The Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp is a house full of art. The museum today is internationally renowned as the home of the famous Dulle Griet (‘Mad Meg’) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. For the locals living in Antwerp, the museum is above all a well-kept secret. At the same time, there is always amazement that so much beauty could be brought together in one place. Who built this collection?

The museum is housed in an historic building that recalls two individuals, Henriëtte van den Bergh (1838-1920) and Fritz Mayer van den Bergh (1858-1901). The entire collection was assembled by Fritz, a man with a keen interest in the Medieval Renaissance periods. Following Fritz’s early and unexpected death on 4 May 1901, it was his mother, Henriëtte van den Bergh, who had the museum built to house his art collection. By doing so, she preserved this exceptional collection and at the same time succeeded in keeping alive a memorial to her son. The museum opened its doors in 1904.

This book offers an insight into the history of the museum and its founders. It is based on in-depth research carried out in the archive of Museum Mayer van den Bergh, which among other things contains the rich correspondence between Fritz and Henriëtte as well as an extensive photo collection. Over four chapters, the book explores the personalities behind the collection, their social background and networks, their interests and their modus operandi. More than anything else, this is the story of Henriëtte van den Bergh, the founder of the museum, who died 100 years ago. With her visionary projects, she proved herself not only to be a forceful personality, but also someone with a forward-looking organisational talent and an entrepreneur with an exceptional mission – and all in a period when the involvement of women in public life was anything but the norm.

“I could have written Herring: A Love Story out of a longstanding fondness for the fish. But I did not have the historical details, the art and the artifacts that resulted in this fascinating book by Daniel Rozensztroch and Cathie Fidler. The New York Times
A long childhood friendship of authors, Daniel Rozensztroch and Cathie Fidler was the beginning of Herring: A Love Story, which traces the history and iconography of the cherished herring. Both from traditional Jewish families, Daniel, an avid collector of the herring containers that were used to marinate and serve herring, and Cathie, a researcher who has put together a unique documentation of herring iconography – vintage stamps, posters, postcards, and engravings. Also included are advertisements, paintings by famous artists, and easy-to-make traditional recipes. Discover the history and influence of herring as told through the eyes of two passionate collectors.

“… With its hundreds of beautiful photographs and outstanding research, it is a magnificent and eye-opening contribution that tells not only the story of the silver and gold items fashioned by Malay artisans but the Malay peoples themselves.’ — Seif El Rashidi, Islamic scholar, author & Director, Barakat Trust

This ground breaking new book is the first study of Malay silver and gold to take chronology and place production into serious consideration, leading to a much more nuanced understanding of developments across Southeast Asia. The exciting findings include the identification as Malay of certain exquisite gold filigree pieces held in august collections worldwide.’ — Annabel Teh Gallop, Head, Southeast Asia Department, British Library

At last, here is an excellent publication that does full justice to the scope and beauty of Malay silver and gold…’ — Sylvia Fraser-Lu, Author

This beautifully produced and illustrated book, ideal for collectors and curators, is the most comprehensive book ever published on the silver and gold ware of the Malay people of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and Brunei.

Hundreds of color photographs of previously unpublished items, and meticulous research, are used to tell not just the story of Malay gold and silver, but that of the Malay people, with reference to their princely regalia, banqueting items, betel sets, jewelry, silver and gold-encased weapons, and other items of adornment and finery. In addition, previously unrecognized gold items made by the Malays for the 18th century European market are identified, and other items of silverware now in museum collections and believed to be Malay are shown not to be.

Michael Backman also shows how 19^th century collecting for museums and private collections, and colonialism itself, all distorted our view of Malay gold and silver today, if not the Malays themselves, and also influenced what was produced. He weaves a complex story, and in so doing reveals the Malays’ rich, dynamic and sophisticated legacy, one that is little understood today.

