So I've decided to spend the off season studying up.

[grasswire]

And two books from the library have been particularly enjoyable this week.

First is The Arts & Crafts Movement by Steven Adams, tracing the origins in Britain and the progression through American style. Profusely filled with photographs.

Next is The Arts & Crafts Collector's Guide by David Rago. This is particularly interesting for his stories of the collecting craze of the 1970s. But the photos of the best pieces of each manufacturer are delicious. I am still in love with Grueby. I was meant to own Grueby. It is so me. I've never seen a piece of it IRL that I know of. Maybe in a museum.

I will never pass a piece of interesting pottery again without turning it over.

And I'm wondering if a whole lot of that good Arts & Crafts ware will be coming on the market again as the 1970s collectors are probably pushing retirement years now, thinking of downsizing.

Are any of you boning up? If so, what?

[Vinca]

1. Have you read Rago's "American Art Pottery" book?

The stuff is to die for. If I ever come into money I'll park my carcass at his auction house in New Jersey and buy and buy and buy and buy. My one Grueby find was cracked, chipped and painted red . . . oh well.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Are you familiar with Dover Books?

Lots of great titles for cheap. Sparkly and I have tons of their books.

http://store.doverpublications.com/

Here's their subject index:

http://store.doverpublications.com/by-subject.html