Customer Reviews:
Useful for Art History Students.......2007-01-26
Depending on what your intended usage for this book will be, this book may be somewhat helpful. I needed this for an art history class my senior year of college as an art history major. Thing is, the class was pretty ridiculous. It was supposed to be an introductory class into the art of japanese art & tradition, but the professor spoke more of Chinese art & traditions.
This book will give you a pretty thorough knowledge in Japanese Art, as well as some of its culture, more through the introductions of the eras and periods and through its pictures. But that's it, do not buy this if you're looking for a complete knowledge, because that's not what it is. Also, if you are looking for early (i.e. ancient!) japanese history, there really isn't any, in this book or just in general.
Definitely buy it here on Amazon, because I found it to be a lot cheaper in comparison to my friends who had spent a fortune on it through eBay and the university bookstores. You may also want to get a soft cover if you want to sell it back later on or use it solely for class, because it's such a heavy book (I have the hard cover). My intent was to keep the book, because it's such a nice book to have in anyone's collection.
If you do purchase it, you will not be let down. It's a great buy.
good comprehensive book.helped in class.......2006-02-24
very good book decent photos, covered a good amount of information . Got for my history of japanese painting class helped out
History of Japanese Art (Trade) (2nd Edition).......2005-09-18
Excellent - Just what I thought it would be.
"The authority" on Japanese art in English.......2000-09-05
There are a number of books on Japanese art in English, but many spend a great deal of time on one particular period (usually the period the author prefers) and writes about the rest as though they were "add-ons". Mason's work is concise as well as informative about a broad range of topics, and will serve as a good stepping stone or introduction for those looking to get in to the world of Japanese art. The general volume dedicated to each time period shows a fair balance, and it is easy to see how earlier movements in art and design influenced later developments, from prehistoric times to the modern era.
If there are any problems to be sited with the text, it is that it is getting a little old. Since 1993 (the most recent edition) there have been many advances in art history in Japan (particularly regarding prehistoric art and society), and many of the newer focuses in the art history comunity (such as Edo period printed matter, particularly picture inserts) will not be reflected in the text.
Even so, this will serve as a good starting point for most, particularly those studying in a college setting. Those planning to specialize in East Asian or Japanese art should have a copy by their side, both for reference and for the many illustrations and photographs collected inside.
Book Description
Originating from Japan's Edo period (1615-1867), tansu refers mostly to wooden cabinets, boxes and chests. The gifted creators of this art were deservedly esteemed by Japanese society, leaving a rich and influential legacy. Their work was almost anonymous, though, and the history has remained in the shadows-until now. Japanese Cabinetry: The Art and Craft of Tansu is the first truly definitive volume on tansu, giving voice to the long-overlooked craftsmen and overdue respect for the craft itself. This book provides a broad representation of cabinetry designs along with contextual history, gleaning insights from the cabinetry itself. From trunks with wheels to shipboard safes, from kitchen cupboards to clothing chests, tansu were the receptacles of an age of economic expansion. Japanese Cabinetry chronicles not only the physical characteristics and details of tansu, but also the historical eras and societal factors that influenced the craft. David Jackson has been buying, collecting, and conserving tansu since 1990. He lives in Sante Fe. Dane Owen founded Shibui, a gallery of Japanese antique furnishings. Mr. Owen is a frequent visitor to Japan, searching for objects for his customers and his private collections. He lives in Sante Fe.
Customer Reviews:
Buy it for the pictures.......2007-03-22
This is one of the very few books with an extensive collection of tansu photos. The cabinets are well categorized by their functions. Also very nice are the enlarged photos of tansu hardwares. I find the text to be somewhat poorly written and organized, and the authors' knowledge on tansu joinery/construction lacking. The hand-colored Japanese vintage photographs are also a little distracting. If you're looking for some nice tansu pictures though, this book will probably serve well.
A Real Eye Opener.......2005-11-08
I have only been selling Japanese Antiques for a short time and I found this book is fantastic to show potential tansu customers. It has also helped us (Japanache dot com dot au) with selection when on buying trips to Japan and restoration once back in Australia.
Thanks David & Dane
Strong on Art , Light on Craft.......2005-07-07
I am biased; I am a woodworker. This is actually a terrific book offering a huge collection of beautiful photos, and an extensive commentary about the role of Tansu in Japanese lifestyle and culture. However the craft of making Tansu was not well represented. From the title I would have expected more on tools, techniques and joinery.