‘Malay Silver and Gold is the first book on this topic to have been published in over a hundred years. Rightly, it restores the Malays to the very centre of the commercial history and material culture setting of their region whilst placing them in the broader context of the ‘Islamic world’. With its hundreds of beautiful photographs and outstanding research, it is a magnificent and eye-opening contribution that tells not only the story of the silver and gold items fashioned by Malay artisans but the Malay peoples themselves.’ – Seif El Rashidi, Islamic scholar, author & Director, Barakat Trust

‘This ground breaking new book is the first study of Malay silver and gold to take chronology and place production into serious consideration, leading to a much more nuanced understanding of developments across Southeast Asia. The exciting findings include the identification as Malay of certain exquisite gold filigree pieces held in august collections worldwide.’ -Annabel Teh Gallop, Head, Southeast Asia Department, British Library

‘At last, here is an excellent publication that does full justice to the scope and beauty of Malay silver and gold. Michael Backman describes and illustrates the full range of Malay silver and gold work with superlative photographs. A great contribution to a very important, but hitherto not well understood Southeast Asia craft!’ -Sylvia Fraser-Lu, Author

A superb addition to every rose-lover’s library! This is the mysterious story of a more than four-century old quest for the black rose. Does the black rose exist, or has it ever existed? The complete history of this noble flower, based on in-depth research, shows that the quest goes back to the very earliest botanical writings – references to dark roses cropped up in early European botanical literature. Further evolution of the story can be easily traced by rose drawings, from the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century. This beautiful reference book, enhanced by a velvety soft cover, brings the full story of the black rose to life.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum houses an extraordinary collection of ‘prisoners’ objects’. These were made by prison inmates and presented to the ICRC delegates who visited them, as provided for by the Geneva Conventions. For over a century, these objects have borne mute witness to the numerous violent episodes that continue to ravage our planet, from Chile, Vietnam, Algeria and Yugoslavia, to Rwanda and Afghanistan. Made from simple materials – whatever comes to hand in a prison – these objects express the need to escape the world of the jailbird. As a Lebanese inmate puts it, ‘Creating is a way of acquiring freedom of expression, it gives us a means to say what we think while everything we see around urges us to keep quiet and to forget who we are.’ While some of these works touch us through their simplicity, others astonish us with their beauty or ingeniousness. Each bears the imprint of a personal story loaded with emotion, inviting us on a journey through time and collective history.

Spirit of the Amazon is the work of photojournalist Sue Cunningham and writer Patrick Cunningham. It is a celebration of cultural difference and a call for better stewardship of the world. Sue’s stunning photographs demonstrate the spiritual and material value of the Xingu tribes to all mankind; they keep the forest alive and they protect the climate of South America and the rest of the world. Their spiritual connection to their environment and the wider Earth shows us an alternative way to connect to the natural richness of the planet, built on foundations completely different from those of global materialism. During their expedition by boat, the authors followed the course of the Xingu river, a tributary of the Amazon, traveling 2,500 km through the heart of Brazil. They visited forty-eight tribal villages in this remote part of the Amazon, accessible only by small plane or by negotiating the rapids of the Xingu. This is the story of the tribal communities they met; their daily lives, their connection to the land and to the rivers, the threats which pervade each day of their lives. It is also a validation of their importance to the rest of the world; why these small, remote and often secretive indigenous communities are so important to our own lives and to our shared planet. It is a celebration of their vibrant cultures, their rituals and their rites of passage, of cultures very different from each other, but with a shared spiritual basis which respects the trees, the rivers and the rain. And it is a call for the world to protect them, their lands and their forests and rivers from the destruction which our avaricious greed for natural resources drives ever closer and deeper into their realm.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the world’s most important black wine grape as both a varietal and a blend. The Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and other varieties has become universal, but is now challenged by varietal wines from the New World. Going behind the scenes, this worldwide survey, liberally illustrated with maps and photographs, examines the changing nature of Cabernet Sauvignon and its blends. Should the wine be herbaceous or driven by black fruits? Should it be ready to drink on release or require aging? What is the true character of Cabernet Sauvignon? How do the top wines of Napa Valley differ from the First Growths of Bordeaux? Has Bordeaux lost its way in adopting a riper “international” style? How do its wines compare with Bordeaux blends from Coonawarra or Margaret River? Will global warming require the blend to be changed? Is Bordeaux still the essential reference point or has it been displaced by newer regions? Reviewing Cabernets from all over the world, Claret & Cabs includes profiles of leading producers with tasting notes from current and past vintages, and vintage assessments.

The contributions to this volume address aspects relating to the preservation, maintenance and protection of open-air sculpture and sculptural landscapes based on case studies in Europe, North America and Australia. Sculpture parks are found in a range of settings – urban, rural, forest, coastal, desert – each facing challenges in relation to its location, climate and management such as negligence and vandalism (including graffiti) and material degradation: physical damage, corrosion, fading and flaking paint, biological growth etc.

