The new edition of The Art of Cookery re-proposes the recipes of the Florentine culinary tradition, enhancing their simplicity, capturing their modern aspects, veering some of them towards an accuracy in the procedures to ensure that those who try the recipes – and then those who are lucky enough to taste them – will discover the presence and taste of each individual ingredient. All organized within the time frames of today’s schedules. We should not be scandalized if the procedures cemented in the historical memory of domestic walls are made faster through the use of the appliances now routinely used in the kitchen. So bring on the pressure cookers, mixers, blenders and immersion robots if they can help to free up a bit of time and a bit of happy effort in favor of imagination and creativity.

Cooking with passion is a game that continually puts us to the test, with results that only our guests can judge.

Zhong Kui – the only “God of all response” in Chinese civilization. He is not a prominent god who is always worshiped, but the legend surrounding him has been passed down to this day. This generous patron saint eventually became a classic symbol of Chinese culture. Ancient and modern paintings of Zhong Kui have no been gathered together in one book.

Portraits of Zhong Kui by Timeless Masters includes 120 high-definition Zhong Kui paintings of 97 ancient and modern masters, such as Xu Beihong, Qi Baishi, Li Keran, Zhang Daqian, Fan Zeng, Fu Baoshi, etc. Masters of different eras and different painting styles have distinguished themselves, constantly enriching Zhong Kui’s image in the long river of history. Not only is the subject matter numerous, the book also includes a variety of works such as vertical axes, fans, and lenses. In addition to the paintings, more than 80 abstracts and inscriptions from different dynasties included in this book, as important textual supplements, will follow the history of the trace of Zhong Kui.

Caravaggio’s Portrait of a Gentleman with a Ruff, which is a recent arrival in the Klesch Collection, has a short critical history. It also has a very limited history as regards the associated bibliography and media coverage, perhaps because the painting came to the fore prior to the social media explosion characteristic of recent years and, above all, at a time when today’s almost obsessive interest in Caravaggio was certainly not so developed. This interest has since expanded to incorporate all levels of communication, even the most widely popular. The Portrait first came to people’s attention in 1992 and despite the fact that the artist already exerted an appeal that few other painters could boast at the time, Caravaggio’s following was far removed from what it is today.

Text in English and Italian.

The exhibition An Ancient and Honorable Citizen of Florence – The Bargello and Dante, sponsored by the Comitato Nazionale per le Celebrazioni del 700° Anniversario della morte di Dante Alighieri, is the result of the inter-institutional partnership between the Musei del Bargello and the Università di Firenze, and sees the collaboration between the Departments of Literature and Philosophy (DILEF) and of History, Archeology, Geography, Art and Entertainment (SAGAS) of the University of Florence. The Bargello is Dante’s place par excellence in Florence: here you can find the oldest portrait of Dante, painted by Giotto and his work in 1337, a period during which the Divina Commedia was being spread throughout the city. The catalog – rich with essays and extracts by numerous specialists – illustrates the complex link between Dante, his work and Florence, analyzing the dense network of relationships between painters, illuminators, copyists and commentators, engaged in an unprecedented editorial and artistic enterprise. The volume is enriched with illustrations of the works on display and illuminated manuscripts, as well as a precious final photographic atlas of the murals in the Podestà chapel, which houses the poet’s portrait. Dante was very often a frequenter of the different rooms as a prior of the Bargello and in these same rooms he received both his sentence of exile, and his sentence to death (March 10, 1302). The reconstruction of the delicate relationship between the Poet and Florence assumes an importance that goes far beyond city borders, indelibly investing the history of Dante’s fortune and the way in which we still look at him and his work today.

Jan Verlinden refers to himself as a “Scenery Sculptor,” specializing in the creation and design of green spaces for exceptional country homes and castles in Belgium and France. His work emphasizes a harmonious balance between humanity and nature through intuitive design. In this first monograph, he showcases his eight favorite garden and landscape designs from recent years, richly illustrated with his stunning drawings and accompanying texts. Jan is introduced by three prominent figures in the field: architect Bart Moors, “Solitair” owner Dirk Cools, and the Pas-Partoe architecture and interior design studio.

World-renowned photographer Thomas De Bruyne (Cafeine, with over 140,000 followers on Instagram) has taken on the challenge of capturing the landscape and garden poetry of Jan Verlinden in stunning photographs.

