What distinguished 'art' from 'Art' ? Types of display, collecting, certain kinds of knowledge becoming matters of profession, etc. A specialised and fascinating study that puts the subject ... read more
Garments to tents in South Asia in the C16th-C17th. Richly illustrated, this book shows cloth participated in both political and social spheres, and reflected seasonal rhythms.
Everyday at least for that great patroness... loved not least because she paid her bills on time. This illustrated chronology of the porcelain, its commissioning and use, is a magnificent bo... read more
The Director of the V&A looks at how the great ceramicist and Lunar man transformed society by creating an early form of international mass market, while also significantly contributing to t... read more
Chinoiserie in all its forms - wallpapers, laquers, furniture, porcelain: this book is of course completely delightful. The author wrote his doctoral thesis on the subject and is also an art... read more
A gorgeous book in landscape format on the history of screens from the C8th to the C21st. Profusely illustrated, it comes in a slipcase and includes fold-out reproductions of six screens in ... read more
2 vols in a slipcase: from 1921-1945, and from 1945-today. Covers the story of the packaging and marketing, with photographers such as Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton.
VF has written excellent previous books on colour and on jewels. This new one looks at textiles from sackcloth to silk, from Wales to Papua and Guatemala... Combining science with history an... read more
Another gorgeous book from Thames & Hudson, following their previous volumes Ruby and Emerald. This is the final instalment of the series, and ranges from the C4th to the present, from Centr... read more
Published in collaboration with Maison Chaumet, this illustrated book looks at gems and jewellery from different and often unexpected angles, with contributions not only from curators but fr... read more