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How can you tell a fake watch from a real one? Where are fakes made? What grades of quality can one find among so-called “replicas”? How can one buy a watch on the internet? How can one avoid fraudulent copies? These are just some of the questions to which any wristwatch enthusiast needs to find answers in an era when counterfeiting luxury products has become an industry in its own right.
This book, of which the greater part is devoted to the most prestigious watch brands, provides readers with vital information on identifying fakes. It aims to ensure that buying a watch from a private individual, from a professional or on the internet (the global hub for the sale of fake watches) does not turn out to be a nightmare! Illustrated with over 500 photos, the differences between original and counterfeit models are exposed in detail (mechanisms, dials, bracelets, etc.). To our knowledge, no other work of this type has been published to date, doubtless due to the explosive nature of this fascinating topic.

“Erudite, while still being fun to read.” — Professor Tim Neild, physiologist and medical educator

“A triumph of Social History in the Georgian period.” — Dr Nigel Cooke FRCP, physician and ceramic historian

This is the first biography and reference book dedicated to Samuel Percy, a modeler who produced an impressive oeuvre of wax portraits and tableaux in the mid-to-late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Based in part on the author’s own substantial collection of Percy waxes, this book follows Percy from his beginnings in Dublin, at the Dublin Society Drawing Schools, working with the famed statuary John Van Nost; to England, where he journeyed from town to town, putting advertisements in regional newspapers. These revealing advertisements have been gathered here for the first time, in order to track his travels. Whether taking the likeness of Princess Charlotte of Wales, or falling victim to a highway robber in Birmingham, these fragments of Percy’s history paint a fascinating picture of his life as a wandering artisan. As well as a chronological narrative of Percy’s life, this book commits an entire chapter to an area of his work that has never been studied before: his miniature tableaux. These portray various subjects, both religious and secular, from Christ on the Cross to playing children. They are catalogued in an appendix, and almost thirty are illustrated. Based entirely on original research, Mr. Percy: Portrait Modeller in Coloured Wax features over a hundred illustrations, celebrating both Percy’s accomplishments and the works of other modellers for comparison.

Bruges City Guide 2016 is THE most comprehensive guide to visiting the ‘Venice of the north’; this guide contains up-to-date information (opening hours etc.) on ALL places of interest, museums and attractions, and will be revised every year. The convenient address guide will help you find the best shops, hotels, bed and breakfasts, cafés and restaurants, while the fold out street map will help you get to your destination. This definitive little guide includes three atmospheric walks, as well as cycling routes, through the city, helping you discover the incredibly diverse museums, from the Groeninge Museum, featuring fine art from the 15th to the 21st century, to the Hospital Museum – two medieval hospital buildings in the centre of Bruges, enjoying a new lease of life as art galleries; monuments, such as The Belfry, with its carillon that has rung every quarter hour for over 700 years; well-known locations, such as the historic city centre – A UNESCO World Heritage Site; and picturesque, hidden alleyways. It also includes tips from locals, letting you in on the secrets that only those native to Bruges would know, and features information on cultural events. Bruges City Guide 2016 illustrates how this historic city, with its cherished architecture and artistic treasures – and its breweries and 50 or so chocolate boutiques – really does have something for everybody, whether you’re planning a daytrip or a weekend getaway. Text in Italian.

This wide-ranging study is the outcome of the author’s thirty-year quest to collect information about a neglected and almost forgotten field of history – the prisoner of war, the conditions under which he was held and how he employed his time during long years of captivity. In this instance, the whole is set against an historical background dating from the Seven Years War (1756-63) to Napoleon’s downfall in 1816. Information has been painstakingly acquired by detailed searches through the Public Records Offices of England, Scotland and Wales and the archives of numerous county towns. The author has also studied more than one hundred towns and villages, where paroled captured officers were detained, and visited the sites of prison depots – great and small – and ports and rivers where the dreaded prison hulks had once been moored. The gathering and examination of artefacts, relics and other relevant material was a further important aspect of this extensive study. During the course of his lengthy researches, the author assembled what may well be one of the largest private collections of prisoner of war artefacts in existence. Although thousands of items of prisoners’ work have survived to the present day, most have disappeared into private collections and museums, at home or abroad. A representative selection of items from the author’s own extensive collection is featured in the second volume and shows the extraordinary high standard of workmanship achieved by many of the prisoners of war.

