Arts & Skills Books

Ancient Carpenters' Tools - $31.00
Henry C Mercer. This classic reference describes in detail hundreds of implements in use in the American colonies in the 18th century. Over 250 illustrations depict tools identical in construction to ancient devices once used by the Greeks, Egyptians and Chinese, among them axes, saws, clamps, chisels, mallets, and much more. An invaluable sourcebook. 352pp. Pb.

Antique Playing Cards - $25.00
Henry Rene d'Allemagne. Over 900 intriguing images from rare decks of playing cards used between the 14th and 20th centuries: Bacchus, death, dancing dogs, players cheating at cards, royal coats of arms, stylized versions of king, queen and other face cards, hunting scenes, much more. Immediately usable graphics for illustrators and a treasury of diverting subjects for those interested in the history of printing. Pb.

Astrology in the Middle Ages - $15.00
Theodore Otto Wedel. Astrology occupies a prominent place in the history of philosophy and science. Thirteenth-century scholars regarded the rule of the stars over human destiny as an indisputable fact, and theologians credited the stars with a power second only to that of God. This dissertation traces the development of medieval thought concerning astrology from the fifth through fifteenth centuries. It interprets astrological references from a fascinating variety of literary sources, including medieval romances and the works of Chaucer. 176pp. Pb.

The Blacksmith's Craft - $28.00
Charles McRaven. A Primer of tools and methods. A guide throught the process of building a simple forge from recycled materials, acquiring or crafting the basic tools, and learning the techniques to get you started in blacksmithing. Simple methods in easy-to-follow photos are throughout this book. 247pp. Pb.

Bookbinding: Its Background and Techniques - $39.00
Edith Diehl. This mammoth book by one of the world's foremost practitioners is two of her previous volumes bound as one. It is both an historical survey emphasizing decorated bindings, and an eminently practical guide to hand bookbinding. 93 plates, 242 figures. 748pp. Pb.

Celtic Carved Love Spoons - $35.00
Sharon Littley & Clive Griffin. Centuries ago, ardent young Welshmen began the tradition of creating beautiful wooden spoons, carved with appropriate romantic symbols, to give to the girl of their dreams. Lovespoons are still presented as tokens of affection and goodluck today. In this book two leading practitioners explain the background of their craft, reveal the techniques involved in creating these highly-prized objects, and show absolute beginners how to design and fashion love spoons of their own. 152pp. Pb.

Celtic Hand Stroke by Stroke - $8.00
Arthur Baker. Complete stroke-by-stroke guide to creating each letter of the alphabet in the beautiful, distinctive Celtic manner. Crystal clear instructions cover hand positions, strokes, pens, inks, paper, working surface, more. Introduction by William Hogarth. Over 40 full-page plates, plus 8 illustrations in instructions. 48pp. Pb.

Chainmail Jewelry - $37.00
Terry Taylor & Dylon White. Once used to create protective garments, chain mail techniques and patterns have now been adapted for jewelry making. This requires very few tools yet you'll be able to achieve impressive results. From an Inlaid Chain Mail Pendant to a Japanese Hexagonal Mail Collar, the 30 extraordinary projects will introduce you to a variety of exciting techniques for all skill levels. 144pp. Hb.

Courtly Dance of the Renaissance - $27.00
Fabritio Caroso. Renaissance classic includes choreography and music for 49 dances, plus all-important guidance on how to dress, how to behave and how to carry oneself while dancing at court, set down with utmost clarity and precision. Indispensable source of authentic information on courtly dance in the period from 1550 to 1610. Full scholarly apparatus. Translated and edited by Julia Sutton. 416pp. Pb.

The Craftsman's Handbook - $12.00
Cennino Cennini. 15th-century handbook, written by a working artist of the day, reveals secrets and techniques of the masters in drawing, oil painting, frescoes, panel painting, gilding, casting, more. Direct link to artists of Middle ages. Translation, introduction by D. V. Thompson. 142pp. Pb.

