Book Description
Before there was Martha Stewart, there was Russel Wright (1904-1976), the great mid-century modern American designer who pioneered the concept of "easier living" for the middle class, a uniquely American lifestyle that was gracious but contemporary and informal. Yet despite Wright's enormous influence, there has been no major survey of his work until now.
This handsome volume-which accompanies an exhibition at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City-showcases more than 125 of Wright's best designs for inexpensive, mass-produced dinnerware, textiles, and furniture. As the flurry of Wright auction activity on Ebay shows, there is a thriving collectors' market for his designs. This thorough interpretation of his achievement is eagerly anticipated.
125 illustrations, 65 in full color, 176 pages, 71/2 x 10"
Customer Reviews:
Interesting historical overview.......2002-04-30
This is a great book for the Russel Wright collector who wants to know more of the backstory and history of the man and the pottery. But do not confuse this book with a collector's guide. This book will probably not help you to decide if a piece is RW or not, and certainly will not help in pricing or deciding rarity.
Bravo!.......2001-11-21
This book is a great compliment to the exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt, but more than that. The information here is not more of the same, of what's already been said about Wright in other books. Although some overlap is necessary to tell his story, there are many new details of his design life and philosophy, and marvelous photos of some of his products and drawings, not seen other books. There are also great pictures of Mary as well. I feel that this book was very sensitively done and that all involved in creating it (and the exhibit) deserve applause. It would be hard to imagine any R.W. fan not loving this book.
Book Description
In addition to the dinnerware collectibles, this book also features the furniture, housewares, lamps, wood, metal works, fabrics, and numerous other items sought by collectors and dealers. Hundreds of photos, including vintage catalogs and advertisements, and revised values for all items to reflect today's ever-changing market. AUTHORBIO: Ann Kerr was an avid Russel Wright collector and researchers of his works for many years. She was able to finish writing her third edition of the Collector's Encyclopedia of Russel Wright before she passed away in 2001. REVIEW: This book is more than just an identification and vaule guide. Along with many of the features often seen in a collector's guide, the encyclopedia also contains several essays about the life and work of this innovative industrial designer.
Customer Reviews:
A must have for Wright collectors, if you don't have a previous edition.......2002-05-21
We've been collecting RW since 1998, and have hundreds of hard to find and many one of a kind pieces.
Pros:
-Some new photos.
-The most comprehensive author of Russel Wright, covering all designs from all eras, including furniture and plastic
-Detailed price guides
-History and chronology of lines based on extensive research
Cons:
-Due to wide scope of the book, it is fairly easy to find incorrect information on pieces, prices, and other data.
-Truncated some interesting information from 2nd edition, including photos of very rare items that we collect
Neutral:
-Moved prices to back (for easier reference?).
Bottom line: 2 stars for accuracy, 4 stars for breadth, 3 stars for depth. Thus the average rating. If you seriously collect RW and do not have either the 2nd or 3rd edition of this book, you should buy this as without doubt this is certainly better than other RW books (and we have several others), but again not necessarily a must have for those with the 2nd edition.
Just the pots, please.......2000-08-08
I just started collecting Russel Wright dishes, and was looking for a definitive reference guide to help key out the pieces I had. I thought this book had a lot of helpful information about determining pattern and manfacturing locations, but I was a bit disappointed overall. Though the cover of the book features only pottery, the book itself has examples of all that Russel Wright created in his long, prolific career-- all the way down to the radios and lamps. It would be great for the diehard RW fan, but I wished it just focussed on the pottery.
An excellent book for any beginning Wright collector.......1999-03-09
I am so happy to have gotten this book. I knew little-to-nothing about Wright,and Ann Kerr's book lays out all kinds of information about the man, the artist, and his art. I haven't had much of a problem without an index, as she has all the information chaptered out, and it is all easy to access. The accompanying photos are excellent and there are many. She also explains any areas which may be ambiguous, such as color, size and shape anomalies. Due to getting this book, I often know more about the pieces I find than the dealers do, as she tries to fit in every piece of information that she has, on every aspect of the collectible items. I love this book!
Lack of an index really hurts this otherwise great book........1998-07-04
Packed with information, this book is cumbersome to use since it doesn't have an index.
