These essays by Hahn and West will deal respectively with the formation of the collection and the figure of Bent Juel-Jensen, the seminal Aksumite coin collector in Oxford (as well as a medical doctor, academic, and traveller). They will also discuss recent problems that have emerged regarding the study of this coinage. In its entirety, this publication will make a fundamental contribution to this area of research and be an indispensable acquisition for many institutions and individuals.
This volume contains nearly 1600 coins of the 9th-16th centuries from North Africa to Great Syria. The collections included in the catalogue are those of the Heberden Coin Room and the Shamma Collection. Unlike previous SICA volumes, the coins are arranged by dynasty and ruler because of the large number of distinctive types belonging to each dynasty’s coinage.
The Wellby Bequest, received by the Ashmolean Museum in 2013, consists of some 500 precious and exotic objects, mainly from Continental Europe, from the late medieval to the rococo, and is the most remarkable accession of this kind of material to any museum in the UK since the bequest of Ferdinand de Rothschild to the British Museum in 1898 (the Waddesdon Bequest). The collection was assembled by three generations of the Wellby family with an intention that it should reflect the great princely treasure chambers (Kunstkammer) preserved in Dresden, Vienna, Innsbruck, and elsewhere. Many of these objects have never been previously published. This beautiful and accessible book introduces over sixty of the prime pieces from this astonishing addition to the Ashmolean, presenting material of the type incomparably superior to anything in other UK museums outside London. Both authors are specialists in European decorative arts of the Renaissance and later periods.
Published to coincide with the opening of the new Wellby Bequest Gallery in the Ashmolean Museum September 2015
Contents: Preface and Acknowledgements; Introduction to the Michael Wellby Bequest (by Timothy Wilson); Introductory essay on the Kunstkammer tradition (by Matthew Winterbottom); 50 catalogue entries on highlights of the Wellby Collection; Glossary, Bibliography; Index
The collections of twentieth-century paintings in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, have developed largely through the generosity of individuals. Notable among these in the early decades of the century were Frank Hindley Smith and Mrs W F R Weldon, while since the Second World War the Museum’s collections have been enriched through gifts and requests from Thomas Balston, R A P Bevan, Molly Freeman, Christopher Hewett and others. This book gives the reader a taste of the wide range of the collection, with its representative group of Camden Town and Euston Road School pictures, and important early works by Bonnard, Picasso and Matisse.
In this new volume of the Watch Book series, successful author Gisbert L. Brunner focuses on Swiss watch history and the watch industry, and in particular on the house of Oris, because what could be a more fitting connection than that of the leading expert when it comes to mechanical timepieces with the watch manufactory that is one of the few to produce exclusively mechanical watches. Founded in 1904, the company stands out in many ways in the luxury world of horology, it is run independently and not by a large corporation, it is valued as a down-to-earth brand and – in an industry that is not necessarily known for this – it focuses on sustainability, true to the motto: “Things have to make sense”.
Of course, technology should not be missing from this volume; after all, Oris has developed 280 different calibres in its company history and manufactured them in its own factories. Companions have their say and the best watch models of the company’s almost 120-year history are presented in this usual high-quality volume.
The Potato Eaters is one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works. The artist himself described it in 1887 as ‘after all the best thing I did’. He completed it in the spring of 1885 while living with his parents in Nuenen after his brother Theo had asked him to paint a ‘masterwork’ for the Paris art market. Van Gogh’s fascination for peasant life led him to choose as his subject a scene of a simple meal by lamplight. He was convinced that ‘there’s life in it’, which was precisely what he was seeking. Bregje Gerritse, a researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, describes in this book how meticulously Van Gogh went about preparing The Potato Eaters. Through his preliminary studies and letters, we get to know an ambitious painter working constantly to improve his skills. We discover the details of his location, make the acquaintance of the figures in the painting and read how his friends and critics responded to a work that Van Gogh wanted so badly to be his artistic breakthrough.
In 2023, The Little Prince will celebrate 80 years of unsurpassed success. One of the most published and translated books in the world (by some accounts, second only to The Bible). Never before have its themes of loneliness, loss, love, and friendship been more relevant. While The Little Prince is packaged for children, it is appreciated and celebrated by parents and friends. This edition includes the entire, unmodified, original text by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, first published in English after his exile to the U.S. in 1943 – accompanied by exclusive illustrations from Mondo Mombo, a well-known, Italian, children’s-art firm founded by Claudia Bordin. Ages 7 plus
Part of the successful 5 minute series, this enchanting collection of bedtime stories is full of tales of fairies, gnomes, magical creatures, and multiple worlds. Let your children choose their favourite story or stay up ‘late’ reading them all. Only 5-minutes each, these stories evoke imaginative thinking and sweet dreams as your little ones drift off into a fairytale land for a sound night’s sleep.