A Tansu Tribute.......2004-08-17
If you are fascinated by the creation of handmade Japanese cabinetry, this is one of the few books you can find on the subject because for some reason, the cabinetry of Japan is one of the least recorded aspects of Japan's woodworking history. Throughout this guide, you will find lush photographs of opaque and transparent lacquered chests, their hand-forged iron handles and the tools of the trade. I especially enjoyed the hand-colored photos of family life, rice fields and the textile sellers. Not only do you get to glimpse this magical world of Zen temples and street merchants selling sweet rice drinks, you will be able to view page after page of stunning merchant chests, bedding chests, clothing chests and mizuya-dansu (kitchen cupboards).
I've always been intrigued by chests filled with magical little drawers in which anything could be stored. This book has made me aware of the wide variety of chests that can be purchased and most of the pages are filled with pictures and descriptions so you can know what to look for online. Before finding this particular book, I was at a loss for what to look for. Now I have the names of items like the sea chest (funa-dansu) and realize the difference in the woods used. I think the cho-dansu made of keyaki with the distinctive iron fittings on page 111 is just stunning. The cho-bako funa-dansu (ship chest) is also very interesting as it features tortoise, a symbol of prosperity and longevity.
The detailed descriptions of the lockplates are presented with photographs. If you are a student of this craft (or looking for pictures of things like a cherry blossom motif), the pages on the components of a tansu will encourage you to explore all the essential details in your own selections. They also explain how all the L braces and iron-edge strapping are not only decorative, but highly functional.
As a person who has refinished a desk upon which I am typing, my appreciation for furniture went through an entire renewal process while reading "Japanese Cabinetry."
Contents:
The Realm of Tansu: An Introduction
Tansu and Allied Trades
The Craft of Tansu
Tansu for Mercantile Use
Tansu for Household Use
Tansu for Personal Use
Living with Tansu
Collecting and Restoring Tansu
Not only does this book present early mercantile tansu designs, there are pictures of contemporary desks and even a section about books, magazines and catalogues for further research. The index, glossary of terms and chronological list of exhibitions make this book very easy to read and understand. There are also ideas for how to set up your tansu collection in your bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms and kitchen. You might even want to put a kitchen chest (mizuya) in your living room. This book also features entry tables, entertainment centers, coffee tables and bookcases and so much more.
Back to dreaming of owning the cho-dansu from the late Edo period (1615-1868). Not only can you view items from this period, you can read about the history and lifestyle of the people living in this era. This book would make a perfect gift for anyone who has lived in Japan or is interested in Japanese history. It would also be an amazing gift for anyone interested in Japanese movies. I have often wondered about various items and this book has provided more information than I could have ever dreamed about finding.
A note about the authors: David Jackson has been collecting tansu since 1990 and has studied sculpture and woodworking. He developed his passion for Japanese woodwork and then was involved with one of the first exhibitions of tansu in the United States. Dane Owen founded a gallery of Japanese antique furnishings and is also a frequent visitor to Japan. He can be found searching for objects for his customers and his own private collections. Together they have written the ultimate book on the Japanese craft of tansu. If you love tansu, your heart is going to beat a little faster while reading Japanese Cabinetry. I am beyond appreciative of David and Dane's knowledge of this subject. If you own one book on tansu, this would be an excellent choice.
~TheRebeccaReview.com
The cover alone should be enough to interest you.......2003-02-17
Not even sure where to begin other than to say that as mentioned above, the cover alone should be plenty to strike your interest. As a true lover and collector of Japanese art, this book goes above and beyond to show just exactly why it could be labeled as a "coffee table book". It has been on mine for weeks now. It is such a great sourcebook for Japanese cabinetry/tansu and goes even further to show pieces actually used for daily use in people's homes. The size of the book and the photography are SO worth the price. It truly is a fabulous book. I strongly recommend it. Whether you are an obsessed collector of Japanese art or not, it is definitely a great book to have in your collection.
Book Description
Potential for creating designs in textiles can be seen even in the physical properties of cloth. The simple fact that cloth tightly compressed into wrinkles or folds resists the penetration of dye is an opportunity-an opportunity to let the pliancy of textiles speak in making designs and
patterns.