Book Description
Russel Wright (1904-76) was arguably the most influential U.S. designer of the early twentieth century. A visionary artist who pioneered the fusion of modern design and domestic practicality in his household wares, Wright brought his innovative design to the general U.S. public and changed the face of the American household.Russel Wright: Good Design Is for Everyone focuses on the most influential and enduring aspects of Wright's art, which called for more informal and easier living through his houseware design and ecologically sensitive landscape design. Good Design collects many of Wright's essays and extensive illustrations, offering significant insight into Wright's philosophies about domestic design and its relationship to the modern American home. This book is both a thorough introduction to Russel Wright's work and a superb study of his creative process.
Average customer rating:
|
The Collector's Encyclopedia of Russel Wright Designs
Ann Kerr
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Decorative Arts
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Pottery & Ceramics
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Antiques & Collectibles
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Art
| Encyclopedias
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0891454233 |
Book Description
Russel Wright is known as a pioneer in mid-century modern design and lifestyle marketing, from his well-known and highly collectible china, flatware and furniture, to his book, Guide to Easier Living. As a single working father with a young daughter to raise, he found the task of organizing daily menus daunting, and quickly grew tired eating the same meal each night. He combined his love of food with a collection of recipes gathered from travel and friends and his nearly-obsessive organizational skills to create a menu cookbook that was simple to use and could help anyone create interesting, balanced, fuss-free meals. When Annie Wright, Russel's daughter, showed them to friend and caterer Mindy Heiferling, they decided the menus deserved to be shared with the public.
< BR> Russel Wright's Menu Cookbook: A Guide to Easier Entertaining contains fifteen menus with 65 recipes, each easy to prepare, beautiful in presentation, and always delicious. More than a simple cookbook, this guide offers tips on getting organized, ways to use modern "convenience" foods (like Thai red curry paste or store-bought sorbet), how to set a stylish table, and how to make entertaining a pleasure rather than an ordeal. The menus have a timeless yet modern appeal-from a "Mid-summer Americana Cookout" to a "Green and White Cocktail Party"-this cookbook provides an uncomplicated and creative way to approach everyday mealtimes or unique celebrations.
< BR> Mindy Heiferling is a New York City-based chef, food writer and recipe developer. Her articles and recipes have appeared in The Best American Recipes: 1999, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, and Food & Wine, among others. This is her second book.
< BR> Annie Wright is a chef and caterer, and has taught at the New York Restaurant School. She holds degrees in Nutrition and Hotel & Restaurant Management, and is currently a partner in Russel Wright Studios, LLC. She is also a co-founder and board member of Manitoga, The Russel Wright Design Center in Garrison, New York.
< BR>
Customer Reviews:
Comforting Collection of Family Recipes.......2005-06-02
Ann Wright, Russel Wright's daughter, remembered these recipes from her childhood. Her father initially created a loose-leaf notebook for family dinners at their Manhattan apartment and country home. Some of the recipes were contributed by Margaret Spader, George Lang, Tom Margittai and Amy Vanderbilt.
The recipes reflect a comforting element of family dinners and homemade pleasure. Ann's parents created products for the home and their American Modern line was the best-selling dinnerware in U.S. history.
The cookbook is divided into Brunch, Buffets, Dinners and Cocktail Parties:
Midsummer Americana Cookout
Cold Salad Buffet for Summer
Dinner for a Summer Night
Fall Harvest Dinner
Indian Buffet
Dragon Rock Dinner
Southern Dinner for Winter
Christmas Buffet
Chinese New Year
German Dinner for a Cold Night
American Casual Dinner
Spring Brunch
Sunday Supper
Comfort Food Dinner
Green and White Cocktail Party
The Gourmet Chicken Salad is part of a Cold Salad Buffet for Summer and this meal also includes a Green Salad with Sour Cream Dressing, Tomatoes with Cider Vinaigrette, Assorted Breads and Rolls and a Cherry Pudding.
Ann Wright also includes ideas for Easier Entertaining, lists of pantry and freezer items and instant items to brighten any party. Then she discusses the importance of relaxation.
If you have been looking for the Lemon Pudding recipe that makes its own top crust, this book has it and the ingredients are mostly flour, sugar, milk and eggs. Most of the recipes call for everyday ingredients or at least items you can easily find at your grocery store. There are a few recipes where you might want to order things like popcorn rice, although the variety of rice at the grocery store is impressive.
