Buckland Books
 
Round here, the blossom is well out on the trees and Summer seems just around the corner.  Our booklists seem to be blooming too with lots of new and exciting books, particularly on the tile front this time.  So without further ado, we present:
 
 
 
 
0521 AN EXPRESSION OF THE COMMUNITY    £37.50
Photographs by Robert A Fischel, Essays by Anita Ellis and Walter Langsam, The Art League, 2002, 224pp, 297 colour + 15 b & w illus, landscape, cloth, dustwrapper
Subtitled ‘Cincinnati Public Schools’ Legacy of Art and Architecture’, this is a wonderful record of the tiles, terracotta, mosaics, metalwork, plaster and painting which combined to form an amazing backdrop to learning in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the early to mid 20th century. The colour photography is of the highest level and captures fully the spirit of these ‘temples of learning’. I wish my schools had looked like this…….!
 
I wonder why schools (and other public buildings) these days don't feature more art and design in their construction and decoration?  The examples in this book should be an inspiration to designers everywhere to introduce more colour and design into functional buildings, not just schools.  It is also fascinating that there seems to be little or no graffitti evident, or acts of vandalism (except one photograph of a drinking fountain that was robbed out).  Is the vandal ashamed to damage such a beautiful item or is it something to do with a calming atmosphere? I wonder........
 
 
 
 
 
2049 TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY TILE DESIGNS IN FULL COLOR    £15.70
‘Edited by’ L François, Dover Pubns, 2002, iv pp text + 43 full page colour plates, large paperback
This is one of the best of the Dover reprints of historic books, being an almost complete full-colour facsimile of the 1905 Catalogue of Faïenceries de Sarreguemines/Utzschneider, Digoin, Vitry-le-François and Paris. It is full of fabulous Art Nouveau tiles, both single designs, dadoes and room settings, some of which seem to have been ‘copied’ from English manufacturers, including Minton!
 
Here are designs for dadoes, interiors of shops etc, large figurative panels, individual tiles to gladden the eye and provide inspiration for tile designers and makers everywhere.
 
 
 
 
 
0390 CERAMICS INDUSTRY ENCYCLOPAEDIA (Construction Materials): Four volume set in slip case, boxed     £52.95
Also available as individual volumes:
0390a BRICKS    £14.50
0390b FLOORS    £14.50
0390c STONE    £14.50
0390d TILES    £14.50
Various authors, Ediciones Daly, Spain, 2002, Parallel English and Spanish texts, 84pp per volume, fully illus throughout in colour, boards
A comprehensive guide to current ideas in ceramic and stone building materials and decorations. Essentially a showcase for manufacturers, mainly Spanish, to show how their products can be utilised. The English translations aren’t brilliant, but the illustrations are first rate!
 
Taken mostly from the contemporary ranges of a number of Spanish and Italian manufacturers, these interesting books give an overview of the current trends in European design.  Interpreting 'architectural ceramics' rather loosely, the Stone volume includes marble, mosaics and terrazzo as well as reconstituted stone and tiles.
 
 
Special offer:
 
 
 
 
We have managed to pick up some remaindered copies of this fabulous book on the art of graphic design for shops etc.  Featuring examples from all over Europe and North America, this fabulous book has examples of signwork in
 mosaic, tile, brick, paint glass and wood.
Many date from the Art Nouveau period and are wonderful examples of the florid designs of the early 20th century.
 