Text in English and Dutch.

Kawanabe Kyōsai (pen name Kawanabe Tôiku) is a globally celebrated 19th century Japanese artist with an astonishing reper­toire of styles and artistic themes. His wood­cut print picture book on falconry, Ehon Taka Kagami (The Mirror of Hawking), first pub­lished in 1863, remains relatively unknown among his modern admirers. Nonetheless, An Illustrated Mirror of Hawking is an invaluable record of an ancient art. Kyōsai was commissioned by a retired daimyo (feudal lord) to create studies depicting traditional Japanese falconry, which may have inspired the illustrated plates of the An Illustrated Mirror of Hawking. He added explanatory script to caption most plates, as well as stories, poems, and songs chronicling falconry and celebrating nature. This edition provides the first proper translation of the Ehon Taka Kagami, revealing the meaning of the words accompanying each plate to non-Japanese readers. In addition to fully reprinting the original images and texts, this edition includes contextual essays and reference images that provide important background information about Kyōsai, the history of Japanese falconry, and the origins of this unique publication.

This portfolio contains 50 watercolor prints and an accompanying hardback book. These architectural drawings come from the San Francisco office of Skurman Architects, founded by Andrew Skurman in 1992, which is known for the elegance of its work in the different classical styles. Accompanied by a text explaining the context of the projects and photographs showing the richness of the finished buildings, the drawings have been printed as separate sheets which can be taken out and unfolded, for close study or so that they can be framed and displayed. 

Showing some of the most luxurious private houses in the United States and beyond, these watercolor elevations are a tribute to the clients who commissioned such beautiful dwellings, whether in the city, the suburbs or on large plots in the country.

Drawing is the essence of architecture, expressing the architect’s ideas in as clear a manner as possible. Skurman Architects’ drawings are as clear as they are beautiful. Shape and proportion are expressed in their purest form.

The included prints: 21 prints. 270mm x 270mm.; 18 prints. 270mm x 540mm.; 8 prints. 270mm x 810mm.; 3 prints. 270mm x 1080mm. Overall portfolio size is 287mm (h) x 287mm (w) x 50mm (d) .

Katya and the Prince of Siam is the story of a daring love affair and marriage between a beautiful young Ukrainian-Russian girl Ekaterina Ivanovna Desnitskaya from Kiev and Prince Chakrabongse, one of King Chulalongkorn‘s favorite sons. It tells of their meeting in St Petersburg in 1904 where the Prince had an honorary commission in the Hussars as a protégé of Tsar Nicolas II, of elopement to Constantinople and their journey to Siam. At first she was an outcast in Thai Society, known as Mom Katerin, but gradually gained love and respect. In 1908, their son, Prince Chula, was born and for the next 10 years they enjoyed life in Bangkok society as well as making various trips abroad and throughout Siam.

Making use of unpublished archive material, the book is a fascinating insight into life of both pre-Revolutionary Russia and the Siamese court. This revised edition by Narisa Chakrabongse includes many newly found letters which provide new insights into the lives of Katya, Prince Chakrabongse and their son Prince Chula.

Recollections of Oscar Wilde is one of the most evocative and charming texts ever written about Wilde and the circles he moved in.

Charles Ricketts (1866-1931), painter, illustrator, theatrical designer and publisher, was one of Wilde’s closest friends; he also worked on stage productions and books with Wilde.

He later set up his own, hugely influential presses. Shortly before he died he finally wrote this account of his friendship with Wilde, partly as an imagined conversation with a fictitious French writer, Jean Paul Raymond.

The memoir was printed in 1932 at the Nonesuch Press by one of the great book designers of the following generation, Francis Meynell. Only 800 copies were published. This edition reproduces the original design exactly, including the spectacular gold and cream cover based by Ricketts on his work for Wilde’s Salomé.

An afterword by Matthew Sturgis puts the work in the context of the 1880’s and 1890’s and Wilde’s astonishing life.

John Ruskin wrote this fable for a teenage family friend, Effie, and later he married her. The marriage was famously disastrous, but before it fell apart the Ruskins allowed The King of the Golden River to be published. It became one of the most popular works for children of its time. Richard Doyle contributed over 25 full-page illustrations and vignettes.