While most of the menus serve 6-8, this is probably the case if you make all the dishes in each chapter. If you only want to make a chicken salad, you may need to double the recipe for four people.
Some of the delicious recipes include:
Irish Stew with Root Vegetables (also gives a recipe for Bouquet Garni)
Lamb Curry
Brunswick Stew
Pear-Ginger Turnovers
Braised Fennel
Warm Apple Strudel with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
Strawberry Granita
~TheRebeccaReview.com
There's a reason book is marked next to nothing.......2005-02-10
There's a reason this book has been marked down next to nothing. Because it is. I had thought it would be actually useful for planning a dinner party and it's full of complicated recipes, watch out for anything labeled "gourmet", it means many steps, dirtying every dish in your kitchen and still not having enough to eat for dinner. The chicken salad was the most complicated thing imaginable and afterward everyone was wanting to know what was for dinner. humm...that was suppose to be the dinner!
Easy-to-create recipes, suitable for holiday occasions.......2003-09-15
Russel Wright's Menu Cookbook: A Guide To Easier Entertaining is a cookbook guide filled from cover to cover with easy-to-create recipes, each of which is suitable for holiday occasions or simple everyday dining ranging from Dragon Rock Dinner (Beef Stew with Green Apples; Mashed Potatoes and Turnips; Endive and Watercress Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette; Shelley Boris's Chocolate Pots de Creme - serves 6) to Sunday Supper (Chicken Baked in Cream on a Bed of Watercress; Roasted Portobello Mushrooms and Scallions; Buttered Egg Noodles; Warm Gingerbread - serves 8). Luscious full-color photographs and step-by-step instructions enhance this mouth-watering, highly recommended, minimalist cooking guide, which offers preparation tips and techniques for everything from cherry pudding to a full-course, eight-person Christmas buffet.
Beautiful and very special.......2003-05-14
This is a wonderful book for long-standing RW fans, and for new fans too. For those who have followed RW forever, it's a special look into RW's favorite foods and ways to serve and present them. For new fans, the book will give more insight into his fascinating and forward-looking tastes and interests. Most of all though, in addition to the intriguing menus to try, is the beautiful design of the book and the copious illustrations. There are many wonderful close-up photos of RW's original and reissued creations, as well as numerous images of the patterns on his dinnerware and tablecloths, printed around the text pages. Many of the photos of the dinnerware were shot at Manitoga, and there are also some that look like they were features in early magazine articles or ads, which are very interesting to see. Another plus, are Ann's anecdotal memories on the menus, where the lovely recipes came from, how her family served them, and more. RW fans will be very thankful to Ann and Mindy for creating this marvelous book!
Book Description
Russel Wright was a leading industrial designer of the 20th century. While his work included all aspects of home furnishings, this new book focuses on his revolutionary dinnerware designs. With over 500 color photographs, detailed information is presented on Russel Wright's original dinnerware, glassware, pottery, and fabric. Especially featured are Wright's Casual China and American Modern lines, which are among the most popular and influential dinnerware lines in history. Created in a variety of colors and restyled during long production periods, these large dinnerware lines present a challenge for the collector, which this book will help them unravel. Other rarer forms and designs are also featured, many of which have never been pictured in any book before. A current detailed pricing guide is also supplied that takes into account the differences in value based on scarcity of certain colors and current collector demand. All in all a great book for both students of twentieth century design and Russel Wright collectors.
Customer Reviews:
Keller & Ross Provide Valuable Tool for Collectors.......2001-04-08
For Russel Wright collectors who need more visual information and current pricing than Ann Kerr's more thorough narrative reference provides, this is a good option. Many of the photographs are lovely and make a collector drool! I particularly enjoyed comparisons of mold variations (American Modern sauce boats, Casual China butter dishes) and pictures of rare pieces (Highlight, Bauer art pottery) that Kerr does not feature.
Good book needs work..........2001-02-16
Collectors really do need an ultimate compendium of Russel Wright's designs - this book isn't it, but then it doesn't promise to be. Photography proves to be both a strength and a weakness throughout. Photographs are numerous and sharp, but color is wildly inaccurate in some chapters (see "Cedar Green" looking grey). The irony is that so many of these photos are included for the purpose of showcasing color combinations. The other problem with the photos is that some of the most mundane single items get a half page photo while an important grouping of rarities gets a small one. This - and too much coverage of American Modern and Iroquois - was done at the expense of information about less common lines (particularly Knowles).