Other titles in the series:
9788854419162 5 Minute Bedtime Stories From the Wild
9788854417922 5 Minutes Bedtime Stories
Ages 5 plus.
Since its debut nearly 70 years ago, the Berlin International Film Festival – known as the Berlinale – has become one of the world’s leading showcases for cinematic talent and ranks amongst the industry’s best attended events. Every year, photographs from the festival – held every February – capture the attention of the world. This selection of images of the Berlinale from the 1950s to the present in the archives of the Deutsche Kinemathek features highlights from on and off the red carpet. In addition to the stars and directors, it includes images of lively press conferences, parties, fans, award ceremonies, and some rare instances of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of the festival.
From a historical perspective, the collection draws attention to the development of Berlin itself and the transformations within the film industry. These are revealed by images of interiors, by the fluctuations of fashion, and by the way, changing over time, that people interacted with photographers and journalists.
Contents: 1. 50 Photographs; 2. Fans; 3. Movie Theaters; 4. Parties; 5. Fashion; 6. Press 7; Politics; 8. Portraits; 9. Couples; 10. City; 11. Stars; 12. Bears.
Text in English and German
The year was 1978, and Quinnipiac College was forming a new campus in Hamden, Connecticut. Chance would bring the author and the place together, and for the next forty years Jefferson B. Riley, FAIA, one of the founding partners of Centerbrook Architects and Planners, would be Quinnipiac’s architect designing over a hundred renovations, additions, and new buildings on three separate campuses that now comprise Quinnipiac University. The University thus became Riley’s devotion, vigorously so after the arrival of Dr. John L. Lahey in 1987 who, as its eighth president, personally put Quinnipiac University on its path to national prominence. Riley’s work has not only helped to give Quinnipiac roots but also wings. Here, then, is a comprehensive architectural account of Quinnipiac from 1978 to 2018.
Every four years, during the summer, the whole world comes together to celebrate and support the best athletes from each country. The Olympic Games are a worldwide event, and their roots can be found in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea: Greece. Starting from the origins in Ancient Greece to the modern times games – including the Winter Games – children will discover every fun fact, sport, and champion of the games. Filled with information, easy texts and funny illustrations, this book will also help children to think on the deepest meaning of sport and to consider what it takes to become a champion. A selection of the most inspirational profiles of champions of all time, from every country, with also a special list of the most winning of all. Ages: 7 plus
“…contributions from hundreds of people in public life — many famous, others (like me) less so — all offering bite-sized lessons for life.” — The Times
‘Wisdom is sold in the desolate market where none come to buy,’ wrote William Blake. It is a rare, precious commodity. Difficult to come by. Hard to acquire.
The aim of The Book of Nuggets is to draw together in one place over 350 ‘Nuggets’ of wisdom which others have found important in their lives. Some of the contributors are well known, others less so, but all were generously offered by people from all walks of life. But regardless of the finders’ status or fame, these jewels have brought solace, succour and serenity along the way. The book’s compiler, Juliet Solomon, hopes they might do the same for you.
Juliet chose ‘Nuggets’ of wisdom as the theme of this collection in tribute to her late mother, Judith Solomon. Judith died of end-stage renal failure, and all proceeds from the sale of this book will go to increasing wider public awareness of kidney disease, and to raise much needed funds for research into the condition, its prevention and for the amelioration of the suffering of patients living with kidney disease, and their loved ones.
New additions to the automotive market are judged primarily by efficiency or fuel consumption. Things are quite different for historical cars. Major car shows, from Pebble Beach to Villa d’Este, feature classic cars, which, although they may not achieve top marks in the wind tunnel, have a timeless elegance that makes the hearts of all aficionados skip a beat. The photographer Ansel Adams, who was an honorary judge at Pebble Beach, once defined them as follows: “The type of vehicle I would like to be buried in.” From the Maserati Ghibli to the Ford Thunderbird, René Staud has shot automotive classics in settings ranging from the subtle to the spectacular. As co-organizer and head of the Car Selection Committee for Schloss Bensberg Classics, Jürgen Lewandowski provides authoritative texts. The Classic Cars Book conveys a real passion for these spectacular vehicles, appealing to existing fans and those yet to fall under their spell.