This publication is the second edition of this contemporary guide to the architecture of Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city and one of its most fascinating destinations.

The guide’s introduction featuring three critical treatises outlines the historic and urbanistic profile of the city. The selection of 74 projects, organised in 5 itineraries, provides a full-immersion in architecture, allowing the reader to dwell on the functional, typological and compositive aspects of the buildings, which are rendered even more legible by images and technical drawings that supplement the descriptions. This volume also contains useful information and advice, making it easier and quicker for readers to get around the city and truly capture the essence of the place even in a short visit.

This is more than simply an architecture guide: it is also and above all an invitation to travel.

A colorful and entertaining guide for visiting – or getting better acquainted with – the city of Florence and its artistic wonders. An amusing story that you will find yourself reading over and over again: it will be your ally to better enjoy your visit to the most famous art city in the world. The guide will entertain you with fun facts and anecdotes narrated through the story of Philip and his guides: his uncle Charlie, a world-famous archaeologist, and his friend Giulia, a talented restorer. On this fascinating journey, our heroes venture out into the streets, palaces, churches, museums and gardens of Florence. Through their journey, they will meet the most diverse characters (saints, painters, scientists, architects, popes, politicians), some famous, and others less so – but all of them quirky enough. This book will bring together young readers and adults, entertaining both with the most interesting facts about the city, through the simple and discursive way of its narration.

Florence: Just Add Water…
was thought up, written and designed in collaboration with the renowned Amici dei Musei Fiorentini association, ensuring the highest quality of information; its illustrations give an imaginative richness to the numerous, splendid photographs updated in this new edition.

This publication is the second edition of the London Architecture Guide and features new insights and new itineraries. The architectural and cultural expansion of the largest city in Western Europe is constantly evolving, confirming year after year its multi-ethnic and innovative soul. The city presents itself as a set of extraordinary buildings, created by internationally renowned architects, which coexist harmoniously, unmistakably characterizing its skyline. The itineraries featured include about 80 architectural works, both historical and contemporary, which are fully illustrated with images, drawings and descriptions, and are marked on the front of the map with a reference number corresponding to the section in the book and the icon on the back of the map. The guide also provides information about museums, libraries, institutions, movie theatres, restaurants and gathering places.

Among others, the project selection includes works by Allies and Morrison, Arup Associates, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Avery Associates, Foster + Partners, Grimshaw Architects, Herzog & De Meuron, James Stirling, Jestico + Whiles, John Mc Aslan + Partners, Stanton Williams, OMA, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Richard Rogers Partnership, Stanton Williams Architects, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Zaha Hadid Architects.