People around the world have recognized this opportunity, producing resist designs in textiles by shaping and then securing cloth in various ways before dyeing. Yet in no other country has the creative potential of this basic principle been understood and applied as it has in Japan. Here, in fact,
it has been expanded into a whole family of traditional resist techniques, involving first shaping the cloth by plucking, pinching, twisting, stitching, folding, pleating, and wrapping it, and then securing the shapes thus made by binding, looping, knotting, clamping, and the like. This entire
family of techniques is called shibori.
Designs created with shibori processes all share a softness of outline and spontaneity of effect. Spontaneity is shibori's special magic, made possible by exploiting the beauty of the fortuitous things that happen when dye enters shaped cloth.
Usually it is in response to the fact that a craft is being lost that the need for preserving and documenting it arises. The motivation behind this book is no exception, but the authors have gone far beyond simple documentation. Extensive research and experimentation have led to the revival here of
shibori techniques that were once well known but have now been largely forgotten in Japan. In addition to more conventional techniques, the work of contemporary fiber artists in Japan and abroad in shibori textile art and wearable art is presented, to suggest the extent of the creative innovation
possible.
The 104 color and 298 black-and-white plates include a photographic Gallery of Shibori Examples, based on Japan's largest collection of traditional shibori fabrics. Included also are a detailed guide to basic natural dyes used in Japan, the making and care of an indigo vat, and a list of suppliers
in North America, as well as a glossary and bibliography. Now available in paperback, this full documentation of one of the world's most inventive and exciting dyeing techniques continues as a classic in the textile field.
Customer Reviews:
The Ultimate in shibori instruction and history.......2007-05-14
I knew this was "THE" book to have for shibori technique instructions. However, the very pleasant surprise was all the history of shibori! It would be fascinating even if I wasn't intending to learn the technique. The instructions are very clearly presented. I have already tried a couple of the techniques with very good results and I'm only a beginner!
A must have.......2007-05-13
This is an essential tool and starting point for any shibori artist. Exhaustive history and diagrams and examples. I used this book in my fierarts classes and recently purchased it for home studio use.
Great Overview of a Somewhat Obscure Textile Art.......2007-03-06
Shibori is a wonderful craft and this book gives an excellent history of it. Many wonderful historical and contemporary examples are shown. Techniques are given as well, and are for the most part usable. If you do shibori work, this book is essential for your library.
One of the best Shibori books written.......2006-08-08
Being a member of the Seattle Weavers' Guild, I've been lucky enough to have friends teach Shibori and other resist dyeing in our group. This book is terrific and details the 'how to' very well. I'm very pleased to have this book in my library and I have to say the price was excellent.
A "must have" resource book.......2006-07-10
This is an invaluable resource for any textile arts student. Or any shibori enthusiast. Detailed illustrations and exceptional photos help define and identify ancient techniques and MAY encourage elbow-deep participation among the adventurous. Gambatte!
Average customer rating:
- Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens
- Great Starter for Westerners
- shoji screens
- Shojis on time
- A woodworkers guide to shoji for your home
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Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens
Jay van Arsdale
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
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Making Shoji
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Making Japanese-Style Lamps and Lanterns
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The Complete Japanese Joinery
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The Japanese House: Architecture and Interiors
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A Japanese Touch for Your Home
ASIN: 0870118641 |
Book Description
Japanese-style shoji screens are translucent, wooden-lattice panels that subtly transform light and space and add an elegant touch to any decor. This book contains all the information you need to design and make shoji for your own home or apartment.
Features
* Notes on aesthetics and design fundamentals
* Complete how-to guide covering basic construction methods, screen materials, and wood selection
* Home projects, including window inserts, sliding and hanging screens, glass panel shoji, double- and single-sided shoji, skylight shoji, decorative wall boxes, and floor and table lanterns
* Introduction to Japanese hand tools and planing and joinery techniques
* Sample lattice patterns, photographs, and line drawings for design and remodeling ideas
* List of suppliers
Customer Reviews:
Shoji: How to Design, Build, and Install Japanese Screens .......2007-05-17
This is an excellent guide to making japanese screens.if you are a beginer or a pro i think youll find this the ideal choice to start off with.
Great Starter for Westerners.......2007-01-10
Can not say enough about this book, it gives you a good start if you know a little about wood, but does not stop there.
