Antiques

Beautiful, evocative and historically significant, old maps are endlessly intriguing and keenly collected. Antique Maps is widely recognised as a standard reference work for novice map collectors and experts alike. It provides a historical background to the subject and advice on starting a collection. The invaluable biographical section lists major map makers between 1450 and 1850, with key dates and works.

Remarkably, through history, some toys have changed very little. Greek, Egyptian and Roman children played with dolls, miniature houses, balls and spinning tops. Kites have been flown in China for centuries. New technology and the invention of new materials have, however, had an impact. In this appealing and well-illustrated book, Deborah Jaff

They stand elegant and exquisite, casually placed in simple crystal vases, primula, narcissus, a dandelion, a branch of blueberries. They invite us to touch their arched leaves. If we do, we find they are not plucked from the dew at dawn but made of gold, jewels and enamels.

The only full-colour visual reference to Art Nouveau that includes historical information, buyer's tips and a price guide. Over 1,100 specially commissioned colour photographs, precise descriptions and price comparison features enable buyers to instantly identify pieces and snap up a bargain. Profiles major international Art Nouveau designers, factories and schools, including Tiffany, Liberty, Emile Galle and WMF.

The all-new, all-colour, essential practical reference work to identifying and valuing ceramics, both pottery and porcelain. Ceramics is always a hugely popular field due to the sheer choice available, ranging from rare antique porcelain all the way through to more modern and colourful character-based figures that hold a high nostalgia value for their collectors as well as now being capable of reaching relatively high prices. Over 2,500 examples of European and North American pottery and porcelain are described and illustrated in c... read more

"Miller's Antiques Price Guide" 2007 is the definitive antiques price guide with a brand-new makeover. Whether you are buying or selling, with nearly 8,000 colour items - all sourced new each year from the antiques trade - this is the one book no collector can afford to be without. As well as traditional antiques such as furniture, pottery, porcelain, glass, and silver, the latest trends are covered in the decorative arts, and the 20th century. Special features give an in-depth look at American silver, Gothic revival furniture, cre... read more

"What's in the Attic" explains, with the assistance of hundreds of illustrations and invaluable advice from a team of experts, how to tell if an item is an antique, valuable, or rare.

Clearly divided into 80 categories, this year brand new special features include a focus on hot topics such as Advertising and Packaging (Premiums and Give-aways), TV and Film, Scandinavian and Blinko glass, German ceramics, Pez, Hand-held computers. Every item in the book has, in the past year, been sold at auction or offered for sale though a dealer. The invaluable directories at the back of the book provide names and addresses of specialist dealers, auction houses and collecting clubs from around the world. 'Experts Eye' and 'Es... read more

Whether you are a novice collector, dealer or enthusiast, this book has been designed to provide you with a practical source of reference, wherever your collecting takes you. It will help you to tell when, where, by whom, and with what quality of metal most silver items are made. It will enable you to identify a piece of silver, tell whether it is English, American or Continental and, if you have ever wondered what 'sterling' silver actually means, or what a crowned harp or the figure of Britannia signify, the answers are in this b... read more

Forming a collection of antique porcelain is surprisingly simple with the aid of this book, written by a foremost authority. John Sandon presents the essential information in a style which is both accessible and readable, offering all manner of practical advice to the novice and beginner. Where should you buy, what should you look for and how do you avoid fakes? Should you get a damaged piece restored? How much should you spend? The answers to these questions and many more are clearly presented. From its discovery in ancient China... read more

This is a fully illustrated history of the highly influential Arts and Crafts movement covering: * The influence of Ruskin, Pugin, Talbert, Eastlake and G.E. Street * The founding of William Morris & Co. in the 1860s until its demise in the early twentieth century * The fruition of the Movement from 1880 to 1910 including the Guilds, the major personalities and their attitude to Art Nouveau * The aftermath into the 1920s and the rise of Modernism

This work captures the essence of the style which swept across the globe in the 1920s and 1930s, altering the skylines of cities from Shanghai to Rio and adding an exotic, vibrant edge to everything from cinema and fashion to ocean liners and automobiles.

A Collectors Year is a lively account of a year in the life of a collector. Adrian Franklin, TV presenter and author, takes us on a month-by-month journey through the quirky and often kooky world of those enthusiasts who pursue with passion their next treasures to be displayed, admired and loved. From a souvenir shop in Hobart to a car-boot sale in rural England, Franklin explores the best hotspots for collecting, and provides useful insight into where to find collectables and how to sort the trash from the treasure.