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.
From Nigel Grierson, (photographer/sleeve designer and joint creator of the 4AD visual identity), and with an essay by esteemed photography writer, Gerry Badger, comes the first volume of his street photography from the early 1980s – created while studying at The Royal College of Art in London. Here ‘the decisive moment’ combined with Grierson’s uniquely minimalist eye, are employed to create images of great power, humor and poignancy. Pioneering ‘flash in daylight’ within British documentary photography from the late 1970s, onward (‘a time when natural light was almost a creed’ – Badger), this award winning work, is finally published. In his brief introduction, Grierson speaks of his fascination for the ‘paradoxical’ nature of the medium, being both documentation and self expression simultaneously. He states, ‘It seemed to me, that through photography and observation, there was the possibility, for the two great arcs of life; one of the outer world of reality / documentation, and the other of the inner world of fiction and dream, to come together with the single click of a shutter’.
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, Queen Camilla, 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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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.
Taking four themes as its starting point, this book reveals the strong interconnectedness of Ukraine’s turbulent history, the country’s permanent social and political unrest and the work of Ukrainian artists. Against Oppression, Forgotten Histories, Spaces of Freedom and Thoughts on the Future each reflect the dynamic between the drive for freedom and the mechanisms of oppression.
With this new guide in your bag, you’re set to go out and discover the best and most fun places in hotspot Miami: 500 addresses that many tourists don’t know, a bit off the beaten track, but always loved by the locals and worth a visit. The 500 Hidden Secrets of Miami will take you to all the places that make Miami the lively and unique city it is, also known as the ‘Gateway to the Caribbean’, such as: the 5 nicest water views, 5 stunning Mediterranean revival buildings, 5 renowned Miami-based fashion designers, the 5 coolest hotel pools, and 5 wonderful parks, playgrounds, and museums to visit with your kids. It even includes some unusual experiences, such as swimming in a freshwater Venetian pool, or day trips to the Everglades and the Keys.
The name Johann Joachim Kaendler (1706–1775) is closely entwined in the 18th century with the golden age of the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. His exceptional artistic talent, coupled with craftsmanship, enabled him to capture the daily life of the nobility in their palaces and residences in numerous figures and groups. In doing so, he did not limit himself to official events but reflected tastes and aspirations as well as current trends. In the publication Magnificence of Rococo impressive porcelain figurines from top-class European private collections are brought together for the first time: on over 300 pages, these magnificent, often unique objects provide insights into courtly life of the Baroque and Rococo periods.
The Veronese wine regions of Soave and Valpolicella – home to Amarone – are currently producing some of the world’s most drinkable quality wines. But both regions still struggle with a reputation for cheap, poor-quality wines brought about through industrial-scale production during the economic depression following the Second World War. In Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona, Italian wine specialist Michael Garner traces a shift in focus towards new levels of quality driven by a generation of producers inspired by the area’s outstanding potential for producing fine wine.
Both regions produce versatile wines which, as well as being both deliciously drinkable and relatively affordable, have the flavor and structure to accompany a wide range of foods. In Valpolicella an appassimento wine, the famed Amarone, has gained comparable status to Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino, while Soave overlaps with the tiny denomination of Lessini Durello, where sparkling wine is produced from the rare, local white grape Durella.
Garner begins Amarone and the fine wines of Verona with a summary of the region’s history, before detailing its geography, grape varieties and approach to both viticulture and winemaking, leading into a discussion of each denomination’s character and wine styles. A cross-section of around 100 producers provides a capsule profile of each, along with analysis of some of their best and most distinctive wines.
For students of wine, those in the wine business and wine adventurers alike, Amarone and the Fine Wines of Verona provides a gateway to a sorely misunderstood wine region.
Once brewed throughout Asia, sake has come to be inextricably linked with Japanese culture, tradition and society. In Sake and the Wines of Japan, Anthony Rose argues that, after decades in the doldrums, sake is well on its way to becoming the next big thing. Neither a wine nor a spirit, sake’s purity, centuries-old brewing methods and umami taste have gained it fans among the sort of younger drinkers who sparked the revolution in craft beers and artisan spirits. A return to quality, plus the modern outlook of today’s generation of sake makers is opening up sake, particularly premium sake, to the world. Exports have increased and sake breweries, some artisan, some offshoots of big Japanese names, have sprung up in destinations as far flung as Oregon and Australia, not forgetting England.
To demonstrate how deeply woven into Japanese society this drink is, Rose first takes us through the history of sake production, from offerings to the gods made from rice chewed by priestesses, to the heyday of sake, when master craftsmen – tōjis – were instrumental in a brewery’s success or failure, to sake’s new wave, epitomized by Berlin techno DJ Richie Hawtin, founder of ENTER.Sake. Rose then details sake types, demystifies polishing ratios, explores the issues around ageing sake and discusses how best to enjoy sake. The four basic ingredients – rice, kōji (rice mould), yeast and water – are introduced ahead of a thorough explanation of the brewing process. Rose profiles a personal selection of sake producers and ends the sake section with a chapter on sake producers outside Japan.