The authors, sometimes after discussions with the artists themselves, consider methods of conservation and management of both the sculpture park environment and collections of artworks made of different materials: wood, metals and alloys, ceramic, stone, concrete, glass, composites etc.

The many pieces of embroidery made by Mary Queen of Scots and by Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury are among the best-known and most important examples of historical embroidery. Most notable is the extent to which the embroideries executed by the two women constitute a single, distinctive body of creative work. The purpose of this book is to address the many unanswered questions surrounding the meaning and purpose of their embroidery and above all, the sources and patterns used for their imagery.

Gathering representative works from mature and experienced design studios and designersaround the world. As the second edition of the 70 Ideas From Global Best Interior Design II series, this book continues to presents a large number of high-quality projects to readers, with diverse cultures and styles. Reading the book, traveling the world, grasping the design trends in Eurasia, North America, South America, Australia, Southeast Asia and experiencing the unique cultural.

This is a beautiful compilation of a hand-picked selection of interior architecture and design projects from around the world. With an attention to the overall character of a space, down to the details that breathe life into the skin of a building or space, it provides its reader with an enjoyable insight into each project.

Miami and the Keys are the cultural and geographical gateways to the United States; where Latin America gracefully blends into North America, and land embraces the sea. This unusual guide leads you along the fulcrum that is Miami and the Keys, laden with world-class architecture, sandy beaches, pristine waters, nightclubs, and trendy hotels. Beneath the well-polished surface lies a history and culture that strays far from the conventional, bubbling up through unexpected places, like a coral fortress built for a spurned lover, a divey laundromat that serves the sweetest café con leche you’ve ever had, or an enclave of houses built on stilts in the midst of the ocean. Lose yourself in a glass rainforest. Glide over the mysterious waters of the Everglades. Visit your own desert island. Drink the sweet nectar of the Cuban coffee gods. Venture into the “other” Miami, beyond the glitz and glamor, steeped in natural beauty and deep-seeded tradition. See why Ernest Hemingway called the Keys his home. Though teeming with tourists, there are still plenty of hidden gems to be unearthed, you just have to know where to look…

Staggering ethnic diversity, rich cultural history, and a robust arts scene make Queens one of the most exciting destinations in all of New York City. See and taste the world, travel back in time, and experience nature all without leaving the confines of Queens. Home to immigrants from Azerbaijan to Vietnam and everywhere in between, Queens is truly a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Eat your way through China, Malaysia, Romania, and visit a Tibetan dumpling speakeasy – no passport necessary. Visit the birthplace of religious freedom in America and then tour local Hindu, Thai and Korean temples. Marvel at migratory birds and terrapins and visit the oldest tree in New York City. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a long-time resident, you’ll find 111 hidden places in Queens. The most majestic of New York City’s boroughs is yours to explore and discover.

Toronto, from its humble beginning as Muddy York, has emerged as an exemplary, world-class city. As the 4th largest urban area in North America, it is a treasure trove of obscure, trend-setting Canadian places. Ranked as one of the world’s leading places to live, it represents home to almost 20% of Canada’s population. Toronto has become the nation’s capital of business, culture, sports and entertainment. A place where you can take in the best of all sports, especially hockey, live music, art, and an award-winning culinary scene, all in a weekend. The city’s strength and roots come from its diverse population. Toronto takes from its indigenous and British past, a welcoming and collaborative twist on this dynamic multicultural city. Toronto has been described as a city within a green space. Hike inner city trails along the many ravines. Ride in a canoe or skate along the water’s edges. Take the longest streetcar ride in North America through flourishing neighborhoods, full of hidden gems to discover. Find the small artisanal ice creameries, wander the graffiti alleys, or make music at a karaoke cocktail lounge. Explore the allure of the 6ix, with 111 Places in Toronto That You Must Not Miss.