Creating Handmade Books - $27.00
Alisa Golden. Take one piece of paper, a pair of scissors, and you have the tools to make a book! Add just a few other basic materials - glue, a needle and thread, a brush - and the possibilities become nearly endless. Cut and folded books, simple sewn structures, hanging scrolls, pocket books, and one based on a Jacob's Ladders! 160pp. Pb.

Creating Lampwork Beads for Jewelry - $32.00
Karen J Leonardo. Ideal for beginning, internediate and advanced lampwork artists, this book features: guidence and tips for setting up your studio and selecting the proper tools; Detailed instructions with step-by-step photos for creating 16 different lampwork beads; 14 jewelry designs to incorporate your beads into necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and pins. 144pp. Pb.

Easy-To-Make Wooden Sundials - $11.00
Milton Stoneman. This is an excellent manual for the beginner, and explains how to make five different sundials. It includes templates pre-calculated for some latitudes. Very few tools are needed to make a sundial more locally accurate than standard time. 64pp. Pb.

The English Dancing Master - $41.00
Or "Plaine and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to each Dance". John Playford. This classic book was first published in 1651 as a dance instruction manual. The tune accompanying each dance has been edited and put into modern notation. 104pp. Pb.

Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction - $19.00
Aldred A Watson. Expert guide to creating fine books by hand. Thorough, detailed instructions, with over 270 helpful illustrations, cover materials, tools and equipment, making a slipcase, rebinding an old book, and more. Also, 8 specific projects: dust jacket; blank book, single signature; folio; manuscript binding, music binding, and three more. 160pp. Pb.

Heraldic Crests: A Pictorial Archive of 4,424 Designs for Artists and Craftspeople - $35.00
James Fairbairn. This is a rich selection of royalty-free motifs from famous British references. They are striking, varied designs suitable for any number of graphic projects. Images include lions, tigers, wreaths, falcons, rosettes, human figures, mythical creatures, crowns, and much more. 320pp. Pb.

The Illuminated Alphabet - $10.00
Theodore Menten. 50 great initials of the Middle Ages, all with remarkable, ready-to-color illuminations built into them: Biblical scenes, knights, martyrdoms, grotesque animals, geometrical ornament, scenes of war and play, musicians and much else from the treasury of medieval manuscripts. 48pp. Pb.

Making Glass Beads - $24.00
Cindy Jenkins. Discover the art of glass beadmaking and learn many of the secrets that were guarded for centuries by Venetian glassmakers. Begin with basic methods for making and decorating beads, and go on to dozens of techniques described in step-by-step detail. Lavishly illustrated. 112pp. Pb.

Manual of Traditional Wood Carving - $32.00
Paul N Hasluck. This is a superb guide to every aspect of the craft, including the necessary tools and appliances, the esthetics of wood carving, a comprehensive history of wood carving design, and of course, clear, precise instructions on every technique. 576pp. Pb.

Marquetry - $20.00
Vicenc Gilbert, Josep Lopez, Joan & Jordi Ordonez. "Marquetry" shows you how to combine different woods and veneers to create elegant designs that enhance the beauty of wooden furniture. You'll find step-by-step instructions for six projects that include decorating furniture and creating a landscape mural. Even if you are a beginner, the clearly illustrated, carefully detailed, and easy to follow instructions cover every aspect from construction techniques to finishing, staining, painting and decorating items to professional standard. 64pp. Pb.

Masterpieces of Medival Open Timber Roofs - $23.00
Raphael & J. R. Brandon. A magnificent illustrated guide to Medieval English architecture and construction, for woodworkers and admirers of authentic traditional craftsmanship. This volume uses full-page illustrations and construction details to reveal a wealth of information on the major roof styles of Medieval English churches. There is background information on the religious and secular concerns addressed by the artisans. Included are more than 50 illustrations of 34 major and minor English cathedrals and churches. The drawings are the authors' own geometrical and perspective renderings of the timber construction. Republication of the London, 1849 edition. 112pp. Pb.

