Shire Collections – serie

Samplers have a long history in Britain, dating from the sixteenth century. They were originally a collection of patterns gathered together for easy reference to be used in embroidery and needlepoint lace. But they later developed into a schoolgirls' exercise, and today they are more often used to record stitches than patterns. This book traces the history of samplers in Britain from the late sixteenth century onwards, and includes examples of long, darning, map, school, stitch and plain sewing samplers, as well as those associated with great griefs and joys. This book, written by Britain's leading experts on the subject, and illustrated with superb photographs of a great range of samplers, provides an ideal introduction for the collector, art historian and social historian of these amazing embroidered pictures.

The story of English furniture really begins in the sixteenth century, when crude medieval tables and stools gave way to more sophisticated, jointed designs. This Tudor furniture is the earliest to survive in any quantity, and it is where John Bly begins his history of English furniture. Changing fashions, influences, materials, and manufacturing techniques have all had an impact on English furniture, causing it to change over the decades, sometimes quite suddenly. Each of these changes is fully explained, as oak gives way to walnut, and then mahogany; as furniture becomes finer and more formal and the great names - Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite - emerge. This seminal work concludes with a masterclass in detecting the alterations and fakery that can significantly affect the value of a piece of furniture.

For the British army, the cap badge is the most easily identifiable form of insignia.It represents a distillation of the pride of the regiment, its various battle honours and symbols borne proudly on the metallic emblem that was worn on all head dress, even within the trenches. Identification of the cap badge on old photographs is the first, important step in unravelling the military service of an individual.This handy companion illustrates clearly the main types, helping you to avoid a growing number of fakes and forgeries, and allows the collector and family historian alike to understand their meaning.

Rene Lalique was one of the giants of twentieth century decorative arts and a master of the Art Deco idiom.Born in 1860, early artistic talent led to an apprenticeship with Paris goldsmith Louis Aucoc. By 1885 Rene had established his own workshop, and for the next twenty years he designed and made jewellery of great originality and beauty. Though this became famous worldwide, before the turn of the century he began experimenting with glass, and it is for this that Lalique is today most famous: for the fine art perfume bottles he produced for Francois Coty and for a vast repertoire besides, including vases, lighting, clocks, car mascots and architectural commissions.This lavishly illustrated history celebrates the extraordinary jewellery and glass of Rene Lalique, and the glass of the Lalique company up to the present day.

In their companion volume to British Army Cap Badges of the First World War, authors Peter Doyle and Chris Foster present an overview of the main cap badges worn by the British Army during the Second World War, which continued the rich and varied tradition of British regimental insignia.This book describes and illustrates, for the first time in high quality full colour, the main types of cap badge worn. With many amalgamations, war-raised units and special forces, British military insignia from the period have a surprising range that differs substantially from that worn by the soldiers of the previous generation. As in the first book, this volume contains contemporary illustrations of the soldiers themselves wearing the badges.Employing the skills of an established writer (and collector) and artist, it provides a unique reference guide for anyone interested in the British Army of the period.