Venini Glass: 1921-1986

Venini. Catalogue Raisonné 1921-1986 offers an in-depth account of the involving company history of the glassworks set up by Paolo Venini in 1921 and carried forward by members of the Venini family up until 1986, the year in which the business was sold off. Alongside the comprehensive catalogue containing some 250 descriptions detailing each item produced in over six decades of activity, the book's curator Anna Venini Diaz de Santillana has traced the history of the 'Vetrerie Venini' glasshouse through each successive master craftsman's term as art director: Napoleone Martinuzzi, Carlo Scarpa, Paolo Venini himself, Tomaso Buzzi, Fulvio Bianconi, and Ludovico Diaz de Santillana.

The careful analysis underlying each critical essay and the breadth of topics covered make this book an invaluable reference work on the creative enterprise and outstanding achievements of Venini & C., long acknowledged as an international hallmark of quality in the applied arts.

With its rich array of illustrations and catalogue of the firm's key production items, and an extensive reference section comprising glossary, bibliography, and list of exhibitions, this book is the most exhaustive directory of the Venini glasshouse's production. In addition to the renowned Catalogo verde and Catalogo rosso, the curator has included the legendary Catalogo blue, and essential reference source for historians, collectors, dealers, and connoisseurs of art.

There is a comprehensive discussion of panoramic cameras, including obscure hand-built models.

My only suggestions for improvement are:
1. A greatly expanded discussion of digital panorama hardware and software.
2. More careful editing of the text. It is repetitive at points and seems a bit rambling.
3. A discussion of how to mount and display these images would be helpful.

I don not agree with Barry Schmetter's review
He blames the publisher for not having a bigger, more expensive book. Panoramas are an odd shape (wierd aspect ratio) that complicates printing. I think this book works well. Wonderful color reproduction in a well-made book.

Shame on Rotovision for printing an undersized version of this book on cheap paper stock more suitable for a magazine. The book would be spectacular in the larger format it deserves and on a decent paper stock. As it stands the photographs are unsatisfyingly small, the printing mediocre, and the binding suspect. Nick gets 5 stars for his efforts, but the substandard Rotovision presentation knocks off two stars with its shabby publishing job.

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Dirty Boxes
Jacob Weinstein
Manufacturer: Alternative Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1891867113

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"Between Me and Life There is A Mist of Words Always"

The Wit & Wisdom of Oscar Wilde
Ralph Keyes
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517194600
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Keyes divides Wilde's epigrams and puns into brief, easily readable sections. Wilde twists traditional views on permanent truths and those of his day: altruism ("Charity creates a multitude of sins.") history ("History is merely gossip.") theology, poverty, dissent ("Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.")

Above all, Wilde (through Keyes' selections) quips and dissects each of the fine arts (music, prose, painting) and roles for creator, viewer, interpreter. He addresses the writer ("Even prophets correct their proofs.") critic ("Criticism is the highest form of autobiography"), and artist ("Like the Greek gods, artists are known only to each other.")

Amid his fast-paced one liners on male-female relations you sense how Wilde viewed marriage over and above his well-known bromide, "Divorces are made in heaven." The book ends with Wilde explaining and defending the homosexual relationship he called "the love that dare not speak its name". Whether or not you accept Wilde's lifestyle preferences, his eloquent, sad defense of a letter he wrote a younger man is moving as he describes the unique merge of intellect and youthful energy which to him formed "the noblest sort of affection." It is as close to heartfelt as anyone could get who once said, "A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal."

Oscar Wilde was parodied, villified, and eventually imprisoned for his beliefs and flamboyance. But he eventually influenced artists from George Bernard Shaw to John Lennon, staking a claim as the earliest example of a postmodern artist. This book helps introduce Wilde's full books and plays (Keyes references them consistently and provides a full bibliography), or helps you reference witty, intellectual (or psuedo-intellectual, as Wilde might have preferred) quotes for any occassion. (As to plagarizing, Wilde himself called it, "the privilege of the appreciative man.") His full literary courses are nutritious and filling enough, but "The Wit and Wisdom of Oscar Wilde" is as savory when reading or writing as salt is when dining.

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Doesn't Do Wilde Justice
An excellent reprint of an indispensible book.

The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486206025

More than 1000 ripostes, paradoxes, and epigrams on sin, society, genius, wealth, men, women, religion, America, education, and smoking: "Work is the curse of the drinking classes," "I can resist everything except temptation," etcetera. Also excerpts from his trial testimony, where the tragedy implicit in Wilde's humor is nowhere more vivid.

Buy this book and never worry again. Definatly a good buy. Fun, Funny, and Educational (?). If you like Oscar Wilde, you'll like this book.

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The Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde
Alvin Redman
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GS8J5E

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Wit and Humor of Oscar Wilde
Alvin Redman
Manufacturer: DOVER
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKELDS

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Great catagorization

The Wit of Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Manufacturer: Barnes & Noble Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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