If you get this book you'll enjoy that it does not insult your interest by just showing pictures of work only a master could do. It gives the information needed to do your first design plus what you'll need once you understand the methods.
Thanks Jay, you have given me a great new experience.
shoji screens.......2006-11-10
the book was easy to understand. easy to read. a great book , if you want to build a shoji screen this is the book for you. tells you about other uses and other stronger materials to use
Shojis on time.......2006-03-18
The book arrived speedily and in great condition. What more can I ask?
A woodworkers guide to shoji for your home.......2006-02-11
Shoji are really beautiful. There is something wonderful about the light passing through the semi-translucent rice paper, creating an atmosphere that is romantic and relaxing. Having lived in Japanese houses for several years, it was something that I wanted to recreate when I returned to the US.
"Shoji: How to design, build, and install Japanese Screens" was exactly the book I was looking for. Jay van Arsdale has written a simply, comprehensive guide on how to add shoji to an existing house, from very simple screens to much more complicated structures. Its a modern approach to making shoji, rather than bothering with traditional Japanese methods, and is very practical and doable.
The book assumes that you have woodworking skills and tools, and isn't so much a "Beginner's Guide." He gives a list of tools that you will need, mainly a set of chisels, hammers, saws, polishing stones and planes. He does recommend that you invest in Japanese tools, as they are made differently from Western tools and will create a different look in the wood that will be more authentic and aesthetically pleasing. There are a few specialty chisels, specifically the yarinomi and the sokosarae, that will make your shoji-making much more efficient.
The different styles of shoji in the book range from simple shoji, to glass-panel shoji, closet and cabinet screens and lanterns. For the truly ambitious there are instructions for ceiling fixtures and skylights as well as valances and hanging screens. Most of those projects are far removed from my abilities, but a more advanced woodworker will find some inspiring projects.
The photos are all in black-and-white, but there are some beautiful homes on display showing you what you can do with shoji screens. Certainly not everyone has the time and money for that kind of home transfiguration, but it is nice to dream.
Average customer rating:
- This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations.
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Traditional Japanese Furniture
Kazuko Koizumi
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Japanese Cabinetry
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Tansu: Traditional Japanese Cabinetry
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The Complete Japanese Joinery
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The Japanese House: Architecture and Interiors
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Making Japanese-Style Lamps and Lanterns
ASIN: 087011722X |
Book Description
Japanese furniture has a rich heritage dating back to the seventh century. Masterful craftsmanship and aesthetic sensitivity evolved with this furniture's long history. Yet, as with much that is Japanese, these pieces find virtue in restraint. The work is compelling yet sedate, with an
understated simplicity distilled from a thousand years of knowledge and careful craftsmanship.
Though the West has long acknowledged the beauty and value of these objects, the history of their making--their milieu and craftsmanship-remain virtually unexplored. This volume, first published in 1986, fills that void. Author Kazuko Koizumi, a pioneer in the field, brings a thoroughness and warmth
to the subject. A wealth of illustrated material puts the pieces in context. A historical account, laced with centuries-old drawings, traces the evolution of furniture design through the lens of Japan's "floor-based" culture.
With 114 color plates and over 650 figures, Traditional Japanese Furniture documents and discusses the roots of more than eighty unique furniture types, including the many variations of the beloved tansu chest that has made its way into homes and museums around the world. Like many of the objects it
portrays, Traditional Japanese Furniture has found its place among collectors and enthusiasts, standing today as the definitive volume on the subject.
Customer Reviews:
This book has wonderful pictures and illustrations........1998-03-22
This book is a wonderful exaple of Japan's funiture and art. It shows the many aspects of this oritental country's splendid decorum.
Book Description
This book challenges the conventional ideas of art and beauty. What is the value of things made by an anonymous craftsman working in a set tradition for a lifetime? What is the value of handwork? Why should even the roughly lacquered rice bowl of a Japanese farmer be thought beautiful? The
late Soetsu Yanagi was the first to fully explore the traditional Japanese appreciation for "objects born, not made."
Mr. Yanagi sees folk art as a manifestation of the essential world from which art, philosophy, and religion arise and in which the barriers between them disappear. The implications of the author's ideas are both far-reaching and practical.
