THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANTIQUES

by L. Ramsey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 21, 1962

Beginning in 1955, and at intervals since then, Hawthorn has published such volumes as The (the same editor), The Concise Encyclopedia of English Pottery and Encyclopedia of American Antiques. Now the editor of The Connoisseur, from which this material was drawn, has compiled the present volume from some six volumes of The Concise Encyclopedias and produced a 1472 page reference of considerable merit. The subject matter is in alphabetical order-from Arm Silver. Each section contains introductory material- historical, regional, factual background data, significant details with which the collector should be familiar; then comes for each section a Glossary of terms, essential to full comprehension of both text and pictures. The text is succinct, clear- the range gives more balance than one would expect with substantial attention given to American antiques; the photographs and plates of engravings, etc. number some 512, but unfortunately have to be grouped in signatures, not always contiguous to the text, but line drawings come where they belong. An excellent Bibliography for further study, a list of important museums, galleries (there are some rather conspicuous omissions here but the inclus are excellent), and a cross index, to serve as a guide to the glossaries and lists within the book, complete the facets of reference importance. This should provide the answer to a need small libraries can rarely meet in the reference department; individuals interested in building a library of books on antiques would find it a good basic text, well worth the money.

Pub Date: Sept. 21, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Hawthorn

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION