Kindred Spirits showcases the remarkable flowering of Chinese style ceramics that took place in Japan after the mid-19th century. For over a thousand years, Chinese ceramics have been admired and emulated in Japan. This book discusses for the first time how this artistic relationship evolved during the Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa eras. A selection of 100 works from the acclaimed Shen Zhai Collection demonstrates the range and quality of these ceramics, from elegant celadons to sophisticated underglaze blue porcelains. Detailed descriptions, makers’ marks, and box inscriptions make this a valuable reference resource for collectors and art historians.
Fifteen years ago, Eduardo Mencos (farmer, landscape designer and photographer) and Charles Quest-Ritson (historian, writer, journalist and editor) conceived the idea of going on a trip around the world, like Jules Verne, but with the olive tree playing the leading role. The outcome of that adventure through 26 countries is this book, which tells the story of humankind through the olive tree and its fruit. In the book, the authors take an in-depth look at a tree that is so familiar to us all and yet still remains so much of a mystery in terms of its many different guises.
With over 200 spectacular photographs taken by Eduardo Mencos, accompanied by an erudite text written by Charles Quest-Ritson, the book sweeps through the manifold manifestations of the olive tree and its distinguishing traits. It covers the origin and later domestication of the tree, all of the different roles it has played and the significance it has had at different times throughout history, its importance in the Bible, right through to the most innovative contemporary methods used today for growing and cloning olive trees, together with the prominent place it holds in the Mediterranean diet and its different uses.
The intention of this long journey is to awaken a vision of the olive tree that is imbued with beauty, poetry and curiosity.
“A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age.” —Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France
“This monograph is an invitation to visit the Palazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio.”—Italian Vogue
“A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesn’t just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos…” —Architectural Digest, and Yahoo
With its sun-drenched sands and Mediterranean waters, Sicily has been a favored destination of travelers for centuries. History is alive on this island, from ancient accounts of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans; to the journals of wealthy young European men embarking on the Grand Tour. This book captures the sun-steeped aesthetic of the island, while detailing the restoration of one of its finest attractions: the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace.
Marquis de Castelluccio was one of the last “servals” or “leopards” of Sicily – wealthy aristocrats who flooded the island with luxury. Following his death, his home fell to ruin. A half-century later, Jean-Louis Remilleux fell in love with this dilapidated 18th-century palace and made it his mission to restore it. Unveiled for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book, the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palazzo is one of the finest testaments to Sicilian architecture and art.
Today, lush green palm trees welcome you to the palace’s imposing front façade. Frescoes, arabesques, masks, imitation marble, ceilings and wainscoting have all restored to their former glory, over decades of elaborate work. This book charts the restoration process and celebrates the astonishing end results. It contains an album’s worth of photographs that capture the beauty of this palace beneath the Mediterranean sun.
San Diego: it’s a coastal paradise with year-round perfect weather, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a laid-back vibe that will instantly put a smile on your face. It’s not only sunshine and perfect waves, though. This SoCal spot is rich in history. It is a mecca of delicious food and drink. And its proximity to Mexico makes for a breathtaking border culture that is seen, felt, and tasted everywhere you go.
From midnight lobster diving to channeling your inner bookworm at a queer-owned feminist bookshop, going on a guided mezcal adventure to shopping for doll house construction materials, or fraternizing with friendly ungulates to hiking a wildflower-laden portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in San Diego County.
So, whether you’re a San Diego native, a visitor, or just considering a sunny vacation, this book will give you 111 ideas for a really good time. Go on, what are you waiting for?
Capturing the juxtaposition between its vibrant beach culture and towering urban landscape, Rob Ball’s photographs of this famous Spanish seaside town consider the promise of the perfect package holiday – and whether it has changed since it’s conception in the fifties. From sunlit palm trees to shimmering neon lights, from pastel-colored high rises to bright pink beach towels, from the greys and browns of backstreets to the pinks and reds of sunburn, this is a visual ode to all the colors of Benidorm and a testament to its irrepressible energy.
Cars have a talismanic quality. No other manufactured object has the same disturbing allure. More emotions are involved in cars and car design than in any other product: vanity, cupidity, greed, social competitiveness and cultural modelling. But when all this perverse promise ends in catastrophe, these same talismanic qualities acquire an extra dimension.
The car crash is a defining phenomenon of popular culture. Death Drive is both an appreciative essay about the historic place of the automobile in the modern imagination and a detailed exploration of the circumstances of 24 celebrity car crashes, from Isadora Duncan in an Amilcar, in 1927, to Helmut Newton in a Cadillac, in 2004. The author concludes by confronting the imminent demise of the car itself.