While the foundations of the Josette and Jean-Claude Weill Collection lie in painting, their passion for seeking out exciting new forms soon led them to embrace the infinite diversity of tribal art. Expanded over the decades under the enthusiastic stewardship of their son Jean-Pierre, the collection now includes over 120 works of the very highest order, covering Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Several large categories can be discerned, reflecting the Weill family’s liking for daring, expressionistic forms: Dogon and Tellem statues combining geometric shapes with textured surfaces, as well as Kongo powerful figures endowed with magic properties. The expressive arts of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Melanesia are also well represented in the collection. Among the more classic works there are pieces that have iconic status – such as the Bena Lulua statue that used to belong to Jacques Kerchache, Edward Robinson’s Fang reliquary figure, or the Biwat powerful flute plug from the Lemaire Collection – that testify to the sureness of the Weill’s taste and to the shrewd instinct that led them to appreciate this art from another world. An important group of finely carved small ivories makes up one-third of the whole collection. This book will provide an opportunity to unveil the Parisian collection shrouded in mystery, whose importance is matched only by its confidentiality. In order to enable the reader to capture the full richness and diversity of its contents, the works are all accompanied by notes written by experts, including Viviane Baeke (Africa Museum, Tervuren), Philippe Dagen (historian and art critic), Jean-Paul Colleyn (anthropologist), Bertrand Goy (author specializing in the Ivory Coast), Hélène Joubert (Musée du Quai Branly-Jaques Chirac), Hélène Leloup (historian and antiquarian), Sean Mooney (the Rock Foundation), and Philippe Peltier (formerly at Musée du Quai Branly-Jaques Chirac).

This book narrates the complete detailed history of the New Rome Convention centre in Rome and its construction through numerous and evocative images of the work site showing the complexity of the construction stages and the special techniques that were necessary. There are photos of the completed building, by internationally renowned photographers and an essay by Joseph Giovannini, and is completed with very rich iconographic material composed of technical drawings on various scales, and sketches by the Massimiliano Fuksas, author of the work together with Doriana Fuksas.

The NUVOLA (NEW CONVENTION CENTRE) is a work of outstanding artistic merit, featuring innovative logistics solutions, and a choice of technically advanced materials. The structure rises in the historic EUR quarter and covers a surface of 55,000 square metres. The project concept can be defined in three images: the Theca, the Nuvola, and the Lama of the hotel structure. The Theca [display case] is the enclosing structure in steel and double glass facades that encases the Nuvola [cloud], the true core of the project, enclosed inside the Display Case box underlining the contrast between the organization of free space without rules, and a geometrically defined form. The Nuvola contains an auditorium with seating for 1850, cafés and snack bars, and support services for the auditorium. This highly flexible complex is able to house congresses, exhibitions, and events with a seating capacity of almost 9,000 people. The book has been published on various types of paper and differently sized sheets which are inserted within the pages.

Studio Fuksas, directed by Massimiliano and Doriana, is one of the most famous international architectural firms in the world. Over the past 40 years, the firm has developed an innovative approach through a surprising variety of projects all over the world and and has been awarded numerous international prizes.

The Classicist is an annual peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the mission of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art by providing a venue for scholarship related to the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts, a forum for current classical practice, and a source of information and inspiration for students, practitioners, teachers, patrons, and lovers of classical art and architecture. Volume 11 will feature scholarly essays dealing with historical practice, international portfolios of current work by professionals and students, and book reviews. The content ranges from urban design to individual buildings, to decorative arts and gardens. The journal is extensively illustrated, with many images in color, and will appeal to specialists and non-specialists alike. Contents:The Classicist at Large (editorial); Essays; Professional Portfolio; Academic Portfolio; Book Reviews

The Classicist is an annual journal dedicated to the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts. Focused on Chicago, the Classicist No. 16 explores the city’s rich architectural history as well as contemporary examples of classical design through professional and student portfolios as well as academic articles authored by leaders within the field. Contributors include Guest Editors Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker of Cohen & Hacker Architects; Ann Lorenz Van Zanten, the first Curator of Architecture at the Chicago Historical Society; Jeanne Sylvester, founder of Sylvester Historic Consultants, LLC; Rolf Achilles, architectural historian and member of the board of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and the Hegeler Carus Mansion; David Van Zanten, professor emeritus at Northerwestern University; Edward Keegan, architect and writer; and Aric Lasher, president and director of design at HBRA Architects.

