CATALOGUES - Craft & Hobbies - Design

The ancient tribal arts that have inspired so many modern artists are here displayed in all of their strength and stylised symbolism. Nigeria's ancient artistic tradition, extending from the fifth century BC to the present time, has generated a wealth of art styles, in ivory, brass, terra cotta and wood. East of Nigeria, diverse ethnic groups comprising the Cameroons can be divided into four style-regions, ranging from the highly abstract designs of the northern area to the bold decorations of the Grasslands.

Gold jewellery, regalia and ritual objects of North and West Africa.

Traditional designs of the Moors, Berbers, Abyssinian Christians and more from jewellery, tattoos, camel bags, rugs and other ornamented objects

Authentic designs printed, stamped or painted on textiles such as adire, korhogo and mud cloth.

Authentic floral, animal and geometric signs by early American craftspeople

For more than two centuries, stitching samplers provided the major form of education for young girls. What little knowledge of reading, mathematics and geography they gained from the discipline and long hours with the needle. Today, we study and enjoy all forms of samplers for their beauty and charm. In this book, the trees, flowers, animals, people and houses, as well as the alphabets that were the samplers primary exercise, are authentically recreated in black line drawings. The introduction provides insight into the creation of ... read more

This book includes the icons, symbols and artefacts of the way of life traditionally associated with the American West.

Concentrates on the Judeo/Christian concept of angelic beings in many different styles.

Designs drawn from the handmade needle and bobbin laces of the 16th to 18th century made in Italy, France, England, Flanders and Belgium.

Art Deco's attraction is as magnetic today as in its earliest appearance in France, showcased eventually at the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs held in Paris in 1925. We may think we know the parameters of this avant-garde design genre, from the superb Chrysler Building to Florida's South Beach architecture to the designs inspired by Cubism and African, Aztec and Mayan art. This book, however, will surprise and delight the reader with its wealth of Art Deco designs, ranging from those that are well-known to many designs drawn from k... read more

Abstract motifs incorporated into complex and richly varied designs of the period.

Designs culled from the Arts and Crafts movement in America and England as well as a few from France, Italy and elsewhere from the late 19th century to the 1920’s.

Bold black shapes, swirling lines, stylised nature motifs and splendid borders.

Long before the European discovered the riches of America, the Mexican Indians had developed and passed on unique artistic traditions. The Aztecs in particular inherited the Toltec and Mixtec cultures, as well as instilling their own experiences and beliefs into the local artwork. A broad spectrum of these bold and intricate patterns and motifs -- serpents, monsters, calendar stone designs, eagles, sun-designs, architectural ornaments, pottery decoration, et cetera -- is presented here.

For ages 8-10. Birds play a vital part in the complex web of life on Earth -- scavenging, hunting, seed-sowing, fertilising the earth and delighting mankind with their beauty, while challenging us with their incredible ability to navigate the skies. In alphabetical order, Julia Pinkham describes and illustrates with fine line drawings many of the birds that inhabit the earth. Beginning with Amazon parrots and antpittas, she proceeds through gannets and grebes, manakins and merganser ducks, umbrella birds, yellow warblers and zenaida doves.

Patterns of fascinating intricacy are the legacy of ancient Celtic artists, who intertwined the beauty of the natural world with the mystery of the spiritual world, as it was then perceived. In these designs, fantastic men, beasts, birds and serpents writhe and bite their way through twisting bands of knotwork and swirling spirals, in dazzling, never-ending linear displays. Artists, crafts people, colourists, and all who love pure design will find these pages, inspired by the Celtic tradition, absorbing and challenging for use in s... read more

Flowers, birds, butterflies and other creative designs.

Features designs from the world of people -- their work, play, legends and stories they have invented, art objects they have made, landscapes chosen by the artist for their aesthetic appeal. Children, ladies, actors, peasants and patriarchs depicted.

From fancifully garbed theatrical characters to richly apparelled princes and the modest garb of peasants.

Traditional Chinese renderings of flowers and animals, birds and insects in beautifully drawn compositions, perfect for any kind of adaptive use.