DAVID BATTIE, SIMON COTTLE
The most fragile and transparent of materials, glass can be of little or great value depending upon its quality and the use to which it is put. Discovered over 4,000 years ago, it is one of the most important substances known to man, being impervious and relatively inert, and has been used not only for the making of vessels, but also for mirrors, sculpture, boxes, lamps and objects of vertu. The third in Sotheby's series of encyclopaedias, this important work surveys the subject of glass from its beginnings in Bronze Age Mesopotamia, tracing its development in major centres of production throughout the ages to the twentieth century. Included are sections by leading experts in the specialized fields of Islamic, Venetian and Chinese glass, Galle and Tiffany, Art Nouveau and Art Deco, paperweights and fakes. Each major development is clearly explained within its social and artistic context and beautifully illustrated in full colour by examples from museums, salerooms and private collections worldwide. An authoritative and inspirational reference work, Sotheby's Concise Encyclopaedia of Glass is a unique resource of historical knowledge and an invaluable pictorial guide to the greatest work ever to be produced in this medium. The book is supplemented by an illustrated end section which includes an extensive bibliography, glossary and biographies of the main glass producers, making this concise encyclopaedia an essential companion for the enthusiast or collector.
ED: CONRAD, 24 x 28 cm, 208 pages, paperback
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