American Art Tile
by NORMAN KARLSON
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (15 September, 1998)
list price: $60.00
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Editorial Review

For collectors and aficionados of American art tile, this thoroughgoing, historically detailed book of more than 2,000 tiles from 149 potteries, studios, and factories will prove indispensable. And for casual readers who happen on its amazing array of delectable color photographs, it will be a seductive invitation to join the club. Author Norman Karlson was a photographer who shot some hand-painted Florentine tiles for a Ladies' Home Journal article in 1962. After 500 readers asked where to find them, Karlson started a European tile store in the basement of his home, branching into American art tiles in the 1980s. Here he has written brief, fascinating histories of each manufacturer, starting in New England and ending in California, with many down-to-earth details. Discussing Mississippi's Newcomb pottery, at the Southern women's college, Karlson mentions George Ohr, whose turn-of-the-century pots are now highly prized. "It is assumed that Newcomb asked Ohr to leave because his bawdy character was unsuited for the refined young ladies," Karlson notes dryly, next to photos of ceramic brothel tokens with ribald pictograms that Ohr sold as souvenirs at his own studio. Karlson provides pictures of scores of tile-clad surfaces, from cozy Arts and Crafts mantelpieces to the New York subway system. He also includes photos of potteries' identifying marks, biographical sketches of six leaders of the American art-tile movement, a glossary, and a detailed bibliography. --Margaret Moorman ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Superb reference
Superb photos and beautifully written and researched text make this a must for any serious collector of American Art Tiles!Karlson pushes the information envelope with regard to many American tile artisans.For example, he includes a photograph of perhaps the only known example of a glazed Matt Morgan art tile.If you are a serious Art Tile collector this book should be in your library!

Perfect for novice tile collectors and lovers alike!
This bountiful volume conatains gorgeous photos and detailed information on tile manufacturers from the turn of the century to WWII. Some famous ones, and a lot of obscure ones that I was thrilled to learn about. Besides being pleasing to the eye, it really did broaden my understanding of the different tile manufacturers and the influences that shaped the work and heritage. I rarely spend this much on a book, but I found it to be well worth the money.

Not a coffee table book....
Well, okay, maybe you would place in on the coffee table if your bookshelves aren't high enough, but this is a practical book. "AmericanArt Tile" covers the period from 1876-1941.Why does it stop in 1941?Because sadly, many tile making firms shut down for WWII and neverreopened.

The book shows photographs of hundreds of tiles made by morethan 100 American firms (probably every one Mr. Karlson could identify).Included are the Dedham Pottery in Dedham Massachusetts with it's famousblue and white scenes of rabbits running around the edge of the tile; theMoravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with it'sfantastic Eastern European images; The Weller Pottery in Zanesville Ohiowith it's "Sicardo" works; Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohiowhich produced the matte glazed architectural tile used in the New YorkSubway system such as Fulton's Steamboat at the Fulton Street Station; andthe wonderful Pewabic Pottery in Detroit Michigan from the Chippawa wordfor copper colored clay.

These tiles are not all individually labled, soif you're trying to identify a particular item, the book will provide onlylimited information. On the other hand, it will probably help you determinethe origin of the manufacturing company, if not the name of the specificdesign. According to Karlson, many of the companies are out of business, sothis may be as good as it gets since catalogues are impossible to obtain.

Mr. Karlson includes many photographs of individual tiles, but few areshow 'in situ' so the pages can become overwhelming in their detail.However, the book is probably destined to be something antique tile dealerskeep in their reference desk. If you're a serious tile collector orfancier, you will probably find the book worth the cost. ... Read more

Isbn: 084782098X
Subjects:  1. 19th cenury    2. 20th century    3. American - General    4. Antiques & Collectibles    5. Art    6. Art & Art Instruction    7. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    8. History    9. Pottery & Ceramics    10. Tiles    11. United States   

The Collector's Encyclopedia of Van Briggle Art Pottery : An Indentification & Value Guide
by Richard Sasicki Josie Fania
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 November, 1992)
list price: $24.95 -- our price: $16.47
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Reviews (3)

Top Notch Guide
This book is fabulous. I can't begin to say how many times I have read itand flipped through the pages for information. It is clearly written andthe information is presented in such a way that even the novice collectorcan easily find details from glaze color and dating to prices. Price guidebeing located in the back is rather annoying (rather than the value beinglisted directly with the photo) but this a small price to pay for such afabulous resource. For the more advanced collector, I recommend ScottNelson's "A Collector's Guide to Van Briggle Pottery".

An excellent reference for the collector of this art pottery
This is a great book. It contains just about everything a collector of van Briggle might need to know, with the exception of a truly accurate price guide. Online auctions have rendered price guides in most reference booksof this type obsolete, so this isn't really a flaw. It gives one ajumping-off point, but be aware current values online are often less thanthose listed here.

That being said, this book is very effective atproviding information about this wonderful art pottery. The authors provideus a history of the potter and his work, with a number of historicalphotos. There is an extremely useful section showing various marks(backstamps) used, allowing one to identify and date pieces. There arehundreds of well shot photos of pieces, giving examples of techniques andglazes used. All in all an excellent value and sure to please.