0434    DESIGNAGE  -  was £13.99, Now just £6.99
Arnold Schwartzman, Chronicle Books, USA, 1998, 132pp, 338 colour illus, paperback
 
 
We are pleased to announce that we have also received our stocks of:
 
 
 
 
0389 COSMATESQUE ORNAMENT, Flat Polychrome Geometric Patterns in Architecture     £60.00
Paloma Pajares-Ayuela, Thames and Hudson, April 2002, 320pp, 569 illus including 377 in colour, cloth, dustwrapper
Known for their remarkable mosaic work, the ‘Cosmati’ stoneworkers of the 12th and 13th centuries left a legacy of some of the most beautiful ornament in the world. Distinguished by their complex geometric patterns, Cosmatesque designs can be found today in the churches of Rome and its environs, and as far afield as Westminster Abbey This book richly illustrates Cosmatesque Monuments and techniques in over 300 pages of colour photographs, and defines their geometric and mathematical basis. It provides a revealing look at the state of building in Rome after the fall of the Empire; an analysis of the symbolic meaning behind the quincunx, the quintessential Cosmatesque design; a comparison of different sites; and a close examination of the Schola Cantorum in the Church of San Clemente, Rome.
 
This book is a real eye-opener!  I was stunned to see the amazing virtuosity of the early Cosmati workers, how did they achieve such accuracy with only simple tools?
 
We have also obtained a few copies of:
 
 
0179 L’ALBANIA DAL TARDOANTICO AL MEDIOEVO, ASPETTI E PROBLEMI DI ARCHEOLOGIA E STORIA DELL’ARTE £59.00
Various authors, Edizioni del Girasole, 1993, Italian and French texts, 653pp, 190 b & w illus, boards
A report of the first AISCOM Symposium and the seminar on the late-antiquity/medieval art of Albania. Includes much on mosaics in this darkened land. 
 
 
End Notes:
 
Peter and Alison Massey, better known as ZANTIUM MOSAICS have sent us details of their courses for the rest of 2002:
 
June 22 & 23    Waterperry Gardens, Oxford    Pebble Mosaics
July 12 & 13     Waterperry Gardens, Oxford    Glass and Ceramics
Aug 10 & 11    Waterperry Gardens, Oxford    Pebble Mosaics
Sep 14 & 15    Zantium Workshops, Derby       Pebble Mosaics
Oct 12 & 13      Waterperry Gardens, Oxford    Pebble Mosaics
Nov 9 & 10       Waterperry Gardens, Oxford    Glass and Ceramics
Dec 7 & 8        Zantium Workshops, Derby       Glass and Ceramics
 
They are also holding a week-long Mosaic Summer School at thier studios in Derby from 19-23 August, working in a variety of materials and techniques.
 
For more details contact:  ZANTIUM, Peter and Alison Massey, 114 Alfreton Road, Little Eaton, DERBY, DE21 5 DE, England, Tel: +44 (0) 1332 834135, email: mosaics@zantium.co.uk
 
 
The latest on-line TILE AUCTION from Karen Michelle is now underway at:
There are some interesting tiles in this set, including a few British ones!
 
 
SAVE Britain's Heritage is holding a BOOK SALE in their Gallery at 77 Cowcross Street, LONDON, EC1M 6EL on 21 May 2002.  It is an opportunity for organisations which have architectural conservation as their aim, to display and sell their publications to one another and all who are interetsed in this aspect of Britain's cultural heritage.  The TILES AND ARCHITECTURAL CERAMICS SOCIETY will be represented as will BUCKLAND BOOKS.  We are looking forward to an exciting day when we hope to meet old friends and make new ones!
 
 
The Ofen- und Keramikmuseum, Velten (Germany) is currently holding an exhibition entitled FLIESN, DIE NÄCHSTEN VERWANDTEN DER OFENKACHELN.  It is open daily, from Tuesday to Friday 11am - 5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 1pm - 5pm.  For further details contact: Ofen- und Kermamikmuseum Velten, Wilhelmsrasse 32, 16727 VELTEN, Germany, Tel: +49 (0)3304 31760, Fax: +49 (0) 3304 505887, email: info@ofenmuseum-velten.de
 
 
Well, that seems to be all this time, we hope you've enjoyed our promenade through the blossom fields!
 
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All the very best,
 
Yours
 
Chris Blanchett, Proprietor, Buckland Books
Holly Tree House, 18 Woodlands Road, LITTLEHAMPTON, West Sussex, BN17 5PP
England
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1903 717 648
E-mail: cblanchett@lineone.net