The impact of Art Deco was felt in every sphere of the decorative arts. This volume examines one of the most important period of design in the 20th century, and relates the story of every aspect of this movement of the 1920's and 30's.

Christie's Art Nouveau is the story of an artistic movement that thrived at the turn of the century, and whose name derived from the vision of one man, Siegfried Bing. The boundary-shattering wares that he displayed in his Paris shop after a visit to Japan, flowing, curvilinear abstract lines with pale, elegant colours - stunned contemporary critics and provided the focus for a whole generation of applied artists. The highly individualistic styles, from the sinuous and vibrant designs of van de Velde to the more abstract idioms advocated by Rennie Mackintosh, are all detailed. Each chapter concentrates on one particular discipline within the movement, whether it be on the iridescent glassware of Lalique and Tiffany or the stirring graphic design of Toulouse-Lautrec. Illustrated with images from Christie's archives, Christie's Art Nouveau brings across exactly how important the movement was in throwing off the shackles of the past for artists, architects and designers alike and how it was a period that witnessed great beauty, startling originality and clearness of vision. This is a book for art-lovers, historians and collectors and enthusiasts of an art movement that changed the fac

A richly illustrated book of images. Some of Spare's techniques, particularly the use of sigils and the creation of an "alphabet of desire" were adopted, adapted and popularized by Peter J. Carroll in the work Liber Null & Psychonaut. Carroll and other writers such as Ray Sherwin are seen as key figures in the emergence of some of Spare's ideas and techniques as a part of a magical movement loosely referred to as chaos magic. Zos Kia Cultus is a term coined by Kenneth Grant, with different meanings for different people. One interpretation is that it is a form, style, or school of magic inspired by Spare. It focuses on one's individual universe and the influence of the magician's will on it. While the Zos Kia Cultus has very few adherents today, it is widely considered an important influence on the rise of chaos magic.

The Zsolnay Manufactory represents a triumph of Hungarian applied arts, for during its heyday it produced elegant and innovative ceramics for an international clientele as well as architectural ceramics that embellished some of the finest public and private buildings in the Austro-Hungarian empire. This manual recounts the story of the 150-year-old company and presents numerous examples of its work, showing how its changing fortunes reflect the cultural, economic and political developments in Central and Eastern Europe.

- Compiled with full access to Christie's famous archives - Reveals the romance, drama, intrigue - even danger - attached to some of the world's most storied jewels - Expertly curating Christie's extensive archives, Vincent Meylan has drawn out the key details of each momentous sale - Stories of the world's great jewelry collections For centuries, the stories of the world's great jewelry collections have lain hidden within the archives of Christie's, the celebrated auctioneers. From the tragic European queens, Mary, Queen of Scots and Marie Antoinette - both beheaded - to Hollywood royalty such as Elizabeth Taylor, the vaults sparkle with the most famous (and occasionally notorious) names of the last 250 years. Following on from the success of his books on Boucheron: The Secret Archives, Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends and Mellerio: Jewellers to the Queens of Europe, author Vincent Meylan explores these remarkable jewelry archives, revealing the mysteries within for the first time. Each sale had its intrigue, each its story to tell. The first auction of jewelry from the British royal family took place at Christie's in 1773, after the death of the Princess of Wales, mother of George III. As the archives reveal, in the subsequent centuries, Christie's has been party to the sale of jewelry by several further generations of British royals, from Lady Patricia Ramsay and the Countess of Southesk through to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. And, in the wake of revolution and regicide further afield, the crown jewels of France, Russia, Bavaria, Serbia, Egypt, India and Spain were all sold at Christie's. Aside from Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary movie star collections of Merle Oberon and Gloria Swanson are also revealed here, as well as the most famous pearls and diamonds in the world; each explored within the context of their owners' remarkable lives. Expertly curating the extensive archives, Vincent Meylan has drawn out the key details of each momentous sale. Original documents from the vaults are reproduced in the book, alongside hundreds of color illustrations of the jewels and their owners.

For more than 200 years, buyers and sellers have sought advice from Christie's specialists. For the first time, Christie's shares this knowledge in an easy-to-use guide to jewellery with stunning color photographs. Christie's Guide to Jewellery provides essential facts and advice on how to appreciate and understand jewels. What should you look for in a gem? Which artificial enhancements should you be aware of when choosing a stone? Why is spinel one of the most underrated gems today? Offering everything from a description of the four "C" categories to an explanation of the origin of the word "carat, " Christie's Guide to Jewellery is a must-have book for both serious and amateur collectors.

The innovative genious of French artist René Lalique (1860-1945) is fully explored and documented in this volume which features one hundred and fifty objects created by the master jeweller . Symbols of the very idea of art nouveau, René Lalique's creations did not limit themselves simply to effecting a stylistic renewal of jewellery. Indeed, Lalique developed a unique form of art somewhere between applied arts, poetry, painting and literature. This volume highlights the technical and poetic contribution of Lalique through a comparison with the creations of such contemporaries and examines Lalique's creative process, through the presentation of a selection of decorative works that inspired him, photographs taken by him, preparatory sketches and life-size studies preceding the creation of a jewel. The authors also contextualize the work as regards the creative arts of the time (theater, literature, music, the glass industry) and the special relationship Lalique had with some of his contemporaries, such as actress Sarah Bernhardt. Through 150 creations---jewellery, glassware, accessories, paintings, photographs, designs for clothes---and authoritative essays, this monograph will illuminate the full range of this ingenious craftsman.

"With auction prices of Tiffany lamps soaring, collectors are turning to Tiffany's highly desirable art glass, or Favrile glass. These luminescent vessels seize--and continue to hold--the imagination. Author Paul Doros explores the full range of remarkably diverse and innovative styles and forms that Tiffany Studios produced. Former Curator of Glass at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Doros spent twenty-five years studying and researching the subject. His definitive account is accompanied by David Schlegel's masterly photography, which captures the exquisite delicacy of the "Flowerform" vases, the dramatically dripping golden flow of the "Lava" vases, the dazzling iridescence of the "Cypriote" vases, and much more. A must for all lovers of Tiffany, art glass, and the decorative arts"--