buckland books
 
 
We have an absolute wealth of new books for the December update, but first,
We are pleased to announce our
Book of the year  2001!  
 

1364 MOSAÏQUES, TRÉSOR DE LA LATINITÉ    £99.00

Edited by Henri Lavagne, Élisabeth de Balanda & Armando Uribe Echeverria, Ars Latina, France, 2001, French text, 627pp, 313 full colour plates, cloth, dustwrapper.
 
This is one of the finest books we have ever seen on mosaics. Comprising 313 fabulous colour plates, some double page, detailing the history of mosaic from antiquity to the present day, this long-awaited book is our BOOK OF THE YEAR. The text is excellent and includes critical analysis as well as historic reference. There is also an exhaustive bibliography, a detailed chronology and a full index.
 
Intended as a sort of 'Virtual Exhibition', the book is laid out with the text, illustrations and captions for each section separate.  It recounts the history of mosaic, particularly within the 'Latin' countries in chronological and geographical order.  Most books on the subject would tend to make you think that the history of mosaic stopped after the Byzantine Empire but this book carries the story right through to the modern day.  In fact the modern section has some of the best illustrations of mosaics in the entire book.  Add to this chapters on the conservation of mosaics and the lives of three of mosaic's historic champions and the result is our Book of the Year!
 
 
We also have a couple of other superb mosaic books this month:
 
 
 
13120 THE MADABA MAP CENTENARY, 1897-1997, Travelling through the Byzantine Umayyad Period, Proceedings of the International Conference held in Amman, Jordan, 7-9 April 1997 to celebrate the discovery of the mosaic map.    £105.00
 
Edited by Michele Piccirillo and Eugenio Alliata, published by the American Center of Oriental Research, Amman, Jordan, 1999, 278pp, 107 colour illus, hundreds of drawings in text plus historic b & w photographs, maps and plans, cloth, dustwrapper.

This is a definitive volume on this unique map of the Christian world of the sixth century. It examines the historical context, sources, re-discovery, restoration and conservation of the mosaic as well as a discussion on how best to present it to the modern mind.
 
 
 
1654 THE PETRA CHURCH     £120.00
 
Z T Fiema, C Kanellopoulos, T Waliszewski and R Schick. published by the American Center of Oriental Research, 2001, 447pp, 136 colour illus, mainly of the mosaics, plus hundreds of drawings etc in text. cloth, dustwrapper.
 
A definitive work on this early church, featuring the latest research and theories. The Mosaics are given special treatment with every known piece described and illustrated. A superb work of scholarly study.
 
ALSO RECEIVED:
 
 
13118    MAKING BITS AND PIECES MOSAICS    £16.99
 
Marlene Hurley Marshall, Storey Books, USA, 2001, 90pp, illustrated throughout in colour, boards, dustwrapper
 
This 'how-to' book on mosaics features a number of projects for home and garden in the Picassiette style, using broken crockery and other objects.  The projects are not particularly innovative, but some of the ideas may prove useful.
 
We have also been able to locate a few copies of:
 
1653 PICASSIETTE, Le Jardin d’Assiettes    £39.50
Paul Fuks, Ides et Calendes, Switzerland, 1992, French text, 126pp, 63 colour + 10 b & w illus, cloth, dustwrapper, plain slip case
La Maison Picassiette will be familiar to many of our mosaic friends. This is a superb study of the work of Raymond Isidore, detailing the dreams and ideas which gave him the inspiration for his tour-de-force of ‘outsider art’. The illustrations are excellent and do justice to the strange beauty of Isidore’s work.
 
 
NOW FOR SOME BOOKS ON TILES - SORRY ALL YOU TILE ENTHUSIASTS HAVE HAD TO WAIT, BUT WE HOPE YOU WILL AGREE IT'S WORTH IT!
 
 
 
1212 A LOST ART REDISCOVERED: The Architectural Ceramics of Byzantium     £86.50
 
Edited by Sharon E J Gerstel & Julie A Lauffenburger, Pennsylvania State University Press, USA, 2001, 318pp, illus throughout in b & w and colour, quarto paperback
 
The ceramic tiles made during the reign of the Byzantine Umayyads of the tenth and eleventh centuries are a virtually forgotten art. The stunning colours and the technical prowess involved make this a surprising fact, and one which is fully revealed in this fascinating book. Recommended!
 
 
 
1651 LES PAVEMENTS MÉDIÉVAUX DU CHÂTEAU DE SUSCINIO    £15.95
 
Patrick André, Conseil Général du Morbihan, France, 2001, French text, 63pp, 90 colour illus, folding card covers, paperback
 
In recent years, the floor tiles of France have been increasingly published and this latest book continues the story with details of the inlaid and tin glazed floor tiles from the Chateau de Suscinio, at Vannes in Brittany. The superb colour illustrations show a wonderful range of tiles in the two techniques and the accompanying text sets the tiles in their historic and social context.
 
 
We hope you all have a splendid Christmas and that you get everything on your present list (maybe the above has given you some inspiration!).  Remember, we will be glad to give you more information on any of our books and will send anything on approval on request.
 
All the very best for 2002,
 
Chris Blanchett, Proprietor, Buckland Books
Holly Tree House, 18 Woodlands Road, LITTLEHAMPTON, West Sussex, BN17 5PP
England
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1903 717 648