that are a distant relation to ones found in most Chinese restaurants. Things Chinese presents sixty distinctive items that are typical of Chinese culture and together open a special window onto the people, history, and society of the world's largest nation. Many of the objects are collectibles, and each has a story to tell. The objects relate to six major areas of cultural life: the home, the personal, arts and crafts, eating and drinking, entertainment, and religious practice. They include items both familiar and unfamiliar from snuff bottles and calligraphy scrolls to moon cake moulds and Mao memorabilia. Ronald Knapp's evocative text describes the history, cultural significance, and customs relating to each object, while Michael Freeman's superb photographs illustrate them. Together, text and photographs offer a unique look at the material culture of China and the aesthetics that inform it.

From fun and funky to excitingly exotic, popular purses of the mid-20th century have a fashion appeal all their own. More than simply functional, these bags feature bold, often whimsical stylings. They say "notice me"aand buyers continue to do just that! Crocodile and carved Lucite, and elegant beaded evening bags are here, as are bags by Enid Collins, all enticingly displayed in over 400 color photos and vintage ads. The bright, breezy, and informative text pays tribute to fashion at its flirtiest, while the current price guide will have collectors reaching for their pocketbooks!

The ceramics of Mexico embody the diversity and cultural wealth of the country itself. The production of pottery is one of the oldest Mexican crafts. There is not a state in Mexico that does not produce some sort of ceramic ware, whether it be for purposes decorative, functional, religious, or playful. This book displays Mexican ceramics of the twentieth century. It is organized by geographic area, focusing on the eight states with the most important potteries. Within these states, the pieces are further divided by village or town, style, family, and individual artisan. Based upon an exhibition of over 1,200 pieces at the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica, California, each color picture is accompanied by a detailed description of the pieces, including, when possible, the artist, style, place of origin, date of production, and size of the piece. This book will be a useful resource for the collector, the traveler, the artist, and everyone who wants to explore a wonderful aspect of Mexican culture.

"A comprehensive one-stop reference." ~Danielle Arnet, The Smart Collector, Tribune Content Agency "...A quick resource with an authoritative voice." ~Steven Wayne Yvaska, The Seasoned Collector, San Jose Mercury News "Accurately reflects the antique and collectible marketplace." ~Larry Cox, King Features Syndicate, Inc. "...Filled with useful photos, information and--maybe most importantly--what it's worth." ~Khristi Zimmeth, The Detroit News Stuffed with 4,000 new color images, expert insight, real world values and information on where to buy and sell, Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles is the premiere reference in the field. Vetted by professionals who regularly buy and sell throughout the country and the world, the items in this outstanding resource represent the clearest picture of today's wildly diverse and robust antiques and collectibles hobby.

During the middle of the 20th century, neon signs turned North America's roadside into a luminous wonderland. The most compelling signs were figural: imaginative, cartoon drawings in light. These unforgettable depictions of exploding bowling pins, crashing cars, baton twirling majorettes, and lassoing cowboys were the fodder for legend and lore. Neon designer Len Davidson has captured the magic with over 350 photos of superb vintage signs. He has drawn on renowned photographers, museums, and private collections, as well as his own Neon Museum of Philadelphia pieces to compile the definitive photo archive. Davidson has also expressed the legend in words. The pages echo with the voices of sign makers and shopkeepers, photographers and preservationists. Architects and sign artisans will find this collection invaluable. It is also an essential volume for anyone who has been captured by the spell of the highway and neon's siren song.

For many, supporting Manchester United Football Club is much more than the ninety minutes out on the pitch. Away from the stadiums around England and abroad, fans' interest can also extend to collecting items of memorabilia relating to the club and its players. Some simply collect programmes from the games they attend, along with the match ticket if they had one, but there are others so engrossed in the club's long and illustrious history that they have created their own personal Manchester United museum, with countless other items relating to the games and the individuals who have worn the red shirt. Here, Iain McCartney, long-time collector and editor of the Manchester United Review Collectors Club, looks at some of the items that these supporters scour the footballing world for.

Judy Garland is a true Hollywood icon. A legend. Her remarkable 45-year career in show business began at the age of two, when she performed on stage as the diminutive member of the singing trio the Gumm Sisters. By the age of thirteen, she was under contract to MGM, and her extraordinary fifteen-year association with the studio provided moviegoers with memorable performances in classic motion pictures such as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade. In the late 1930s, merchandise bearing her name and likeness began to fill department store shelves throughout the country. With over five hundred illustrations, this book explores all areas of the Garland merchandising phenomenon. It provides readers with a nostalgic, photographic reference guide to the vast array of collectibles, plus a biography exploring Judy's early childhood and rise to stardom, and a complete motion picture chronology, discography, home video library, and portrait gallery. This unique volume delivers a comprehensive identification and price guide for collectors of movie posters, movie memorabilia, Wizard of Oz collectibles, dolls, records, and sheet music.

A calendar year's worth of historical events are presented along with auctions of related collectibles in this fun and informative compilation. The day-by-day historical entries and corresponding sales are arranged chronologically from January 1 to December 31. Many of the sales, both public and private, were for fabulous sums. The Cowardly Lion's costume from The Wizard of Oz auctioned for $3+ million. Joan of Arc's ring sold for almost $425,000. The most expensive album wasn't by the Beatles, but by Wu-Tang Clan, whose Once Upon a Time in Shaolin sold for a reported $2 million. More than 650 images further illustrate the antiques, artworks, pop culture memorabilia, and ephemera. Did you know the largest sum paid for an artwork by a living artist was more than $57 million? Look at the November 12 listing to find out more.