Kashmir: A Journey Through History will appeal to the armchair traveler and history buff. Neither an academic tome nor a guidebook, it describes how Kashmir – ringed by snow-capped peaks – has attracted pilgrims and Sufis, armies and traders, travelers and adventurers, over the centuries, who embraced the crisp mountain air, a world away from the soaring heat of the Indian plains.
Weare creates engaging story lines that capture the passage of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic influences which have shaped Kashmir’s rich cultural history. The book traces the journey of the region from its ancient times to the present, with chapters highlighting periods in history, such as the role of the Mughal Emperors who created over 700 resplendent gardens and patronized the fine pashmina shawls that were to grace the palaces of India and Europe. The Treaty of Amritsar signed by the British East India Company and Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu, in 1846, created the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir – a state forged more through political ambition than cultural design. It was a time when Kashmir became part of the Great Game, where intrepid British explorers kept a watchful eye on the state’s borders.
In October 1947 Kashmir’s political future came to a head when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India. Since then Kashmir has been subject to decades of instability along with years battling insurgency as it continues on its long walk to normalcy. 
Featuring over 120 inspiring images and packed with nuggets of information, Kashmir: A Journey Through History takes the reader on a fascinating voyage through a land that has inspired poets and emperors, writers and explorers, through the ages.
Since the late 1990s, Albert Weis’s art has gained widespread public attention. His installations with their references to architecture, as well as his sculptural and photographic works, analyze the complex nature of urban spaces and examine how people interact with them. In addition to Weis’s visual exploration of existing urban spaces with his camera, he also investigates the utopian and dystopian qualities of modern architecture – above all by means of physical interventions. He is particularly intrigued by surfaces as the level where internal and external, inside and outside, private and public are both separated and bridged. Using mirrors, aluminum plates, screentone sheets, colored foil, perforated plates, and neon tubes, the artist creates intricate structures. These works duplicate, enhance, and even optically negate surfaces through folds, reflections, and mirror images.
Weis’s installations consistently raise the question of how architecture and design guide, limit, or liberate people’s everyday lives. What functions do the buildings that surround us serve? How do roads and walkways allow us to negotiate our urban landscape? How does architecture influence our movements?

This book is the first-ever comprehensive monograph on Albert Weis. Containing numerous essays, in-depth information on individual works, and a wealth of images, it provides unique insights into the rich and diverse oeuvre of the artist.

Text in English and German.

Parisian churches are revered around the globe. Their stunning stained-glass windows and intricate Gothic architecture are accomplishments of unrivalled elegance. Churches of Paris gathers 37 of the finest in the City of Light, spanning the 12th to the 19th centuries. Each entry is embellished with beautiful color photography and behind-the-scenes historical commentary. 

Offering insight into the buildings’ construction and genesis, this book narrates how each church was shaped by war, revolution and time. With information on restoration and preservation, this is an invaluable guide for Francophiles and curious armchair travelers alike. 

Featured churches include: Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre, Basilique Sainte-Clotilde, Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis, Notre-Dame Cathedral, La Chapelle de l’Epiphanie des Missions Etrangères et la Salle des Martyrs, La Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse, La Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, La Madeleine, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux, Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Cathedral Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky, Saint-Augustin, La Sainte-Chapelle, Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Hongrie, Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, La Sainte-Trinité, Saint-Eugène-Sainte-Cécile, Saint-Eustache, Saint-François-Xavier, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais, Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas, Saint-Joseph-des-Carmes, Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, Saint-Louis-en-l’Île, Saint-Merry, Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis, Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, Saint-Roch, Saint-Séverin, Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, The American Cathedral in Paris

A delectable experience for gastronomes, Veena Sharma’s Vegetarian Cuisine from the Himalayan Foothills delves into mouth-watering recipes that draw upon local bounties – some forgotten, or less used, grains and greens, spices and fruits – from the Himalayan heights. Exploring a variety of palates and creating a whole range of nutritious and tasty foods, there is an underlay of a desire to retain and re-establish the biodiversity that is vital for your physical and mental health.

Traditional produce are dressed and enhanced to enrich the urban table, catering to your taste buds and nurturing your bodies and minds. Think of nutritional lentil kebabs, vegetables with a twist, zesty chutneys, nourishing soups, and even extraordinary desserts like phony gulab jamuns and luscious puddings. The inclusion of several vegan and gluten free recipes makes the book of interest to those with special tastes.

With striking photographs and useful snippets of information accompanying each recipe, this book is sure to feed your deepest cravings.

Instagram photographers take us around the world to new and breath-taking locations where we can spend the night and enjoy the sunrise. Curated by the three Sizoo brothers – Bob, Willem, and Bastiaan – Depart unveils the whereabouts of some of the best locations, making this an inspirational photography book and a practical guide for travel enthusiasts. Over 40 stunning destinations from around the world are captured by up-and-coming as well as established photographers, with useful traveling information for when you get there.