Not including a chapter about Wright's furniture designs is forgivable in a book about dinnerware, but why is there no coverage of flatware? I can't imagine that the size of the book would've been impacted much by its inclusion. Also, aluminum is featured, but there is no trace of the Chase chrome items.
The best feature of this book is its chapter about Highlight for Paden City. There isn't much information, but there are photos of extremely rare pieces. This is reason enough for an advanced collector to buy this book, but if you want a general guide or a better read, I'd stick to the latest edition of Ann Kerr's book.
Average customer rating:
|
Collector's Illustrated Price Guide to Russel Wright Dinnerware
Benjamin Klein
Manufacturer: Exposition Pr of Florida
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Sculpture
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Ohio
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0682497452 |
Book Description
This innovative book is for quilters who are tired of traditional quilting patterns and want quilts that are uniquely their own. By explaining the principles of good design in terms that are easy for novices to understand and with appealing examples, The Quilter's Book of Design takes the mystery out of the design process and seeks to overcome quilters' "creative block." Ann Johnston explains the thinking behind quilt designs, describing the "tools" designers can use to create different visual effects--line, shape, value, color, pattern, and texture. She next offers different approaches or starting points to begin the creative process, including working with geometric shapes, cutting fabric freehand, drawing from photographs, seeking inspiration in ancient designs, and many more. The book is richly illustrated throughout with quilts that range from the very simple to the extraordinary, as well as photographs of quilts at different stages of completion. - More than 100 color photographs of finished quilts, quilts in process, and fabrics - Clear, easy-to-read explanations of design concepts, with examples quilters can easily relate to.
Average customer rating:
|
The Friendship Quilt Book: Step-By-Step Instructions for Making Your Own Quilt-From the Distinctive Designs of 20 Nationally Known Quilters
Mary Golden
Manufacturer: Yankee Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
| Arts & Photography
| Audiobooks
| Biography
| Business & Investing
| Calendars
| Children
| Computers & Internet
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Film
| Greeting Cards & Accessories
| Health, Mind & Body
| History
| Home & Garden
| Humor, Comics & Pop Culture
| Literature & Fiction
| Mysteries & Thrillers
| Nonfiction
| Parenting & Families
| Reference
| Religion & Spirituality
| Romance
| Science & Nature
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Sports
| Teens
| Travel
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Quilts & Quilting
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Textile Arts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0899090621 |
Average customer rating:
|
Passive Solar House Basics
Peter Van Dresser
Manufacturer: Ancient City Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Specific Styles
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Drawing & Modelling
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Building Construction
| Construction
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
| Construction
| Civil
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Design & Construction
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0941270904 |
Book Description
Lays out in plain language what an owner/builder or designer will need to know about siting, designing, constructing, and living in a solar adobe home. Van Dresser's text and pictures provide a beginner's course in adobe construction and passive solar heat collection, including suggestions for natural heat circulation and heat storage in thermal mass. Included are sample house plans, ideas for solar hot water heaters, and plans-to-scale for solar crop dryers.
Customer Reviews:
Old Book New Title.......2002-05-25
This book is 25 years old and the info is very basic (2 stars) and dated. It was originally published in 1977 as "Homegrown Sundwellings" and has not been updated (except for the cover and the title)....
Book Description
Compilation of games and activities for teaching breastfeeding and human lactation. Introduces the reader to using games and activities, tips on teaching and using audio-visual equipment. Softcover.
Customer Reviews:
Great for all levels of breastfeeding education.......2004-11-12
If there is one flaw that I see in this book, it's that I can't find a way to integrate every game in this book. I love games and I love this book!
The activities in this book are suited for every education level, from an introduction to breastfeeding in a CBE series to a lactation counsellor program. There are ice-breakers, games to explore breastfeeding biases, and games to help you learn the chemistry, biology and physiology of breastfeeding.
The best thing of all - this book is timeless. While some information may require updating over time, the games will hold their own. If you teach breastfeeding in any capacity, you'll find this book helpful.
Great resource for giving presentations about breastfeeding.......2003-01-16
In the "Coach's Notebook: Games and Strategies for Lactation Education", Linda J. Smith has gathered games and advice for presenting breastfeeding classes. This is a source of inspiration and an aid for breastfeeding instructors. This book is a tool to use to help design and deliver professional-style presentations that are spiced up with games and activities in lieu of a straightforward lecture.