Medieval Calligraphy: Its History and Technique - $25.00
Marc Drogan. Spirited history, comprehensive instruction manual covers 13 important writing styles (ca. 4th century thru 15th). Fascinating facts about Roman Rustic, Uncial, Carolingian Minuscule, Early Gothic, eight other styles; all examples beautifully photographed. Detailed directions for duplicating medieval techniques with modern tools. 232 illustrations. 224pp. Pb.

Medieval Life Illustrations - $19.00
Carol Belanger Grafton. Rich archive includes over 700 clear, finely detailed authentic medieval vignettes depicting domestic scenes, farming, hunting and fishing, winemaking, eating and drinking, landscapes, maritime, military, recreations (including tournaments), punishments, religious scenes and more. 136pp. Pb.

Medieval Ornament and Design - $19.00
Jules Gaihabaud. This lavish archive of exquisite engravings and designs encompass a broad range of architectural styles and elements, and contains 200 striking illustrations -- from decorative panels and gawking gargoyles to stained glass and ironwork designs. This Dover book is reproduced directly from a rare nineteenth-century edition of a compilation of designs from "L'Architecture from the 5th to the 17th Century", Jules Gailhabaud, 1858. 96pp. Pb.

Medieval Tapestries Colouring Book - $8.00
Marty Noble. This collection of lovely images invites coloring book fans of all ages to explore the exquisite beauty of medieval tapestries. Thirty handsome drawings of details from the Unicorn, Bayeaux, and other priceless tapestries can be brought to life with a rainbow of colors. 32pp. Pb.

Papermaking: The History and Techniques - $41.00
Dard Hunter. Just about every aspect of papermaking is covered in this book. The author examines the development and uses of different materials and tools of papermaking: the different types of hand molds, such as the "wove" mold and the "laid" mold of China; methods of maceration (beating the cloth); of dipping the molds or pouring the liquid pulp over the molds; or pressing, drying and sizing the paper; and much more. Over 320 illustrations. 672pp. Pb.

Sundials Their Theory and Construction - $15.00
Albert Waugh. Fascinating approach to sundials. On one hand, it is a rigorous appraisal of the science of sundials including mathematical treatment and pertinent astronomical background. On the other hand, it provides a nontechnical treatment simple enough so that several of the dials can be built by children. 106 illustrations. 230pp. Pb.

Tan Your Hide - $18.00
Phyllis Hobson. Here is explained just what you need to tan your own leather and fur, and all the steps involved in doing it right. The end result is a handsome and durable homemade article that will last for many years. And once you have tanned your furs and leathers, the second half of the book tells you how to make basic fur and leather products, with patterns you can follow for certain success. 135pp. Pb.

Wheat Weaving & Straw Craft: From Simple Plaits to Exquisite Designs - $25.00
Morgyn G Owens-Celli. This ancient folk art begins with basic plaits and progresses to knots and spirals. In fact, the author spent 6,000 hours over a 5-year period designing and constructing a spiral castle which is photographed in the book in its finished glory. Nonetheless, the book was written for all levels and the chapters are filled with designs rated for various skill levels. You start off by learning the 6 hand positions and how to make basic plaits. Purses, hats, and decorations are a few of the possibilities. In all, 34 projects are shown with clear directions, concise text, and closeup photos. 143pp. Pb.

Women's Institute Book of Country Crafts - $15.00
A collection of traditional skills. A practical guide to the basic techniques, equipment and materials for making corn dollies, spinning, dyeing, weaving and basketry. 192pp. Hb.

Woodcarving: A Foundation Course - $30.00
Zoe Gertner. This book provides a comprehensive foundation course in the craft of woodcarving. Everything a beginner needs to know is here: the best types of wood to use, the necessary tools and how to buy them, use them, care for them and sharpen them in the correct way: and important advice on health and safety in the workshop. There are a series of projects designed to help you develop basic carving skills. 183pp. Pb.