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• Bird Decoys of North America: Nature, History, and Art-NS

  $40.00 $24.00 0 review(s)

  
  

  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.

• THE MEANING OF TREES

  $19.95 $11.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  The botany, history, healing, and lore of trees. Genera from aspen to willow are captured in 70 dramatic photographs that illustrate their brilliant seasonal transformations. 50 different types of trees are presented and each described by way of botanical qualities, medicinal uses, magical associations, cultural uses, and much more. Quite interesting.

• The Art of Coloring Wood: A Woodworker's Guide to Understanding Dyes and Chemica

  $24.95 $14.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  If you’re a woodworker looking to take your skills—and your next project—to a higher level of craftsmanship, you might want to consider coloring your wood with chemicals and dyes instead of stains. Unlike stains that can trap light and obscure grain patterns, chemicals and dyes, when handled properly, are one of the best methods for enhancing a wood’s color or accentuating the grain pattern. A classic technique that’s been practiced for centuries, coloring wood is a sure way to infuse a “wow” into your woodworking efforts.

• FINISH CARPENTRY: EFFICIENT TECHNIQUES FOR CUSTOM INTERIORS

  $34.95 $20.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Katz offers excellent coverage of subjects not ordinarily found in finish carpentry books. Includes mantelpieces, bookshelves, decorative doorways, decorative ceilings,crown moulding, and more. In the decorative walls chapter he covers paneling layout, using the Master Pro Calculator to determine spacing. The book is aimed at the custom home builder so it covers quite an array of subject matter. Regular $34.95 Now $29.95

• Intarsia Workbook: Learning Intarsia Woodworking Through 8 Progressive Step-by-S

  $14.95 $8.97 0 review(s)

  
  

  Learn the art of intarsia from the #1 expert, Judy Gale Roberts! You’ll be amazed at the beautiful pictures you can create when you learn to combine different colors and textures of wood to make raised 3-D images. Features 8 projects and expert instruction. Great for beginners!