The Sampson Low Collectors' Library: Glass by John A. Brooks. 100 masterpieces of crystal and colour. C. 1975, printed in Italy. Western Publishing Company Inc. SBN 562 00009 7.
FROM THE BOOK:
This book features the most important achievements of the glass-maker's and glass-decorator's art, from the rise of Venice as the glass-manufacturing centre of Europe. The techniques of the richly coloured, emanmelled, ovrlaid, engraved, gilded and Zwischen-gold glass of Central Europe - especially of Bohemia - are described and illustrated, as a background to the great period of English and Irish glass in the 18th century.
A special feature of this book is that it gives, for almost the first time, a full and proper coverage to Victorian ornamental glass - its qualities are now winning the appreciation of collectors who ignored it in the past. As in so many fields, the Great Exhibition of 1851 was a turning point, herealding the start of mass production and a new diversity of style. Glass became available to all and was increasingly used for decrorative purposes. The illustrations of the products of Stourbridge and other important factories in the north of England at the time will fascinate many who are interested in this 'new' area of glass antiques.
The colours and expressive forms of Art Nouveau glass in Europe (Galle, Daum, Lalique) and North America (Tiffany) around 1900 proclaim the riches of another 'boom' for colllecting enthusiasm in an area that was, until recently, comparatively neglected. Book measures 12 in. by 8 1/2 in. Book is in very good condition, dust jacket has slightly curled edges.