376 item(s) - Page 5 of 76
$40.00 $24.00 |
Bird decoys, which were first fashioned by Native American hunter-artists at least 1,500 years ago, are the only major folk art form to originate in North America. Today, decoys made during the heyday of decoy carving--roughly from 1840 to 1950--rank among the most avidly sought of all folk art collectibles, with some rare and outstanding examples fetching upwards of $8000,000 apiece at auction. These humble hunting tools, intended to deceive wildfowl by luring them into shooters' range, are now appreciated on many levels: as compelling works of sculpture, as exacting portraits of living and extinct species, and as irreplaceable historical objects. Successful decoy carvers of the past knew their prey intimately--spending countless hours observing game birds in the wild and then bringing their accumulated knowledge of different species' appearance and behavior to the carving bench. Because the works these artisans created were meant to attract avian eyes--conveying the essence of a bird's plumage, form, and attitude at a glance--older handmade decoys are deeply observed symbols of living birds that no merely decorative object, no matter how photographically accurate, can match. In this definitive, lavishly illustrated work, folk-art expert Robert Shaw chronicles the now-vanished era in which the great decoy makers pursued their craft. Shaw traces the natural history of North American bird species--more than sixty of which are represented in antique decoys. He relates the history of wildfowl hunting on this continent, detailing the excesses of nineteenth-century commercial hunting and the rise of a conservation movement aimed at ensuring bird species' long-term survival. He examines the distinctive forms produced in each major hunting area, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Chesapeake Bay to the bayous of Louisiana and beyond. And, with a storyteller's gift for the entertaining anecdote, Shaw puts us in touch with the lives and circumstances of the decoy makers themselves.
$40.00 $24.00 |
Want all of the latest building, plumbing, HVAC and electrical code information at your fingertips? They're all included in Code Check Complete. Finding code facts will be a cinch with the easy-to-access, crystal-clear, illustrated format that makes Taunton's Code Check series the choice of reference for thousands of builders and inspectors across the country. Designed to work hard for you, Code Check Complete has a tough outer case and lay-flat spiral binding perfectly suited to the job site. Detailed cross-referencing and 400-plus drawings address all of your code questions with up-to-date answers.
$39.99 $23.99 |
This beautifully illustrated glossary constitutes an extraordinary collection of the specialist terms used in many botanical works. The book is arranged in two sections: the glossary, which provides clear definitions for over 2400 of the most commonly used botanical and horticultural terms, and illustrations, which can be cross-referenced to the glossary. This outstanding reference will be welcomed by all readers grappling with botanical terms, whether student, professional, or hobbyist.
$39.95 $23.97 |
Very thorough manual dealing with the difficult task of estimating excavation projects. Includes information on a variety of factors affecting estimations, such as soil characteristics, accessibility, location, and costs.
$39.95 $23.97 |
With just the naked eye, a hand lens, a microscope, and the straight forward techniques described in this book, readers will be able to identify over 100 species of hardwoods, softwoods, and tropical woods most commonly encountered in North America. Hoadley does not use the usual "key method" but rather he presents a system of increasingly sophisticated techniques that the reader can take as far as they want. Excellent for antique collectors, furniture makers and builders. REGULAR $39.95 OUR PRICE $31.95. You save 20%.