Best Van Briggle Reference I've Seen...
This reference provides a history of the Van Briggle Pottery, with a focus on the early history.The tips for dating pieces by glaze color, clay texture/color, and bottom condition are invaluable for new collectors.This isa must-read for anyone interest in Van Briggle, especially sinceit's really the only reference book on the market! ... Read more

Isbn: 0891455191
Sales Rank: 71663
Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques / Collectibles    4. Antiques/Collectibles    5. Art pottery    6. Art pottery, American    7. Catalogs    8. Collectors and collecting    9. Colorado    10. Colorado Springs    11. Pottery & Ceramics    12. Reference - Price Guides    13. Van Briggle Pottery Company   

Pottery, Politics, Art: George Ohr and the Brothers Kirkpatrick
by Richard D. Mohr
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (March, 2003)
list price: $60.00 -- our price: $37.80
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Reviews (1)

For mature pottery connoisseurs
Pottery, Politics, Art: George Ohr And The Brothers Kirkpatrick by Richard D. Mohr (Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) scrutinizes the works of three of America's most fervent nineteenth century potters. Black-and-white and full color photographs of the sensual, masterfully wrought works add a visual complement to the thoughtful studies of these classic art pieces, responding to the message of the creators' selves within the pieces. A work of superbly presented scholarship, Pottery, Politics, Art is very highly recommended for mature pottery connoisseurs and academic "Art History" collections. ... Read more

Isbn: 0252027892
Sales Rank: 432830
Subjects:  1. 1814-1890    2. 1828-1896    3. 1857-1918    4. Art    5. Art & Art Instruction    6. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    7. Ceramics    8. Crafts & Hobbies    9. Kirkpatrick, Cornwall,    10. Kirkpatrick, Wallace,    11. Ohr, George E.,    12. Pottery & Ceramics    13. Kirkpatrick, Cornwall    14. Kirkpatrick, Wallace    15. Ohr, George E   

The Mad Potter of Biloxi: The Art and Life of George E. Ohr
by Garth Clark Robert A. Ellison Eugene Hecht
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 November, 1989)
list price: $85.00 -- our price: $53.55
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Reviews (2)

the most amazing book of pottery I have ever seen!
this man was a a head of his time. i have never seen anythig that has come out of the 1800's that looked any thing like this.The photography is great and the biography is good , but the pottery is the best i have ever seen hehad great form and great glaze you could not ask any more from a potter

The most unique and most copied potter in the world.
This book has marvelous images of just some of the fine works that GeorgeOhr created. The summaries of his life are correct to some extent but itfailed to provide any deatails of his offspring orhow they may havecarried on the innate artist abilities, this is why I only give it fourstars. ... Read more

Isbn: 0896599272
Sales Rank: 171581
Subjects:  1. 1857-1918    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques / Collectibles    4. Antiques/Collectibles    5. Biloxi    6. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    7. Criticism and interpretation    8. General    9. Mississippi    10. Ohr, George E.,    11. Pottery & Ceramics    12. Pottery, American    13. Ohr, George E   

Art Nouveau Tiles: C. 1890-1914 (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
by Sandie Fowler Wendy Harvey Sandra Fowler
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 December, 2001)
list price: $49.95 -- our price: $49.95
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Reviews (3)

A disappointment
Incomplete and cursory. Photographic image quality so-so. Amateurish.

Art Nouveau Tiles C. 1890 - 1914
Sometimes you need a good source, with photographs, for identifying the many, many art nouveau tiles out there.THIS BOOK DOES THAT!!!!Over the years I have collected some art nouveau tiles and, with the aid of this book --- IN MINUTES --- I was able to identify all of them. As a bonus a current value for each tile is also provided.For the serious tile collector Art Nouveau Tiles by Sandra Fowler and Wendy Harvey is a MUST!!!!

Art Nouveau tile C. 1890-1914
I was disappointed with the quality of this book. All the photos are either digital or downloaded from the web. There is a great variety of beautiful tiles but the images themselves are really grainy. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764314416
Sales Rank: 543550
Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art nouveau    3. Crafts / Hobbies    4. Decoration and ornament    5. Pottery & Ceramics    6. Reference    7. Tiles   

American Art Pottery
by Barbara A. Perry
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 February, 1997)
list price: $39.95 -- our price: $39.95
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Reviews (1)

Positively Gorgeous
The pottery pictured in this book is beautiful so the book is really nice eye candy, but there's more to it than that.The photography is the thing!I've never seen such beautiful photography of pottery in my life.All you potters out there, this is what your slides should look like!(Good luck.)A very lovely book of a great cross-section of American Art Pottery.Obviously, very inpirational and highly recommended. ... Read more

Isbn: 0810919710
Sales Rank: 75998
Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art pottery, American    4. Catalogs    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    6. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    7. Everson Museum of Art    8. Exhibition Catalogs    9. New York (State)    10. Pottery    11. Pottery & Ceramics    12. Syracuse   

Warman's American Pottery & Porcelain (Warman's American Pottery and Porcelain)
by Susan Bagdade Al Bagdade Allen D. Bagdade
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 December, 2000)
list price: $24.95 -- our price: $16.47
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Reviews (1)

A New Comprehensive Volume on American Pottery & Porcelain
Second edition of the popular volume updated for the year 2000.There are 224 pages with more than 200 black and white photos and a 16-page color section.This encyclopedia describes and prices almost 12,000 items produced by 150 American potteries.Introductory text covers Derivation of Prices, Role of Condition, State of the Market, America's Ceramics Industry, and handy abbreviations used throughout the work.There's also an appendix with auction houses, museums, glossary and a useful index, that facilitates finding items.Topics range from Advertising and Calendar Plates, Children's Ware, Dresden Pottery, to Warwick China, Wheatley Pottery, and Yellowware.Plenty of text is included for each category.A useful book that collectors will refer to often. ... Read more

Isbn: 0873418220
Sales Rank: 182192
Subjects:  1. Antiques    2. Antiques & Collectibles    3. Antiques / Collectibles    4. Antiques/Collectibles    5. Ceramic Arts And Crafts    6. Collectors and collecting    7. Porcelain & China    8. Porcelain, American    9. Pottery & Ceramics    10. Pottery, American    11. Reference - Price Guides