Soetsu Yanagi is often mentioned in books on Japanese art, but this is the first translation in any Western language of a selection of his major writings. The late Bernard Leach, renowned British potter and friend of Mr. Yanagi for fifty years, has clearly transmitted the insights of one of Japan's
most important thinkers. The seventy-six plates illustrate objects that underscore the universality of his concepts. The author's profound view of the creative process and his plea for a new artistic freedom within tradition are especially timely now when the importance of craft and the handmade
object is being rediscovered.
Customer Reviews:
great for the study of craft in Japan.......2007-05-12
This book was written by the father of the crafts movement in Japan, Yanagi Soetsu. He encouraged the Japanese to appreciate their national arts at a time of modernization and Westernization in Japan. The book covers areas of craft such as cermaics and lacquers.
A book you HAVE to read, and you'll CRAVE to own..........2006-01-18
This remarkable, must-have book is half superb pictures of various Oriental objects of manufacture become recognized as quintessentially "unselfconscious" objects of art (the one of the "top" teacup in Japan alone is worth the book's price), and half short but very eye-opening essays on various dimensions of beauty, creativity, and the aesthetic experience.
MUCH generally accepted superficiality (and downright phoniness) in the field of art appreciation is solidly debunked here (read the other reviews for more on the author's qualifications, plus some relatively piddling criticism from a few experts).
The pieces on the degeneration of the so-called "classic" Tea Ceremony and the cult of deliberate "beauty of ugliness" will provide much food for thought. Literally anyone interested in beauty and its representations will do very well indeed to acquire this truly irreplaceable read.
I too wish the book were 10 times as long! I believe it was out of print for awhile -- great to see it available new from Amazon at a reasonable price.
Oh -- on second thought, DO just buy this title, rather than borrow one first -- my copy is so heavily marked up that it would have been agony to have read a library copy....
Humble pie never tasted so good.......2003-03-26
Soon after getting into custom furniture and cabinetmaking as a profession, I had come to that point where I began to tie my sense of self-worth to what other people thought of my work. Even worse, I began to feel that I was in a competition with my fellow woodworkers. Not only did I want their approval, but I thought I must strive to be better than them or I wouldn't achieve distinction (and therefore success). Then, via my explorations into Buddhism, I came across this book. It presented me with a heaping, much-needed serving of humble pie by telling me things like:
"A beautiful work of art...is the work of a man who is not (bound to) either beauty and ugliness or even to himself."
Yanagi was talking about the craftsman of Japan's past who, working with "total disengagement", created some of the most beautiful art objects the world has ever seen. This work was never signed because these were the products of craftsman who "made no effort to express their individuality through the medium of things; (instead) they produced things through the medium of man". As my understanding of Buddhism deepened, so didn't the import of these words. The bottom line was that I relaxed, I let myself enjoy the process and I let the objects I made speak for themselves. Humble pie never tasted so good.
More photos! More essays!.......2000-11-29
There is only so much that can be done inside of a few hundred pages, but this book does try. Many examples of Yanagi's writings have been pulled together along with photographs of actual objects in order to give the reader a small feel for the philosophy that Yanagi and others hammered out starting around the 1920's.
For those unfamiliar with Yanagi Soetsu, he and other artists and thinkers of his time developed a philosophy called "Mingei" (folk-craft) in Japan. Similar to the arts and crafts movement in England and Europe, Mingei focuses on exploring the dimentions of beauty before something becomes "beautiful". A great deal of influence from people such as Bernard Leech and Suzuki Daisetsu went in to the creation of this "old yet new" way of looking at art and objects.
His way of looking at the "unknown craftsman", in other words the artist who merely makes to make and sell his works, but does not comprimise because he wishes only to sell and sell quickly, will appear new to many, but there are many patronizing overtones in Yanagi's arguments. This comes close to devolving into a sort of "noble-savage" way of looking at crafts made in traditional ways, and is sometimes criticized as being arrogant if not contradictory.
This book only scratched the surface of the world of Mingei, however, and an actual study would no doubt involve learning the Japanese language in order to follow not only Yanagi's essays, but also to be able to go and "experience" the art Yanagi devoted himself to inside of Japan. Yanagi's ideas, however, span much further than any one culture and many connected with Yanagi, particularly Hamada Shoji, came in contact with similar movements and ideas in their travels to mainland Asia, Europe, and North America. This book can be read, therefore, comfortably by most anyone interested in art and aesthetics.