The King of the Golden River is the first literary fairy tale in English (as opposed to collected folk tales). Ruskin himself said it was ‘a fairly good imitation of Grimm and Dickens, mixed with some true Alpine feeling of my own’. Later he spoke of the capacity of the traditional tales ‘to fortify children against the glacial cold of selfish science’.

It remains a powerful fable about humanity’s dual capacity for destructiveness and redeeming love, with as strange fairy-tale creatures as one could hope to meet.

An essay by Simon Cooke explains the book’s importance.

“A beautiful coffee table book you will actually read from cover to cover, over and over again.” — Homes & Gardens

“Blue Carreon’s latest book, The Gardens of the Hamptons, takes us behind the hedges into some of the East End’s most spectacular properties.” — Hamptons Cottages & Gardens

” …With richly hued photography and evocative storytelling, Carreon artfully reveals the soul of each garden, unearthing the personal philosophies of the owners behind the blooms.” — Modern Luxury

The Gardens of the Hamptons is an awe-inspiring collection of vibrant, luxurious, full-color photography amid personal profiles of individuals who have shared the story behind their private garden with lifestyle writer and photographer Blue Carreon, who is also the author of bestseller Equestrian Life in the Hamptons.

The Hamptons is a well-known destination for sunshine, luxury, and fun, especially during the summer. This book embraces the well-established, beloved, and aesthetic qualities of the glorious Hamptons communities by showcasing over 50 wonderful examples of lush gardens, ranging from bespoke private oases to public offerings and also larger garden estates, inspired by renowned gardens overseas.

Each individual speaks of their personal interest and purpose when envisioning and designing the garden of their dreams. Blue effortlessly conveys each gardener’s sense of pride and the reasons behind the choices of landscape design and architecture, as well as color scheme and flora selection—whether the garden be the source of an intimate escape or a space to activate family laughter and glee.

Blue captures the heart of the Hamptons by showcasing the friendly people and elegant portraits of nature at its best.

This title looks back upon and celebrates 40 years of Kiki’s business, her life, and her remarkable story. From the delicate shimmer of amethysts to the radiant sparkle of citrines and peridots, Kiki’s signature pieces have graced the ears and necks of style icons across generations – including HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana.

“The eternal challenge for a designer is to make pieces which are relevant and modern as well as timeless … The fact that Kiki McDonough has achieved this in countless collections over forty years is nothing short of a triumph” – Carol Woolton, jewelry historian and British Vogue Jewelry Editor 

On the eve of her jewelry business’s 40th anniversary, Kiki McDonough opens the vault to share the remarkable journey behind one of Britain’s most beloved jewelry designers. What began in 1985 with a single concession in a friend’s store has since blossomed into a globally celebrated brand, known for its vibrant use of colored gemstones, timeless elegance, and deep connection with the women who wear it.

With over 200 stunning photographs, this beautifully curated book is both a visual feast and an inspiring portrait of a female-founded and female-led company that changed the face of modern jewelry. 

Through rich imagery and candid storytelling, Kiki reflects on four decades of creativity, determination, and evolution. She takes us behind the scenes of her design process, shares memories from the early, chaotic days of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and explores how her work continues to resonate with modern women around the world. Her mission has always been simple yet revolutionary: jewelry should be bought by women, for women, pieces that speak to their style, their confidence, their joy. More than a retrospective, it’s a celebration of a legacy still in the making – a story as colorful and joyful as Kiki’s exquisite jewelry.

The Little Book of Solitude invites you to embrace silence and create space to breathe, unwind, reflect, and create—free from the expectations of the outside world.
Inspired by the lives of great thinkers, artists, writers, and philosophers, photographer Joost Joossen explores the many benefits of solitude. The Little Book of Solitude is a carefully curated collection of inspiring stories, quotes, and insights from 55 extraordinary individuals who harnessed the power of solitude. Among them are Nelson Mandela, James Dean, Edward Hopper, Immanuel Kant, Marina Abramović, Pina Bausch, David Lynch, Buddha, Frida Kahlo, Marcus Aurelius, and Marie Kondō.
Whether you seek a reset or are simply curious about the lives of these remarkable minds, this book reveals how solitude can fuel creativity, restore balance, and enrich your life.