Text in English, German, French, Chinese, Russian.
Institutions — the state, the church, the army, the judiciary, the university, the bank, etc.— organise social relations. As social structures, they regulate societies according to various practices, rites and rules of conduct, and guide our actions by delimiting what is possible and thinkable. Institutions’ individual scope depends on how the society as a whole understands them. They are in perpetual mutation and thus form complex entities. Architecture plays an essential role in the establishment, identification and perpetuation of this social structure as it formalises value systems in space and represents ideologies in permanent physical structures. Architecture establishes and reveals the way an institution functions through different strategies.
Institutions and the City investigates this role of architecture, taking the Tracé Royal (King’s Street) in Brussels as an example. Running from the Place Royale in the heart of the city to the Église Royale Sainte-Marie in the Schaerbeek district north of it, it is the place where several of Belgium’s national political, legal, religious, financial, and cultural institutions are located. The book explores the stratagems put in place over time by the various institutions to inscribe themselves durably on the country’s social order, and reveals similar spatial responses and surprisingly common mutation processes. And it highlights the importance of architecture when it comes to inventing new relationships with institutional spaces in order to live together better in a time when social, political and cultural reference points are being blurred.
Text in English, French and Dutch.
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, travelling 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.
In 1980, German artist Sigmar Polke (1941–2010) and Britta Zoellner, a close friend of Polke and an artist herself, set off for Southeast Asia from the vibrant art scene in Germany’s Rhineland region. A planned period of quiet work on Bali evolved into a 13-month journey from Indonesia via Singapore to Papua New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, and back to Malaysia and Thailand. Fascinated by the ancient high cultures, the gamelan music and wayang puppet theatre, they increasingly turned their attention to Indigenous societies and their ways of life, but above all to nature, the tropical fauna and flora.
Based on Zoellner’s diary entries, films and photographs taken during their extensive tour, as well as other unpublished sources, distinguished art historian Katharina Schmidt traces this little-known journey in chronological detail for the first time. She examines how the intense experience of other cultures and grandiose landscapes, including the discovery of cosmic events through meteorites, moved Polke. She explores how rich nuances of colour impressions and a wealth of observations and experiences shaped his future art, his concept of nature, and his ideas of space and time. Empathy for the Indigenous peoples’ fate under colonial rule, and for a nature endangered by exploitation of natural resources such as uranium or gold, reveals the attentive and far-sighted qualities of this quiet, concentrated journey undertaken by Polke and his companion.
Little Tim is the central character for this innovative series that speaks both to parents and their little ones. Each of the first four books in the series deals with a fundamental problem that might affect three- to five-year olds: fear, especially of the dark, anger and aggression that are frightening and difficult to manage, jealousy, perhaps due to the arrival of a new family member and the shyness that makes it difficult to face new situations such as the first day of nursery school. The book’s point of view makes it unique. It speaks directly to the reader, describing a problem and providing five small, simple solutions to help face it. All of the points are imaginative and written using language suitable to the targeted age group with examples taken from the child’s daily life that he or she can actually put into practice. At the end of every book, parents will find reflections and behaviours in a section dedicated to them because sometimes, parents find these situations just as hard as their children do and sometimes, even harder. Ages: 3 plus
Learn how to make a positive impact in these milestone years of your child’s development, when he or she goes from crawling to walking, and from knowing just a few words to speaking in complete sentences. Armin Brott guides you through this crucial phase of fatherhood three months at a time, in the third volume of the New Father series trusted by millions of dads nationwide. Each chapter covers: Your child’s physical, intellectual, verbal, and emotional/social development
What you’re experiencing as a father Age-appropriate activities you and your child can enjoy together Family matters, including your relationship with your partner, sibling relationships, and more
This new edition of The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to the Toddler Years has been thoroughly updated to cover the issues dads face today, from balancing work and family to managing kids’ screen time. Dads will rely on this friendly yet authoritative book—and moms will find it helpful, too.
The 500 Hidden Secrets of Rotterdam is a guide to the city’s hidden gems. It takes you off the beaten track to discover the city’s turbulent history, its modern architecture, its little-known museums, the best restaurants and the coolest clubs.