“… this is an excellent reference for dealers, collectors and silver historians.” Antiques Trade Gazette
“The book is lavishly illustrated, thoughtfully laid out and undoubtedly the most important book so far on the subject.” Antique Silver Spoons
“… a work of art in its own right.” Ian Collins in Eastern Daily Press
“… this must be reckoned the most important publication so far on the subject … it is a ‘must’ for anyone seriously interested in the subject …” The Finial
The beauty and stunning craftsmanship of silver made in East Anglia have long been celebrated by scholars and collectors. East Anglian Silver describes in depth a wealth of important silver articles made in the region which are now to be found in museums and private collections in Britain, America and Australia, as well as in churches in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Many of the objects featured have never been published before, including a beaker in the Royal Collection by Elizabeth Haslewood, Norwich’s only woman silversmith of the Stuart period, and a magnificent Charles II tankard from the Gregory Peck collection. The essays, the results of new research on many aspects of the economic and social history of the region, set the silver in its historical context. They present a fascinating perspective on everyday life for many East Anglians during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Even modest households might have owned a few silver spoons at that time. The consumer demand from yeomen, merchants and others was filled by silversmiths working not only in Norwich, the second largest city in the kingdom, but also in smaller towns such as King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Beccles, Ipswich, Colchester and Cambridge. Norwich closely guarded its right to mark silverware made in the city with its civic arms. In the reign of Elizabeth, silversmiths there such as William Cobbold made objects to equal the finest creations of London, Antwerp and Amsterdam. European influences, especially from the Netherlands, were especially important in Norwich, which had a large community of immigrant craftsmen during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Nearly a hundred photographs of marks used by silversmiths throughout East Anglia, many of them newly identified, make this book an essential tool for the collector as well as the local historian.

The culmination of five years’ travel with Indian pilgrims, Nostalgia for Eternity takes the reader into the depths of millennia-old spiritual and mystic traditions. It is a stunning visual poem about the timeless human search for transcendence and ultimate truth. Translated literally from the Greek, ‘nostalgia’ means homesickness; spiritually, it is the universal longing for existential peace and completeness – for a final resolution of all life’s conflicts and contradictions. ‘The truth is one,’ taught India’s ancient gurus, ‘the sages call it by many names.’ With breadth and insight unmatched by any other publication, Nostalgia for Eternity illustrates the worlds of pilgrims seeking that transcendent truth and illuminates the different paths that they travel. Through evocative, complex images we enter the secretive realm of Tantric worshippers of the Mother Goddess; and we walk with Sufi pilgrims across the deserts of Rajasthan. Meditative, richly layered photographs reveal the inner world of Bengali Bauls – mystics who worship the human being; and of Sidis – descendants of African saints whose religion merges African ancestor worship with Sufism. Richly annotated text reveals to the reader the deeper symbolic and mythological significance of the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and syncretic practices explored in the book.

This stunning book documents a collection of 66 extraordinary pieces of petrified wood, mainly from Western United States (Arizona, Oregon, Washington). Specially photographed they are shown in their entirety and in magnificent details.

Petrified wood is formed from fallen trees that in the absence of oxygen and microbes, and with water containing minerals, through a replacement process called permineralization, slowly transform into visually spectacular fossils. But Nature often uses a paintbrush in its preservation magic, splashing the wooden canvas with an array of colors and hues before fixing it in a matrix of hard durable quartz, thereby creating splendid works of art. Petrified wood has been found throughout the world, but actual petrified forests are truly noteworthy in the United States, the most famous being the Chinle Formation forest of Arizona.

Conceived by a misguided government seeking to quiet the fears of an anxious public, the concept of the “Family Fallout Shelter” was Cold War paranoia at its finest, a massive bit of “propaganda by architecture” that has no more truth behind it than the absurd notion of “duck and cover.” Inundated with government-sponsored films, posters, booklets, traveling caravans and exhibitions, the American family bought into the idea, investing millions of dollars in home shelters of every conceivable material and design. Bomboozled: How the U.S. Government Misled Itself and Its People Into Believing They Could Survive a Nuclear Attack lays bare the buried truths of America’s family fallout shelter obsession. Author Susan Roy charts the panic-fueled evolution of the shelter from a well-stocked basement pantry to a full-fledged (and often completely decorated) home addition, revealing through extensive archival photography, nuclear-era memorabilia, and previously unpublished media, a government and people in the grip of self-delusion. Fastidiously researched and sharply written, “Bomboozled” captures the absurdity and uncertainty of a culture that knew no better than to trust its government’s message.