Art Deco (Essential Art Ser)

Rating:
Summary: A Deco bargain
Review: I thought this was a worthwhile book for anyone who wants an introduction to Art Deco. The production is quite simple, each spread has one big picture (plenty of pages have an other smaller image, too) and an extended caption. It is the large images that I particularly liked, so you have a chance to really see the essence of the style. There are no chapters as such but it starts with architecture, then paintings, sculpture and commercial graphics, furniture, ceramics and finally object d'art. Most of the images are of European Deco (especially French) the US is only really covered by New York and Miami architecture. If you want to find some books about American Deco see my Listmania on Art Deco and on Streamline.

For an inexpensive hardback, with 120 pictures in color I thought this was a bargain.

Rating:
Summary: Nice pictures, very badly written
Review: Pictures are mostly from Christie's catalogs (and credited as such). Particularly disappointing aspect is that the SAME pictures are used two and three times throughout the book. There's less here than meets the eye. Also missing is any practical information on the pieces shown. Missing are: size of the object; medium (Oil? Tempera? Lacquer? You don't know); history; when sold... What IS written is exceptionally superficial and in some cases downright erroneous. So if you want a book with just nice pictures: buy this. If you want information, find another book.