Life is always winking at us, calling our attention to the beauty hidden in plain sight. And yet, we often miss what’s right in front of our noses, either lost in thought or tethered to never-ending to-do lists. This is a handbook for anyone who feels some of the shine has worn off their daily life and wants to reconnect with the beauty hidden in plain sight. In this exquisite collection of photographs, poems and creative invitations, we are reminded that we don’t need to wait for miracles to be astonished. Wonder is a state of mind, available to us every day of our lives.
A miniature painting holds wondrous powers, beyond its defined space. A single image can summon up a world of adventures, enclosed chambers, gardens, rivers, lakes, forests, flowers, and an infinite variety of trees in bloom. In Indian art, miniatures were conceived as sets of narrative illustrations based on classic texts, such as the Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, Ragamala, etc. Miniature painting continues to hold its appeal well into the 21st century. Contemporary artists of importance have imbibed influences from the miniature traditions, in technique, theme and coloration. This book explores a relationship between Indian contemporary painting and inspiration from medieval miniatures.
The author studies the art of five significant Indian modern and contemporary artists—Abanindranath Tagore, Manjit Bawa, Waswo X. Waswo with Rakesh Vijayvargiya, and Nilima Sheikh—who have resourced and reinvented iconic traditions with different perspectives and using different techniques. Accompanied with splendid illustrations, the essays bring attention to the Indian art of today with the magical transformation of older concepts and techniques in miniature painting into contemporary practice.
Refuge is the sixth book by Lara Gasparotto and spans four years of daily photographic practice, in the artist’s immediate environment but also much further away, as far as Guyana, via Quebec and Louisiana.
More than a practice, it is rather a way of looking at the world that drives Lara Gasparotto. A world of outdoors, of flora, fauna, rain, sun, lakes, trees, and her family.
Gasparotto spent a winter and a spring working on the selection for this book. In the end, Refuge delivers a subtle narration without chapters, without page numbers, and where the rhythm is changing.
On the cover is an illustration by her sister Lissa Gasparotto and inside a poetic text by Eva Mancuso. The 200 images are a little more than strictly photography: intuitive and nourished by painting, Gasparotto seeks with pastel, gouache, sometimes even oil, tenuous elements of her photos that she modifies, enhances, underlines and then rephotographs to finally, very subtly, move the image from the mechanical and the chemical to the fleeting expressiveness of the living.
Text in French.
‘Sofreh’ is Persian for ‘spread’ – referring to the colorful arrangements of flowers, condiments and objects of spiritual or cultural importance that are displayed at Persian ceremonies. As the title promises, this book is a visual feast. Flush with lavish historical illustrations and contemporary photography, it documents Persian marriage and New Year celebrations in rich detail. Sofreh pays homage to ancient traditions, discussing the symbiosis of symbolism and culture. Despite their ancestral roots, the featured ceremonies are infused with life and creativity. Modern fabrics are welcomed alongside refined antique textiles, creative floral designs, unconventional pieces of furniture, and unexpected objects. References to Persian poetry, literature, art and folklore stimulate the imagination, and the text is illuminated with exquisitely detailed extracts from old manuscripts, antique woven textiles and embroideries. Each volume centres around a series of original and at times highly elaborate sofreh creations. Together they comprise an extensive project, involving research into Persian ceremonies and sofreh history by an eminent scholar, and the design and creation of stunning compositions. Book One is about the Persian New Year (Nowruz), which is celebrated on the first day of Spring. Book Two explores Persian marriage and wedding customs, and the elaborate settings for marriage ceremonies (Aqd). These two lavishly illustrated volumes, which make an enduring gift, are devoted to showcasing sofreh compositions in all of their glory. Never before have the splendour and beauty of the sofreh been presented in such an intricate and novel fashion.
Most studies of ancient technology have hitherto been based on the civilizations of the Mediterranean and Middle East, especially those of Egypt, Greece and Rome. When the first European surveys of the surviving mines and metals industries in India were made in the 19th century, the then-primitive technology encountered was deemed to have been all that India had ever achieved. However, the project described in this volume indicates that in previous centuries, the mining and metals industries were much better organized, employing sophisticated and innovative technologies.
Archaeological survey and excavation at three major mining and metal production sites in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan (Agucha, Dariba and Zawar), well away from the Graeco-Roman world, shed light on the long-term development of mining and smelting activity over 3000 years. Zinc was and still is the principal metal extracted, together with minor amounts of lead and silver. The first production of zinc on an industrial scale anywhere in the world – by advanced processes of high temperature distillation – was discovered at Zawar. This led the authors of this book to study the silver production at Dariba and Agucha, producing further evidence of major and complex industrial enterprises which took place well outside the Eurocentric Middle East.