This work is intended to give the reader an insight into the furniture of the Lesser Antilles, and its place in the changing politics and history of these Caribbean islands. The inspiration for this book came initially from the collection formed by the author’s mother, Dorothy Sturm, in Trinidad, during the years between 1939 and 1981. As Philip Sturm became increasingly involved with the responsibilities of caring for the family collection as well as being a keen collector himself, he discovered there were no books on the subject. He was obliged to rely on his own general knowledge, local information, an art and history background and many hours spent in the libraries and archives of Trinidad, Barbados, St. Kitts, and the Virgin Islands. Even this produced very little information, the only references coming from advertisements of furniture on packets arriving in the harbours, or from house auction sales. Accordingly, he resolved to draw upon his own experience and conduct his own detailed and leng

The photo-tear-off-calendar is already set to appear for the 10th time and will delight us again every day in 2023 with an instant photo and its own little story. 365 times, the calendar shows the almost intimate snapshots of well-known photographers and newcomers, professionals and individuals.

On the front of each calendar page there is an analog instant-photo in original size, finished with high-quality lacquer finish creating a true polaroid feeling. On the back is a little text to the emergence of a picture and information about the photographer and the film used.

Therefore the PHOTODARIUM (formerly POLADARIUM) is a treasure and an eyecatcher for desk, window sill, cake buffet, parcel shelf, shop windows, bed stand … and of course the perfect christmas gift for lovers of analog photography!

For everyone who wants more: For the fifth time we publish the PHOTODARIUM PRIVATE parallel to the classic one. This tear-off calendar reveals uncensored instant images with an artistic approach to nudity. Day after day a new erotic, nude or cheeky instant-picture is uncovered.

On the front of each calendar page there is an analog instant-photo in original size, finished with high-quality lacquer finish creating a true polaroid feeling. On the back is a little text to the emergence of a picture and information about the photographer and the film used.

A modern and young view on eroticism beyond pornographic clichés – from photographers and individuals all around the world. Emancipated & honest. The private edition has a sticker sheet for personal censorship, is limited and a very special piece of art!

Therefore the PHOTODARIUM (formerly POLADARIUM) is a treasure and an eyecatcher for desk, window sill, cake buffet, parcel shelf, shop windows, bed stand … and of course the perfect Christmas gift for lovers of analog photography!

Music is the message! This colorful, interactive calendar offers a new song line every day from vocal artists that you love, and much more.

Timeless, smash hits, one-hit wonders, catchy tunes, golden oldies, all-time faves or chart breakers – they all have lyrics that inspire, move, or motivate us. Sometimes the lyrics lend themselves to reflection, sometimes to singing along. Each calendar page is exclusively designed with the fonts that were created in the respective year of the song‘s release.

On the front, each song quote has its matching Spotify link for instant listening, and on the back, information about the song itself.

In this first book about the rather young discipline, the author consolidated its key principles, so that they can be consulted, referenced and utilized by both design students and professionals.

Only when the perfect balance between visual beauty and functional performance is achieved, can a product provide a consistent and successful user experience. The discipline of CMF design focuses on designing and specifying colors, materials and finishes to support both functional and emotional attributes of products. The work of the CMF designer combines aesthetics and practical knowledge of materials and technologies with intangible human perceptions of value.

This area of design expertize is increasingly in demand. Consumer product manufacturers have an enhanced awareness of its great potential for diversifying product portfolios at relatively low costs, while still maintaining a similar or the same product shape, functionality or tooling. It can work as a key avenue to create a sense of novelty and higher value propositions. From a marketing perspective, CMF design is a valuable tool when it comes to positioning products, collections and categories according to market tiers and consumer segmentations.

Introducing the CMF process and detailing the areas of color, material and finish design, this book serves as a valuable source of information about this emerging professional discipline and its fundamental principles.