An Aesthetics Bible!.......1999-12-08
Yanagi's words are so dense, packed, and rich with meaning. He has keen insights into what real 'seeing' is, and how necessary it is in discerning beauty. But Yanagi's words run beyond insight, and have some of that deep ring of eternal 'Truth' to them. I highly recommmend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about what true 'seeing' is, and how it relates to the perception of beauty.
Book Description
Modern Japanese quilting blends Eastern and Western techniques to create quilts of extraordinary style and beauty. Using designs borrowed from a rich decorative arts heritage, and often incorporating traditional kimono fabrics, Japanese quilters have developed a distinctive style based on
unusual motifs and striking color combinations. With Japanese Quilted Blocks to Mix and Match, any quilter can create exquisite and unique works of patchwork art in the Japanese tradition.
The book presents more than 125 different block patterns, each with complete instructions and a color photograph, representing a variety of pattern sources: kamon (family crests), Hakone yosegire (parquetry) and traditional textiles, such as kasuri weave. Each 9-inch block includes a full cutting
guide and fabric palette; suggestions for use, either mixing and matching or adapting to an all-over design; and icons indicating techniques and skill level. The blocks on each spread are related in design and technique.
In addition to the Block Directory, Japanese Quilted Blocks to Mix and Match features an Inspiration Gallery, showcasing examples of finished quilts from leading quilters. Using these examples, author Susan Briscoe explores such topics as color ideas from traditional Japanese textiles and quilts,
motifs, and recommendations for combining fabric patterns and block designs. An extensive section on technique, as well as several pages about the fabrics themselves and a listing of suppliers and organizations make this volume as practical and informative as it is beautiful.
Customer Reviews:
One of the Best Books.......2007-09-13
Susan Briscoe's Japanese Quilt Blocks book must be one of the top ten quilt design books ever. I had been searching for a long time for a way to make simple elegant 9-inch patches that are not the same old traditional American items.
Briscoe's book has so inspired me on to creating little 9-inch patches that I simply cannot wait to sit at my work table each day to play with further fabric combinations and designs. The extraordinary way she has combined her patches into quilts give me great pleasure and encourage me to do the same. The directions and color photos in the book are excellent. And the rating of each of the 122 designs by difficulty helps, too.
I treasure this book.
Also, it is the first quilting book I have felt inspired to buy in 20 years!
Awesome Book........2007-08-04
This book will get your imaginative juices running. A very detailed book and so easy to design from.Great colour images and templates to use.
A must for any quilter who wants to explore their own skills.
Great Book ! Well Organized & Beautifully Presented.......2007-07-10
I just received this book and I'm really impressed with it! The blocks are beautiful and well presented. Some of the piecing procedures can be done a little easier than is shown, but basically this book is a real find! I love Japanese motifs and have done a bit of sashiko so this book is a real inspriation for me!
Gorgeous book.......2007-05-25
Susan Briscoe has produced a gorgeous book, full of unique designs and patterns. Many of the patterns are simple; others, especially the appliques, a complex. The photos are beautiful and show how Japanese fabrics can be utilized in striking ways. In addition, Briscoe offers plenty of tips on color, block construction, design, piecing, sashiko stitching, etc. If you have any Japanese fabrics in your stash (or even if you don't), you'll enjoy this book.
Japanese blocks to make are..........2007-04-11
The book,Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match, is beautifull illustrated.The instructions are clear and instructive. The applique patterns are truely unique, ranging from easy to more advanced.There are also pieced patterns and Sashiko patterns.The book gives instruction in Sashiko.I rated this book 4 stars. It lost a point because all of the applique patterns have to be enlarged 200%. Since my preference leans toward applique ,I find it frustration to have to wait untill I can get to Staples to have the patterns enlarged. That aside,this hard covered,color- illustrated book is a must if you have or want to have a keen interest in quilting Japanese blocks.
Book Description
Winner of the 2006 American Horitcultural Society Book Award!
Gardening has reached new heights of sophistication, and this book profiles a number of the most notable gardens in Japan and beyond. The goal of a Japanese garden is to suggest a landscape, to depict famous natural scenes, or to evoke a particular artistic quality or atmosphere. Graveled courtyards, early aristocratic gardens, Zen gardens, and several other elements all play key roles in these extravagant landscapes.