Through this lavishly illustrated volume, readers will discover how various cultures, ranging from ancient societies to more recent Western cultures, created gilded surfaces and how the allure of gold inspired new and ingenious technologies. Among others, practical techniques covered include foil and leaf gilding, depletion and diffusion techniques, fire gilding and electroplating. Conservation issues are also addressed.
This is the first comprehensive overview of the techniques and materials used in a range of monumental paintings from different regions, dating from the mid fourth century BC to the first century BC, which reflect Hellenistic culture. It is based primarily on the technical examination, undertaken by the author during her D.Phil thesis at the University of Oxford, of materials of different typology: paintings – including wall paintings, painted architectural elements and marble monuments. Further information was taken from selected published and unpublished sources. The book provides significant new evidence on techniques and materials of painting and pigments during this period. The in situ examination of the paintings was based on careful visual observation and employed special lighting and photographic methods for recording and documenting the paintings. This revealed important features and allowed hypotheses to be established concerning the techniques and materials of the Ancient Greeks.
This volume contains written versions of presentations given at a two-day meeting entitled Holding it all together: ancient and modern approaches to joining, repair and consolidation. This topic was deliberately chosen to be wide ranging; in an era of escalating specialisation, it is felt that there are increasingly few opportunities for a wide range of professionals with an interest in the conservation and technical study of the cultural heritage to come together. The papers are divided into three groups: ancient and traditional joins and repairs, modern joins and repairs and case studies on subjects as diverse as the Caergwrle bowl, a Bronze Age shale bowl apparently depicting a boat, and the types of conservation materials used in early twentieth century Mexico.
The eleven painting fragments from the tomb-chapel of Nebamun that were brought to the British Museum in the early 19th century have long been recognized as some of the finest examples of ancient Egyptian art and have been considered among the greatest treasures of the British Museum. This book is an account of the work of the team of curators, conservators and scientists to examine and conserve the painting fragments (and their history) before preparing them for display in a new exhibition in Gallery 61 at the British Museum. The British Museum team has identified the materials and techniques that were used by the ancient Egyptian artists, and the numerous interventions that have been undertaken in the past to preserve and restore the paintings.
The Vessantara Jataka is the tale of Buddha’s last life, before he was reborn as the historical Buddha 2,500 years ago. In this earlier existence as Prince Vessantara he demonstrated evidence of the highest virtue that constitutes an enlightened man: generosity. Vessantara gave away everything dear to him – in the climactic scene of the story, even his wife and children. In North-East Thailand the Vessantara tale is celebrated annually as Bun Phra Wet. Pha Phra Wet – ‘Vessantara cloths’ – form the visual framework for this festival; they are hand-painted scrolls, which can reach lengths of up to one hundred meters.
Devotion presents, for the very first time, a selection of six full-length Vessantara scrolls and explores a contemporary multimedia celebration of an ancient Buddhist text.
The skilful works of Yasuhisa Kohyama are inspired by ancient Japanese Shigaraki, Jomon and Yayoi ceramics. Using special Shigaraki clay and the fire of an anagama wood kiln, in the fusion of traditional technique and a modern language of form he creates vessels and sculptures that are not only powerful and innovative but also timelessly beautiful. Characteristic for Kohyama’s asymmetric objects is their rough surface – a haptic quality rarely found in contemporary ceramics – as well as an exciting interplay of color, which is created without glaze and solely by the movement of the ash and the position of the object within the kiln.
Contents:
Foreword – Jack Lenor Larsen
Tradition and Innovation in the Work of Yasuhisa Kohyama – Susan Jefferies
Kohyama-san and Japanese Ceramic History: Notes on “Suemono” – Michael R. Cunningham
Yasuhisa Kohyama: The Art of Ceramics – Yoshiaki Inui
Catalog of works
Appendix
The largest surviving portion of the first major collection of Classical antiquities in Britain – the sculptures and inscriptions collected in the early 17th century by Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel for his London house and garden – is in the Antiquities Department of the Ashmolean Museum. This handbook tracks their eventful history.
It is difficult to imagine the history of modern architecture in Britain being written without reference to the work of Eldred Evans and David Shalev. From 1967, when they won the international competition for Newport High School, Evans and Shalev maintained a distinctive presence as designers. Together they created a body of work that is uniformly innovative, elegant and sensitive to place, and realized with care, skill and intelligence. This new monograph documents their remarkable oeuvre as it developed over six decades. Introduced by Joseph Rykwert, the book includes critical commentaries by David Dunster, Patrick Hodgkinson and others.