Japan’s wine industry is small and young but improving rapidly; here some of the best exponents are profiled alongside a history of wine production in Japan and details of grape varieties used. Sake and the wines of Japan ends with a guide to Japan, making it an essential tool for all those seeking a way into this enigmatic and enticing culture.
Chablis has a distinct identity amongst the wines of Burgundy. The gently sloping vineyards of this small, scenic region produce a remarkably diverse range of wines, even though all are made from just one variety – Chardonnay.
As in other parts of France, it was the Romans who introduced vines and the medieval Church which expanded the vineyard. By the twelfth century the wines of Chablis, were already being celebrated in poetry. However, over the centuries a considerable amount of everyday wine also found its way via the river Yonne to the cafés of Paris. In its heyday of production towards the end of the nineteenth century the region encompassed 40,000 hectares of vines. But that was before phylloxera and oidium ravaged the vineyards and the railways brought competition from further south to the capital’s wine drinkers.
From a low point of 500 hectares just after the Second World War, the vineyard has now expanded more than tenfold, and quality has increased too. Wines in the appellation’s four categories – grand cru, premier cru, Chablis and Petit Chablis – are created by vignerons keen to work with the terroir to produce the elegant, mineral, long-lived wines for which the region earned its reputation. To this end, ever greater care is being taken in the vineyards and the routine use of chemicals is becoming increasingly uncommon.
The region’s history, unique soil, geography and climate are all covered in detail, but it is Rosemary George’s lively and insightful profiles of those who make the region’s wines that form the body of The wines of Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois. Through the lives of these vignerons – from the lows of disastrous weather to their love of the land – she paints a unique picture of a much-admired region.
This historic wine nation at the heart of Europe produces a diverse range of wines – Riesling above all, but also compelling Spätburgunder, aka Pinot Noir, and Silvaner, amongst others. Yet in the minds of many it is still associated with mass-produced sweetish plonk. But following a bruising twentieth century, German wine over the past thirty years has experienced a renaissance. In The Wines of Germany, Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl takes us with her on a journey through vineyards clustered along the country’s many winding rivers to uncover this new world of German wine.
She begins with a thorough explanation of German wine law – a subject so complicated that it can alienate all but the most dedicated wine enthusiast – taking a historical perspective and showing how current moves to review the law could considerably simplify it. It is only right that Riesling, the light and aromatic grape synonymous with this country, gets a chapter all to itself, as does Spätburgunder. Plantings of this grape doubled between 1990 and 2010 to make Germany the third-largest grower worldwide. As an enthusiast for Sekt, Krebiehl is keen to explain how far from the tank-produced wines of past decades this sparkling wine has come, with artisan winemakers across the regions returning to the old methods to create bottle-fermented Sekts of quality.
Taking the thirteen regions in turn, Krebiehl explains the unique history, geography and climate of each, presenting a selection of some of her favorite producers. From the famed steep slopes of the Mosel, where Riesling reaches its pinnacle of expression, through the largest region, Rheinhessen, home of the infamous Liebfraumilch, to less well-known regions such as Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen, Krebiehl paints a vivid picture of each region’s unique offering, inspiring readers to begin their own explorations.
Great Britain is a premium wine-producing region, with around 650 vineyards in England and Wales covering some 2,750 hectares and producing sparkling and still wines. English and Welsh wines have won many prestigious awards recently and Stephen Skelton is the leading authority on the wines of the UK.
The Wines of Great Britain is a comprehensive survey of the history of UK wines, as well as of the current state of the wine industry and its future prospects. After a short introduction showing where UK wine is in 2019 and where it might go in the future Skelton considers the history of winemaking in the UK from King Alfred in the fifth century, through the medieval period to recent developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Wines of Great Britain then takes us on a tour of contemporary viticulture and winemaking, examining trends in plantings and vineyard layout, varieties, rootstocks and clones, vineyard sizes, modern wineries and styles of wine. Skelton considers regional identities as well as the branding of UK sparkling wines and their market position.
A substantial part of this important book is the 21 detailed biographies of the most important, exciting and innovative producers and the wines they create. Wine businesses profiled in detail include Breaky Bottom, Chapel Down, Nyetimber, Oxney Organic Estate, Sixteen Ridges Vineyard and Yorkshire Heart Vineyard. Shorter entries on other significant or up and coming producers also feature.
New Zealand’s wine industry has grown rapidly over the last 30 years, with the world’s wine drinkers falling particularly hard for the Marlborough region’s distinctive Sauvignon Blancs. But New Zealand wine goes far beyond the exuberant whites grown in the north of its South Island.
In The Wines of New Zealand Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb takes us on a vinous journey through Aotearoa (‘land of the long white cloud’) and opens our eyes to the huge variety of wines created throughout the two islands of one of the world’s most southerly wine-producing lands. She begins by covering the history of winemaking in New Zealand – the first grapes were planted 200 years ago, but it has only recently realized its potential. There is then an introduction to the New Zealand climate and the leading grapes – including 10 ‘must-try’ wines for each variety.