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A revolution has been taking place in the vineyards and wineries of Portugal during the last twenty-five years, bringing hundreds of new wines, many from indigenous grapes, onto the international market. Previously thought of as a producer of mainly red wine, Portugal is now proving it can make world-class white wines too. In order to examine the terroirs that make this small but varied country so unique The Wines of Portugal divides the country into four areas – Atlantic, mountains, plains and islands – providing detailed descriptions of the demarcated wine regions, the growers and the wines they produce. From crisp Vinhos Verdes in the Atlantic north-west through the Douro, Dão and Lisbon to the big, bold reds of the Alentejo and newcomers from the Algarve, this book is an up-to-date appraisal of Portugal’s vineyards and wine producers.
• Captures the changes in Portuguese wine that have taken place over the five years since the previous edition was published.
• Thoroughly updated producer entries with more wines tasted.
• Expansion of the section on Azores wines, reflecting the recent rapid revival of winemaking here, as well as its popularity as a tourist destination.
• Richard Mayson is a series editor for The Classic Wine Library and the first edition of this book is among the series’ best-sellers.
• New color maps make navigating the wine landscape easier; also contains color photos.

Horological trends flit by faster than ever in today’s fast-paced society. But Rolex does not rely on gimmicks; theirs is a more perennial allure, with a reputation built on traditions and hard-earned skill. A company that innovates while paying homage to their roots, every Rolex is the culmination of centuries of watchmaking expertise. Within this bestselling book you will find explanations of the making process, descriptions of the materials involved and expert commentary on what makes each Rolex wristwatch unique.
This new revised edition of The Book of Rolex has been brought right up to date since it first published in 2015, to include all the latest information on this most desirable of watch brands along with many new images. Demonstrating how each model fits its social milieu, present and past, this book also addresses the multitude of fakes on the market, including the so-called ‘Frankensteins’ – watches made from a mixture of real parts and forgeries, which are notoriously hard to spot – imparting all the skills needed to pick counterfeits out of a line-up. A holistic view of Rolex watches, this book promises to be as timeless as the brand itself. Should you be considering a Rolex, this book will convince you of its worth as an investment. 

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, with 80,000 hectares of vines spanning a variety of soils and climates. It has been producing wine since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century and today makes a range of wines: sweet, sparkling, easy-drinking and ageable. Although it produces similar volumes to countries such as New Zealand, Greece and Austria, its wines are not well known outside of South America.

The Wines of Brazil is therefore for wine explorers in search of diverse, off the beaten track wines. It begins by relating Brazil’s wine-making history, before moving on to explain current viticulture and wine making. The regions and their wine producers are profiled in detail, with a particular focus on those whose wines are sold outside the country.

Features a detailed history of alcohol production in Brazil, from indigenous peoples to the arrival of European settlers to the foundations of today’s wine business.

Explores Brazil’s differing varieties and wine growing methods across its broad range of terroirs, from the pioneering region of Serra Gaúcha in the south to the northern tropics of the São Francisco Valley.

Provides details on many of Brazil’s producers, including the author’s recommendations and information on visiting wineries. Author is a Brazilian national who has been a wine educator for more then two decades. Supported by color maps and photos.

Stucco decorations have traditionally been studied considering their formal and artistic qualities. Although much research and numerous publications have explored the works of stucco artists and their cultural context, little attention has been paid to their professional role in relation to the other actors involved in the decorative process (architects, painters, sculptors, patrons), the technical skills of these artists, and how their know-how contributed to the great professional success they enjoyed. From the 16th to the 18th century, many of the stucco decorations in churches and palaces throughout Europe were made by masters from the border area between what is now Canton Ticino and Lombardy. This collection of essays aims to examine how these artists worked from Spain to Poland, from Denmark to Italy, via the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Austria, adapting to the realities of the different contexts. The authors examine these issues with an interdisciplinary approach, considering art history and social history, the history of artistic techniques, and the science of materials. 

Text in English and Italian.

In this brand new and thoroughly revised edition of the bestselling London city guide author Tom Greig not only shares a lot of new secrets, he also included two outside-the-box city walks: an ideal way to explore a part of the city in a day. Many of the new addresses in this guide are in East-London, an area Tom has explored more intensely since the first publication of The 500 Hidden Secrets of London in 2017.