Smith feels that using games and activities adds an element of fun to the learning experience, increases the learners' attention span, and aids with the retention of the presented information. Smith has combined auditory, kinesthetic, and visual elements to appeal to the three different learning modalities.
Chapter one contains basic presentation skills combined with Smith's tips based on her many years of experience as an instructor and as a Lactation Consultant. Smith covers the structure, flow, and appropriate timing of each component of the presentation. (This information is pretty standard. If you already have read or learned the components of presentation skills this will be repetitious for you. If you have no training in presentation skills, this is useful information for you.) Discussion about the use of breastfeeding props, and the pro's and con's of using audio-visual equipment are included.
The challenge of deciding what to present is acknowledged as a common stumbling block. With all we know about breastfeeding, it can be hard to decide how to limit content to fit within a certain time frame. Smith provides good tips about how to pare down everything we want to present.
In Chapter Two, Smith provides five icebreaker activities to choose from. Later chapters contain six games for use with the general public and fourteen games for presenting specific topics or concepts in depth (such as to health care professionals or lay breastfeeding counselors who already know about breastfeeding). The last chapter contains ten games for any audience that contains "neat and nifty ideas from master teachers from around the world" which "convey the uniqueness of BF in creative and effective ways".
All of the games and activities in the book are well organized and easy to understand. Key information is easily scanned on the first page: the goal, the best audience for the game, the amount of time required to play, and how to play. Details such as trivia facts with source citations are included. Almost every game is complete and requires no research on the part of the presenter. However, thought must go into the planning of the presentation and some prep work with game pieces, game cards, etc. may need to be prepared ahead of time. Smith also recommends a practice run-through before the actual presentation.
Some examples of the activities are: learning the composition of breastmilk, really hearing what a mother is trying to communicate with sample statements, figuring out if a medication is compatible with breastfeeding, and how to evaluate research studies about breastfeeding. Games for the general public include a handful related to emotions such as exploring negative feeling related to feeding choices or past guilt about not breastfeeding. There is a breastfeeding trivia game complete with questions and answers. For games where the attendees discuss opinions or emotions, Smith includes the typical answers and details to elaborate on them. The games are categorized into trivia type games, multiple choice questions, and fill in the blank questions. Some games require the players to use breastfeeding references to look up answers and come to conclusions.
This book can save loads of prep time by giving all that is needed to play these creative and informative teaching games. Smith's years of experience in the field of lactation are obvious.
The only complaint one may have is that for the price, the reader may have wished for more presentations for different audiences. Meaning if you only want presentations for the general public you may wish there were more or if you only want presentations for breastfeeding counselors you may wish there were more. What is here is of high quality and very detailed, and still will save you loads of prep time.
Books:
- Samplers: How to Compare & Value
- Scandinavian Glass 1930-2000: Fire & Sea
- Scott 2002 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World C-F (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Vol 2: Countries C-F)
- Scott 2003 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Volume 5: Countries of the World P-Si (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Vol 5: Countries P-Sl)
- Scott 2005 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Vol. 6: Countries of the World, S0-Z (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 6 So-Z)
- Scott 2006 U.S. Pocket Stamp Catalogue
- Sexuality and Disabilities: A Guide for Human Service Practitioners (Monograph Published Simultaneously As the Journal of Social Work & Human Sexuality ... Social Work & Human Sexuality , Vol 8, No 2)
- Shouldn't I Be Happy: Emotional Problems of Pregnant and Postpartum Women
- Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry: Indentification & Values (Signed Beauties of Costume Jewelry)
- Standard Price Guide to U.S. Scouting Collectibles (Standard Price Guide to Us Scouting Collectibles)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy
- Applied Sonochemistry: Uses of Power Ultrasound in Chemistry and Processing
- Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders
- Explaining Reading: A Resource for Teaching Concepts, Skills, and Strategies
- Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, Fifth Edition
- Diabetes, A-Z
- The Art and Mythology of The Da Vinci Code
- Basics of International Humanitarian Mission
- Neural and Integrative Animal Physiology
Collectors Encyclopedia of Russel Wright: Identification & Values (Collectors Encyclopedia of Russel Wright)
Russel Wright's Menu Cookbook
Eva Zeisel On Design
Russel Wright: American Designer
Russel Wright (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