Contents: Introduction by Joseph Rykwert; Principle works: Newport High School, Children’s Reception Home Alexander Road, Truro Crown Courts, Tate St. Ives, The Quincentenary Library, Jesus College, Bede’s World Museum; Complete Project Index; Credits.
Rome Wasn’t Drawn in a Day is a coloring book filled with exquisite templates, allowing you to step in to the shoes of Romulus and Remus as you bring the eternal city to life. Use your own artistic direction to turn DolceQ’s intricate illustrations into a beautiful and personal souvenir of Rome. Reimagine some of Rome’s iconic landmarks by fusing floral and geometric patterns with both ancient and modern architecture. Explore the contrast between the sharp outline of the Altare Della Patria with the intricately detailed patterns that surround it. Sketch the skyline of St Peters whilst the wolves howl from below. Trace the Tiber with your pencil and view Rome from above. Color the vibrant culture of Rome, from rappers to mythical creatures, from ancient monuments to contemporary art museums. The book outlines the beauty of past and present Rome in a series of templates, offering a truly unique way to relax, explore the city and create a work of art.
Although Chinese scholars’ stones fascinate, they do not speak; they reveal their mysteries only grudgingly to those who take the time to observe and to investigate. In seven essays the author relates important lessons learned over a lifetime of collecting and researching these intriguing creations of nature. What did Chinese connoisseurs of a thousand years ago mean by the enigmatic terms shou, zhou, lou, and tou? Were ‘ink mountain stones’ the earliest collected stone form, and were they valued primarily for their utilitarian function? What are the ‘Qingzhou stones’ mentioned in one early text, but ignored in subsequent writings? What should we be looking for when we evaluate an ancient stone? How can we tell if it is ancient without written records and how much weight can be given to any documentation? Finally, using the tools of connoisseurship and textual evidence, is it possible to verify that a stone first collected in the former Han dynasty is the stone we are looking at today? In exploring these and other issues, Kemin Hu illuminates a depth and complexity of stone appreciation not touched upon in other publications, yet understood and appreciated by serious modern collectors as well as Chinese stone lovers of old.
The influence of Anjou and Aragon, and the traces left by Bourbon, Hapsburg and Napoleonic domination have made Naples a treasure-trove of different styles and periods, rich in original imperfections and extravagance that deserve to be discovered and enjoyed. This guide is aimed at illustrating the structure and unusual aspects of a city in constant artistic ferment, where architecture ranges from ancient aristocratic palaces to the modern futuristic skyscrapers of the business district, the Art Stations of the Naples Metro, the small Art Nouveau houses in the poorer areas in the historic centre; architecture that exists layer upon layer, spreading outwards to the city boundaries. The twenty-year period of Fascism was crucial for Neapolitan architecture: the city was the object of widespread land drainage and reclamation work, resulting in the conclusive isolation of the Angevin Keep, the creation of the new Corsea in the area of the new foundations for the San Giuseppe-Carità district, as well as a large number of building projects in the city centre. The ‘On the Road’ series offers readers a voyage of discovery showing how ancient historical buildings like those of Naples, can cohabit alongside some of the most innovative and contemporary architecture existing today.
This delightfully illustrated volume introduces children and their families to the arts of the Indian subcontinent, spanning nearly two thousand years of artwork. Young readers will explore ancient lore, royal palaces, sacred sites, lush nature, and more, through more than sixty works from the rich collection of the San Diego Museum of Art. Interactive features provide opportunities for further investigation of the themes, history, and artistic techniques discussed in the book. Peacocks and Palaces: Exploring the Art of India is the second instalment in the “Art Unframed” series from the San Diego Museum of Art, which guides children and families toward a deeper understanding of important traditions in the history of art through works in the Museum’s permanent collection.
This book highlights the treasures of the extraordinary personal collection of the Salar Jung family. The Indian Art section focuses on ancient sculptures of the Andhra region and representative paintings of the medieval period. The ‘Asian Art’ section includes a few exceptional pieces of ceramic and other arts from China and Japan. The ‘European Art’ segment includes various pieces of art for which the Museum is famous such as the ‘Veiled Rebecca’ and oil and watercolor paintings by English, French and Dutch artists, apart from several other rare European pieces. ‘In the Palace’ has furniture and household collection of glass and ceramics from around the world. The ‘Arms Collection’ of the Museum has treasured items including weapons belonging to Mughal emperors such as Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.