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New Books for Collectors
—
December 2007
Samuel McIntire:
Carving an American Style
by Dean Lahikainen
Reviewed by Robert Reed
(Antique & Collectible News Service)
 |
A newly released volume from University Press of New England offers a detailed look at the life and work of the multi-talented architectural designer and woodcarver Samuel McIntire.
McIntire was a legendary master carpenter of the Federal Period. His remarkable efforts are documented in the book, Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style. Often employed by wealthy ship owners, McIntire was noted for astonishingly carved cornices and exquisite mantelpieces, among other things.
The fine book corresponds with a landmark exhibition hosted by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. It continues through February 2008. The author, Dean Lahikainen, is curator of American decorative art at the museum.
From 1990 to 2007, the author and his family had the privilege of living in a 1782 house, which was one of McIntire’s first major commissions. The home is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum.
“Living there taught me to truly appreciate the important role McIntire’s ornamental work plays in transforming mere shelter into an emotional experience,” Lahikainen wrote in the book’s introduction. “Where beauty of his decorative work speaks to the soul and uplifts the spirit, the mark of a truly gifted craftsman worthy of study.”
McIntire, who was born in 1757 and died in 1811, is credited with a unique and distinguished carving of furniture, trade signs, and both building and home interiors. Ultimately its form, said to be inspired by the elegant design of Robert Adam, became known as the McIntire School. Its style eventually spread to other cities and states.
This quality volume interestingly covers the impressive art of carving and craft specialization during the Federal Period in Salem. In particular, there is much documentation of McIntire’s patriotic, classical and pastoral ornaments.
Samuel McIntire: Carving an American Style by Dean Lahikainen, hardcover, with nearly 400 color and duo-tone illustrations and 300 pages, is $75 from the University Press of New England.
Christmas Merrymaker
by Barbara Hallman Kissinger
Reviewed by Robert Reed
(Antique & Collectible News Service)
 |
Christmas Merrymaking by Barbara Kissinger combines vintage paper collectibles with accounts of classic traditions for a grand look at Christmas past. The author incorporates holiday-related posters, book illustrations, postcards, magazine covers, newspaper illustrations and more. They are fascinating — in part — because they originally appeared in the public domain when the holiday was celebrated somewhat differently.
Basically, this is the second volume from the author to be jammed with images of Christmas as it was reflected in the late 19th century and during the 20th century up to and including the 1940s. This book and the earlier Christmas Past, published in 2005, offer a culmination of decades of collecting Christmas-related paper treasures.
Kissinger’s latest offering includes more than 150 colorful illustrations. Santa Claus, angels, Christmas-delighted children, elves, stockings filled with toys and Yuletide images are included. Many are from early postcards, but other sources included St. Nicholas Magazine, Harper’s Weekly, and classic children’s books.
Illustrations aside, the book also includes interesting accounts of “Christmas merrymaking” over the centuries including many of the grand old American traditions.
The author has a collection of more than 1,300 such illustrations and paper memorabilia regarding Christmas. During the later part of the 20th century, Kissinger sold wooden folk-art Santa figurers nationwide. The figures were fashioned from early Christmas postcards in her collection. Now a great-grandmother, the author is a resident of Burlington, IA.
Christmas Merrymaker by Barbara Hallman Kissinger, hardcover, with color illustrations and 128 pages is $19.95 plus shipping from Pelican Publishing Company at 1-800-843-1724.
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