Chinese Scientific Instruments

This Abacus has Black painted wood framing. The beads have been left unpainted, showcasing beautiful wood grain. The middle dividing wood piece is accented with white lining. Vintag...

Classic early-20th century hand blown Peacock Figurine, made probably in the Lauscha Thuringia Area in Germany. Peacock with Spun Glass "Feathers" and...

Radio "Super" G11 by Swiss designer Hans Gugelot for Braun in 1955. Braun is of course well known for their iconic, Dieter Rams designed, audio equipment. This piece is not tested, w...

Chinese innovations in ink, block printing, and movable type fueled global advancements in printing technology, expanding the range of influence of the written word. These printing innovations can be attributed to Chinese Buddhist devotees, who embraced woodblock printing as an important vehicle to spread sutras and good spirits. Though the printing press is said to have been invented in China, it never offered the same efficiencies to Chinese culture as it did in the West, due to the near endless numbers of Chinese characters and the labor involved in manipulating them. Enclosed in a contemporary wooden frame, each of the miniature wood blocks included in this early 20th-century type set was hand-carved with a Chinese character. Each is a unique and wonderful curiosity, providing an unusual look at a moment in time. Each set contains approximately 70 individual tiles.

Lower lias. Approx. 200 million years old.

A global survey of 100 of the most creative and innovative product designers working today Designed For Life showcases 100 of the most exciting designers around the world and, through their work, shines a lens on what is happening at the forefront of contemporary product design. The boundaries between design, art, craft, fashion, and architecture have been blurred in recent years and a new generation of designers has emerged, working across different fields and genres. Products illustrated in the book range from furniture, lighting, and objects, to limited editions, glassware, and office systems, making Designed for Life the ideal route to new talent throughout the field of product design and the perfect way to assess exactly what is being created in the design scene today Chosen by an international line up of influential industry experts – design critics, museum curators, entrepreneurs, journalists, and gallerists – the nominated designers comprise young product designers who have emerged in the last few years, but who have already produced outstanding, creative, and innovative pieces of design, such as Mac Collins, Nifemi Marcus-Bello, Minjae Kim...

Made for Maharajas A Design Diary of Princely India By Amin Jaffer and Martand Singh.Large hardcover coffee table book 2006.Great condition.Brings together a range of works made for Indian princes by western artistsIndian royalty's passion for western luxury goods reached its peak at the height of the British Raj (1857-1947) as Indian rulers traveled to Europe and began to model their lives along western lines. Commissioning architects to design palaces in modern or historic styles, purchasing fleets of cars, and ordering their family jewels to be reset by the most skilled European goldsmiths, Indian princes established themselves as the new creative patrons of European high design.Based equally in the archives of firms such as Louis Vuitton, Boucheron, Chaumet and Hermès, and in palace and private collections, this book explores the role of maharajas in an age of high spending and fashion. It brings together original designs with surviving objects, exploring for the first time the creative dialogue between Indian princes and the skilled tradesmen who produced wonders for their delectation. Married to the objects themselves are the absorbing and often humourous accounts of how maharajas indulged their tastes with unparalleled extravagance and aplomb. Made for Maharajas book by Amin Jaffer. The Indian princes of the British Raj lived lives of unparalleled opulence and luxury. Made for Maharajas returns readers to that resplendent era, presenting a selection of one-of-a-kind objects crafted to order by the outstanding European luxury goods manufacturers, fashion houses, and decorators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are the custom-designed cars, jewelry, and extraordinary objéts d’art commissioned by maharajas, nawabs, nizams, and sultans from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Harry Winston, and others, accompanied by anecdotes that illuminate this sumptuous way of life. Many of the illustrations in this book have never been previously reproduced outside of India, making this not only the first volume of its kind, but a remarkable keepsake that may never be duplicated in our lifetime. This volume explores the role of maharajas in this age of high spending and fashion. It brings together original designs with surviving objects, exploring for the first time the creative dialogue between Indian princes and the skilled tradesmen who produced wonders for their delectation. Amin Jaffer is a curator in the department of Asian Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he specializes in Indian art in the age of European influence. Jaffer lectures frequently in Europe, America, and India and contributes regularly to journals and newspapers. Title Made for Maharajas: A Design Diary of Princely India Author Amin Jaffer Edition illustrated Publisher New Holland, 2006 Length 275 pages This is a beautiful large coffee table Art book. * Publisher ‏ : ‎ Roli Books (September 1, 2006) * Language ‏ : ‎ English * Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 276 pages * Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.34 x 1.43 x 11.8 inches About the author: Dr Amin Jaffer is Senior Curator of The Al Thani Collection...

Original antique solid mahogany , with patinated brass accents in great condition.

Chinese innovations in ink, block printing, and movable type fueled global advancements in printing technology, expanding the range of influence of the written word. These printing i...

This monumental sized horn handled magnifying glass with brass framework and stem, is of heavy weight and fine quality. The horn is quite substantial and supports this very large gla...

A rich and luxurious looking large four panel wood screen / divider with satin black panels having routed painted grooves in antique gold and silver with red accent striping. This sc...

Super Rare! Modernist Atomic 1950s Television by Olympic, Tambour doors "new rocket tuner" Probably one of the best designed T.V'S I...