The major wine producing regions are detailed in turn, from Northland, the most northerly and warmest region, offering ripe Chardonnays and rich reds, to the cooler South Island, where bright whites and nuanced Pinot Noirs abound. Profiles, including recommended wines, are given for a selection of the country’s nearly 700 producers, providing an overview of the most exciting wineries and their differing approaches to viticulture and winemaking. For those readers seeking to complete their exploration of this breathtaking country in person, there is a useful chapter giving details on wine-related activities in New Zealand.
This expert and accessible guide to New Zealand wines is a refreshing addition to the library of any wine enthusiast.
Faugères is one of the most individual appellations of the Languedoc. Although it produces white and rosé wines, the appellation is most famous for its rich, elegant reds. The Faugères wine appellation was created in 1982 and is now producing consistently excellent wines, the secret lying in the hills surrounding the village of Faugères where the schist, or decayed slate makes for wines with a distinctive freshness and minerality.
Currently little-known outside of France, the wines of Faugères are rapidly becoming the stars of the Languedoc. Rosemary George’s The Wines of Faugères is a comprehensive guide to the wines of a remarkably compact and homogeneous area which covers just seven villages and a couple of hamlets but produces an intriguing variety of different wines within the framework of the appellation. The Wines of Faugères covers the history, geography and climate of the region, as well as its grape varieties and viticulture, before profiling the individual producers and their wines. It ends with an invaluable assessment of vintages going back to the creation of the appellation in 1982.
The Wines of Faugères features the most up-to-date information on this beautiful region and its characterful wines, providing an indispensable guide to a small but fascinating appellation.
The Languedoc is a land of mountains, sea and Cathar castles in the south of France. For much of its history the region has also been seen as the home of rustic table wines with no international reputation. However, over the last 40 years the wines have improved enormously, with innovations in both vineyards and cellars, helped by the development of appellations and IGPs recognizing the individuality of its different areas. Now boasting more than 2,500 wine producers, the Languedoc has attracted interest from around the world, thanks to its affordable land and exciting creative possibilities.
The Languedoc is best known for its spicy reds, often made from one or more of the classic quintet of varieties, Carignan, Cinsaut, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Syrah. However, it is also gaining a reputation for its whites, with the coastal appellation Picpoul de Pinet in particular seeing a rise in popularity, and for its rosés, producing twice as much as its fashionable neighbor Provence. The Languedoc is also home to the world’s oldest sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux, and to vins doux naturels in the form of delicious, sweet Muscats.
It is in the twenty-first century above all that the Languedoc has really found its place among the great wine regions. Here, Rosemary George MW profiles a selection of those producers who have made and continue to boost the region’s reputation. Some are newcomers, while others are inheritors of family businesses, many of whom have studied oenology or learned winemaking elsewhere. All are passionate about what they do, continuing to improve their wines with every vintage.
The Languedoc is one of the world’s largest and most exciting wine regions, making Wines of the Languedoc essential reading for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
This insightful book examines in detail the lesser-known wines of Bordeaux – the dry whites, the rosés (including Clairet), the sweet wines (beyond just the famed Sauternes) and the relative newcomer crémant, the sparkling wine which now represents almost 1.5 per cent of all Bordeaux wine. The White Wines of Bordeaux examines the history and evolution of these less well-known wine styles and colors, and profiles the grape varieties planted. It highlights the different terroirs and vineyards across Bordeaux, and spotlights the grower–producers, their stories and their wines, which occupy the emerging ‘middle’ in an area that has traditionally been polarized as cru classé or generic. The book identifies and discusses the challenges the region and its growers face and assess important catalysts for change such as climate change, new markets made by globally traveled younger generations, a focus on sustainability and wine tourism.
Australia’s wine history dates back almost 250 years, to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The first commercial wine region, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, was created a mere 40 years later, and by as early as the 1850s small amounts of wine were being exported to the UK. In the modern era, Australian wine became known for fortified wine styles modeled on Port and Sherry. These were the main wine styles consumed for several decades, but by the mid-1990s nearly all grapes were going into table wine and Australia was the sixth largest global exporter of wine. Vibrant, varietally expressive and affordable wines introduced new generations of drinkers to the joys of wine. The popularity of Australian wine has ebbed and flowed over the years but experimentation, innovation and the illumination of newer regions has created a quiet revolution, challenging preconceptions of what is possible.
In The Wines of Australia, sommelier Mark Davidson tastes his way round this new Australian wine world. European immigration was an important factor in the development of wine but it also had a dramatic and negative impact on the indigenous peoples, an issue that Davidson addresses in a chapter on history and culture, explaining how the wine industry is taking steps to involve First Nations peoples in grape growing and winemaking. The growing environment, including the critical question of climate change, is tackled, and today’s most important grape varieties, along with those that can take Australian wine into the future, are profiled. This is followed by a chapter explaining why the country is home to some of the oldest vines in the world. Every region is clearly delineated, its key producers introduced and their wines assessed. The Wines of Australia captures the character of one of the most exciting wine-producing countries on the planet.