True locals Saskia Naafs & Guido van Eijck selected 500 addresses and facts about Rotterdam that few people know and presents them in lists of 5, alongside beautiful photographs. Guido and Saskia’s favourite addresses include a former harbour warehouse turned daily fresh market where you can sample a perfect locally roasted coffee or a homemade cider, a bright-red light-vessel ship where you can attend an intimate concert, or a former subtropical swimming paradise where you can grow your own oyster mushrooms.
Collecting objects gives enormous pleasure to approximately one third of the population, providing such benefits as intellectual stimulation, the thrill of the chase, and leaving a legacy. On the other hand, the same pursuit can engender pain; for example, paying too much for an object, unknowingly buying a fake, or dealing with the frustrations of collection dispersal. Until recently, there was no objective way to enhance the positive (pleasure) aspects of collecting and minimise the negative (pain). Now, for the first time, scientific research in neuro- and behavioral economics gives us a way to turn this around.
Neuroeconomics is the study of the biological foundation of economic thought, while behavioral economics incorporates insights from psychology and other social sciences into the examination of monetary behavior. By using examples from these disciplines, Shirley M. Mueller, MD, relates her own experiences as a serious collector and as a neuroscientist to examine different behavioral traits which characterise collectors.
The contents of this book are cutting edge, unique and sure to get attention. Mueller breaks new ground in an area not previously explored. Her information is relevant not only for collectors, but also for colleges, and universities which teach collection management, plus museum staff who interact with collectors and dealers of objects desired by collectors. Heavily illustrated with ceramics from Mueller’s collection and packed with useful information, this book will become a required vital resource.
Beautiful Bars is a stunning photographic journey through the world’s most beautifully designed cocktail bars, told through interviews with the designers who created them. From New York to Buenos Aires, and whether classic or exotic, all are united by incredible interiors, seminal design and cultural impact, captured through beautiful large-format photography.
Interviewees include the CEO and design director of David Collins Studio, who created legendary venues such as The Connaught – widely considered the world’s best bar – and Monte Carlo’s Café de Paris. With evocative names like Italy’s Hotel Splendido and the French Riviera’s Casino Royale Palm, to Korea’s award-winning Zest Seoul and Mexico’s immersive Tlecan, Beautiful Bars is the definitive, authoritative visual bible for all those interested in era-defining design, timeless photography – and the high life.
The introduction to Beautiful Bars is written by the design journalist Peter Martin. Threaded with insights from hours of interviews with famous bar designers and legendary mixologists, it examines the history of the cocktail bar, the cultural impact of cocktails from the Jazz Age to the 1990s revival, and the vivid, globally exploding bar scene of today. Throughout the book, lavish photography is accompanied by insights and commentary on each bar.
The Ultimate Guide to Dior Bags focuses on the legendary handbags of the traditional Parisian fashion house founded in 1946. From the timeless Lady Dior to the bold Saddle Bag and the modern Book Tote—each bag tells its own story and embodies style, quality, and craftsmanship.
The new Brand Bible series of books is for handbag collectors, and those that dream of their first designer purchase, as well as fashion fans everywhere. Featuring the most iconic bags from the major luxury maisons, the series reveals each house’s history, explores the creation of their unique It bags and presents the pop culture moments that made them famous. With in-depth information, beautiful imagery and entertaining anecdotes, the Brand Bible series is an essential addition to any well-dressed coffee table, this season and beyond.
This delightful new series of colour filled pages with easy, short and fun text makes exploring bugs in the garden an exciting adventure for little ones with soft felt flaps to flip and uncover! This interactive board book with durable felt flaps plays on children’s innate attraction to peekaboo and hide-and-seek.
Ages 3+
Five Houses on the Wild Side is a visual feast showcasing the wildly imaginative, rules-free, cozy and sumptuous interiors Elena Agostinis has created for her family’s homes in New York, Montana, and Mexico.
Bold and courageous choices of colours and patterns, elements from the wildlife and fauna of her South African childhood, mixed and matched with the best of local artisanry, textiles purchased from souks and markets all around the world, giant papier-mâché’ animal garden sculptures, and wall art that spans from the elevated to the quirky and amusing, are Elena’s traits that will inspire readers to free-styling their own homes.
Elena’s irresistible style, originality, and use of wild colours has not only been restricted to her family homes, but inspired a quiet town in Upstate New York, Tannersville, to repaint its own Main Street store fronts, contributing to the town being selected in 2021 for the $10-million-dollars New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative award.
Elena shares the inspiration from her childhood, travels, heritage, and family needs, encouraging readers to find their free spirit and apply it to their own interiors.