Of course the best hidden secrets in the rest of the city are still included as well, such as the bakery on Brick Lane that’s open 24-hours and that’s famous for its salt-beef bagels; the only modernist house open to the public; the historic church where you can hear avant-garde electronic music; or the art deco car park that hosts art installations and fashion shows. The book contains 500 places and details that few people know, making it the perfect guide for visitors who want to avoid the usual tourist spots and for residents who are keen to track down the city’s best-kept secrets.

Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Boston, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Copenhagen, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Tokyo, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com

A Night Full of Stars is an award-winning novel by V.Vinicchayakul, one of Thailand’s most foremost novelists, and the author of over 100 novels, many of which have been adapted for TV and film. Set against the backdrop of the 1932 revolution, this beautiful novel deals with universal themes of love, loyalty, greed, anger, lust and jealousy which, whilst giving a unique insight into Thai way of life, will resonate with readers worldwide.

Tracing human interactions with the world’s most famous tropical timber species, The Social Life of Teak maps worlds revolving around teak forests, trees and wood.

What gives Tectona grandis such a powerful aura, stoking desires and capturing imaginations? How has teak shaped people’s lives, driving fortunes and impacting futures? What has happened to the teak forests and what is their destiny?

In this illustrated anthology of oral histories, people connected personally or professionally to teak speak of survival, change and learning, creativity and destruction, growth and demise. Woven together, these experiences bring to light the ways that teak has been sought, crafted, cultivated, traded and prized over time.

Animist beliefs, creative expression, scientific invention, economic viability, imperialist expansion, peak luxury, violent repression, ecological disaster and the regenerative power of nature all find a home in this global intergenerational tale.

Charting the domestication of wilderness and exposing the era of extinction of a feted natural resource, this book seeks to stimulate conversations about our role as nature’s most troublesome offspring.

“Harrowing and thought provoking, Dawton and McFarlane’s images shine a light on the huge body of individuals living as refugees, who no longer occupy the front pages of newspapers, but are still without a home.” — CookieBiscuit.co.uk
In Edge of Hope, Anthony Dawton and Jim McFarlane’s photographs document the Rohingya people living in the refugee camp at Cox’s Bazar in Kutupalong, Bangladesh. Almost one million refugees live in this camp having fled genocide committed by the Myanmarese government and military, and militias.

The Rohingyan refugees live in fragile shelters through both sweltering heat and cyclone and monsoon season. They have poor nutrition and limited access to clean water and basic healthcare, and the cramped conditions encourage the spread of disease – including vaccine-preventable and water-borne diseases, and covid-19. Over half of the refugees are children.

Dawton and McFarlane are not subject to the time restraints that photojournalists are, so they can build relationships with their subjects. As a result, their photographs show humanity and dignity, despite the tragic circumstances.

The Amal Foundation continues to work in the camp and Edge of Hope is published to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.

This rare text is the first ever biography of Shakespeare, written by one of the liveliest dramatists and poets of the early 18th century.

This landmark in our understanding of the man and his work is introduced by one of the most original biographers of our own time and richly illustrated with contemporary images.

Nicholas Rowe’s Some Account of the Life of Mr. William Shakespear was published in 1709 as the preface to his pioneering edition of the plays. Rowe, together with Thomas Betterton, the greatest actor of the period, carried out archival research and interviewed widely to collect as much information about Shakespeare as possible. This is as close as we will ever get to the people who knew and worked with Shakespeare.

Rowe’s edition of the plays was also the first to be illustrated. This edition has 25 pages of these fascinating early images, mostly based on contemporary performance: a unique and charming picture of Shakespeare in performance.

Photographer Scott Mead (b.1954) revisits his formative years spent documenting New England, USA, in Rites of Passage for the first time. Shot over a five-year period between 1971 and 1976, we follow Mead through early adulthood and explore scenes of discovery, ritual, rural beauty and urban metropolis.

At a junction between an American road trip and a personal visual diary, Mead’s images depict a world as it was then, shaped by political upheaval, profound civil changes and the Cold War. The cloth-bound hardback book features 100 large-format prints of Mead’s poignant photographs to be considered in a new context.

Rites of Passage shows Mead with a camera always at hand and presents his delicate, often amusing and sometimes uneasy portraits alongside cityscapes, landscapes and snapshots of the lives of friends and strangers. All of the artist’s proceeds from Rites of Passage benefit Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London.