The Art of the Japanese Garden is a valuable resource for anyone interested in gardening, landscape design, and Japanese art and culture.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-01-05
Great book, lots of pictures and ideas for creating amazingly beautiful oriental gardens.
Outstanding book on Japanese Gardens.......2006-02-22
I ordered this book somewhat "blind" without having seen it in a bookstore, etc. When it arrived, I must say that I was thrilled with the quality of the text, photos and other illustrations. The book thoroughly covers the basic history, principles and aesthetics of Japanese Gardens. Then it takes an in-depth look at some of the finest gardens of each type found in Japan. Highly recommended.
Book Description
Filled with elegant designs and clever tips, A Japanese Touch for Your Home offers bold and exciting ideas for remodeling your home or redecorating your apartment. The author, architect Koji Yagi, explains the basic elements of Japanese interior design and shows you how to use them. Install tatami mats and shoji doors--cardinal elements of Japanese interior design--and see how beautifully they respond to the Western home. Change the size and shape of a room easily and tastefully with bamboo screens and movable partitions. Build a simple Japanese-style alcove, decorate it with something special, and then flaunt it. Try some Japanese lighting techniques--low, soft, and beautiful. Change the mood of a room, and change your way of looking at things. A Japanese Touch for Your Home includes much more. Practical, approachable, and authentic, it is written by a prominent Japanese architect concerned about the demands of contemporary lifestyles, and the answers that traditional Japanese design has to offer. Over 120 color plates taken by a leading Japanese photographer accompany the informed text. In addition, over 200 black and white sketches, floor plans, and a section on do-it-yourself projects make this a book that will pique your desire to be creative and then show you how to fulfill it. A practical guide for homeowners, interior designers, and people who like to work with their heads and their hands, this book will introduce you to a new way of living.
Customer Reviews:
The Title is Misleading.......2004-07-31
Although it is a GOOD book with great quality pictures, it does very little to add a Japanese Touch for Your Home. It graphically explains the areas of a Japanese style house but it does not help you integrate the oriental with the western style of living, which is what I thought it was about.
Further more the couple of projects for building Japanese furniture a pretty basic, you can find better one for free in the Internet.
It is a good book to read but for me it didnt have any practical use.
A New Hunger........2002-12-17
This book has created a new hunger in me to find and devour every book I can get my hands on dealing with Japanese architecture. I can now see where Frank Lloyd Wright got a lot of his inspiration from. This is the first book I have read on the subject so far, and it seems to cover a bit of everything with lots of nice photos. If your looking for a book on organizing and storing stuff like only the Japanese can do, then get "Small Spaces: Stylish Ideas for Making More of Less in the Home" by Azby Brown
Great Primer for the Novice to Japanese interiors........2002-08-17
This is the first I purchased on the subject of Japanese interiors, which I crave. Yagi and Williams cover the essentials of what you need to know, provide excellent photographic examples of their topics, and intructions on do it yourself projects. I rate it a 4 because I wanted the book to have more!
EXCELLENT !.......2001-08-25
I and many friends have enjoyed this book-not only because it has excellent photos of examples on how to give your home or apt a touch of Japanese tranquility/simplicity but also because it gives you exact details on how to build or create the area. Even if you're not interested in making changes in your home it's the kind of book that can transpose you to a more tranquil space via the excellent photos and drawings
Got a lot of money?.......2001-08-06
This book has beautiful photos of very lovely Japanese-style homes, but I wouldn't say that it's full of ideas for how to find more space in your home, or how to easily incorporate Japanese design or features into your already existing home. I would say if you have a lot of money, a lot of space, and at least some land, you could use this book to rebuild and create the perfect Japanese home. And you're going to have to get rid of all (and I mean all) the tchatchkes, or else cram them all in your new storage space. Which is not a bad idea for us Americans (getting rid of them, that is). I would like to see a book with ideas on how to use Japanese interior design ideas to help create more space and beauty in any home, using the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi.
Book Description
Superb collection of authentic Japanese art and design reproduced directly from rare and costly sources includes birds, florals, animals, fish, crests, geometric designs, and patterns. An invaluable resource for professional and amateur artists and craftspeople. Over 260 color and black-and-white illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Not very traditional.......2007-09-16
This book includes very few traditional or vibrant images. Most are dull or uninteresting.
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