What Loomis promises in his title, he delivers--a short course in antiques. After all, he has had plenty of classroom practice, having taught the subject at the University of Cincinnati. An appraiser on
Antiques Roadshow and host of a Cincinnati radio show,
Keep Antiquing, he knows his stuff, and, just as important, presents it without affectation. Noting that the "definition of antique is constantly changing, and aren't we lucky," his "user-friendly reference" introduces a wealth of terms, styles, and characteristics, with just enough history and personal anecdote to make the information memorable. Color photos with captions enrich and illustrate the text, making distinguishing characteristics even clearer. Whether readers are curious about Grandma's slant-front desk, Uncle Ed's German beer steins, or the lava lamp they found in the attic, they'll find something about it here, along with plenty of encouragement to collect "what makes you happy."
Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Reader Reviews
I found this book extremely helpful, accessible, and entertaining. The little chapter on demystifing French names of antiques in priceless. The chapter on woods helped me identify the various types of wood more easily when I'm antiquing, and helped me connect specific woods with eras and styles. Lots of practical information in a succinct format that's easy to grasp. What really sets this book apart is the large number of color photographs and illustrations. I've never seen so much high- quality color art in a book like this. It's incredible helpful to see a sharp color photo of what the author is describing. I recommend this book to anyone interested in collecting with more confidence.
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