Decorative Arts Recommendations - For all ages

BOOKS for ADULTS

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American Pottery & Porcelain

by William C. Ketchum
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2000

This visual antique reference has all the information readers need to identify and appraise American pottery and porcelain, from the earliest rough vessels of the mid 1700s to the Fiestaware of the past century. Each of the 367 pieces featured is photographed in color and accompanied by an in-depth description.

Dictionary of Furniture

by Charles Boyce (Editor)
Checkmark Books, 2001

More than 2,000 entries -- most of them illustrated -- detail the latest research and developments in the study of furniture, including specifics in furniture styles, design, and materials; details of construction; esthetic terminology; architectural style; and cultural significance.

Guide to North Carolina Potters

by Johnna M. Ritchie
WaterMark Publications, 1996

Divided into four regions/sections: mountain, Piedmont, Piedmont-Seagrove, and coastal. Includes directions to potteries, hours of operation, names of working potters, types of clay and glaze colors, forming and firing methods.

History of American Ceramics, 1607 To The Present : From Pipkins And Bean Pots to Contemporary Forms

by Elaine Levin
H.N. Abrams, 1988

Beginning with the red earthenware made by the potters of Jamestown in 1607 and continuing through objects made by ceramic artists today, this carefully researched and copiously illustrated volume canvases the major developments and practitioners of the art.

Modern Antiques for the Table: A Complete Guide to Tabletop Accessories for Collecting and Entertaining 1890-1940

by Shelia Chefetz
Viking Press, 1998

From the authors of "Antiques for the Table" comes this sumptuous and informative guide to the tableware of the fertile period of design innovation between 1890 and 1940.

On the Surface : Thread Embellishment & Fabric Manipulation

by Wendy Hill
C&T Publishing, 1997

Countless original applications and ideas abound in the first book to raise surface stitchery to a developed art form. The experimental nature and versatility of this craft technique will excite quiltmakers, sewers, and fiber artists of all skill levels.

Passion For Pattern

by Katrin Cargill
Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 1997

This title features texture, stripes, checks and motifs.

Pottery Of Walter Stephen : an Exhibition, The Mint Museum Of History

by Ceramic Circle of Charlotte
1978

A catalogue of an exhibition of pottery by Walter Benjamin Stephen.

Tiffany Silver Flatware 1845-1905 : When Dining Was an Art

by William P. Hood, Jr.
Antique Collectors' Club, 1999

This book relates the history of the silver flatware made by others and retailed by Tiffany 1845-c. 1876 as well as that designed and made in-house 1869-1905.

KIDS BOOKS

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Fired Up! : Making Pottery in Ancient Times

by Rivka Gonen
Runestone Press, 1993

Discusses how pottery was made and used in ancient times and describes how archaeologists use these vessels today to learn about the past.

Unraveling Fibers

by Patricia A. Keeler
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1995

Fibers, knitted or woven, make our clothes, sheets, towels, and curtains. Hundreds of full-color photos reveal what fibers look like up close, the plants and animals they come from, and the steps necessary to process fiber into yarn to make clothing and other textiles.

MULTIMEDIA

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Ceramic Art of North Carolina

by Mint Museum (Charlotte, N.C.)
The Museum: ACT Applied CD Technologies, 1997

Includes a history of the ceramics tradition in North Carolina ; an interactive map of N.C. potting regions ; video selections of potters at work ;database of over 1200 images from the Mint Museum collection. [CD-ROM]

Crawdad Slip, the Luck Family Potters of Seagrove, North Carolina

by Jim Sharkey
1999

This documentary explores the life and work of Sid Luck, a fifth-generation potter in Seagrove, North Carolina, and the family heritage he hopes to pass on to his two sons, Jason and Matthew.

Introduction to Antiques

by Nick A'Hern
BFS Video, 2001

Featuring advice on how to identify authentic materials and styles as well as how to spot a reproduction.

WEBSITES

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Kids Domain Family Resource: Crafts
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_home.html

This site provides several simple craft ideas for kids to decorate their homes.

Danish Museum of Decorative Arts
http://www.kunstindustrimuseet.dk/kim.htm

Features art pieces from before and after 1900 of ceramics, metal, glass and several others.

Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture
http://decorativearts.library.wisc.edu

The University of Wisconsin-Madison hosts this resource that offers links to image collections and virtual exhibits. It highlights the Chipstone Collection.

New Orleans Museum of Art: Decorative Arts
http://www.noma.org/html_docs/decart.html

This museum site features over 15,000 works ranging from antiquities to present pieces from a myriad of cultures and continents. Glass and American pottery are the largest collections.

Phildelphia Museum of Art: European Decoration Arts
http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/euro_dec_arts/index.shtml

This site features a small, yet well researched collection.