Italian Wines is the English-language version of Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia, the world’s best-selling guide to Italian wine. It is the result of a year’s work by over 60 tasters, coordinated by three curators. They travel around the entire country to taste 45,000 wines, only half of which make it into the guide. More than 2,500 producers have been selected. Each entry brings together useful information about the winery, including a description of its most important labels and price levels in Italian wine shops. Each wine is evaluated according to the Gambero Rosso bicchieri rating, with Tre Bicchieri awarded to the top labels.

The guide is an essential tool for both wine professionals and passionate amateurs around the globe: it provides the instruments for finding one’s way in the complex panorama of Italy’s wine world.

Discover half-hidden chateaux and artists’ country houses; walk, boat or dance by the river; explore old towns and country footpaths; and eat in family-run restaurants with 1950s decor–and prices to match. Based on over 20 years’ experience of exploring the Paris countryside by train, each visit includes the essential historical context and practical information to help you discover places unknown to many Parisians. Written with humor and a flair for the unusual and authentic, the text is illustrated with original photos and local maps. It includes a unique guide to using the excellent local train network.

A richly illustrated book about the celebrated connoisseur, collector and philanthropist Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890), published by the Wallace Collection to mark the bicentenary of his birth.

Includes 490 illustrations and new information on Wallace’s origins and life.

Experience the sights and sounds of the City of Lights like a true native with this expanded edition Bill Gillham has been visiting Paris for decades. For him, the pleasure is not in revisiting the tourist sights, but rather in immersing himself in a particular quartier, discovering little shops and bistros, exploring markets, parks, and local entertainment, and finding the quirks and particularities of the city’s day-to-day life. In this unique guidebook, Bill takes travelers to 21 of his favorite areas in Paris–some central, some suburban, all off the beaten track. Neglected or completely ignored by ordinary guide books, each of these locales has a purely individual, Parisian character and make superb bases for traditional sightseeing, and in particular an ideal way of seeing Paris with children. All the information about where to stay; how to get about; where to shop and eat; which museums, parks, playgrounds to not miss; and what to avoid is provided along with lush photographs that give a hint of the pleasures to be gleaned. All the information has been meticulously updated, and many sections have been enlarged and improved.

The photo-tear-off-calendar is already set to appear for the 11th time and will delight us again every day in 2024 with an instant photo and its own little story. 365 times, the calendar shows the almost intimate snapshots of well-known photographers and newcomers, professionals and individuals.

On the front of each calendar page there is an analog instant-photo in original size, finished with high-quality lacquer finish creating a true polaroid feeling. On the back is a little text to the emergence of a picture and information about the photographer and the film used.

Therefore the PHOTODARIUM (formerly POLADARIUM) is a treasure and an eyecatcher for any desk, window sill, cake buffet, parcel shelf, shop windows, bed stand … and of course the perfect christmas gift for lovers of analog photography!

Discover the hidden beauty of some 30 mountain cabins and their distinctive architecture in this captivating book. From cosy retreats nestled in the woods to modern structures perched on cliffsides, explore the unique and innovative designs that blend seamlessly into their rugged surroundings. Follow along as renowned architects share their visions and inspirations for creating mountain cabins that not only provide shelter but also enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. Stunning photographs showcase the details of each cabin, from the materials used to the panoramic views that greet visitors. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply seeking inspiration for your next mountain retreat, this book has you covered. The selection includes cabins in both Europe & North America and has detailed information on the hiking trails located near each featured mountain cabin.

This well-illustrated book – previously published as Carpets & Rugs (9789401476928) – features 200 carpets found amazing homes around the world. Get inspired and upgrade your own interior with amazing carpets and rugs. In thematic chapters, the book covers the main international trends, from Ethnic to Art Deco and from Contemporary to Artsy. These dressed-up living spaces provide new ideas for anyone fascinated by stylish living, creative interior design and the myriad possibilities for home decor. In addition, the author provides helpful information on the provenance of materials, quality of design, composition and workmanship possibilities for home decor. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the homes of people with a good taste.