Antique Jewellery, its manufacture, materials and design £9.99
Duncan James

978 0 7478 0385 0, 120 pp, colour anf b/w ills

This book encourages readers to take a closer look at the old pieces of jewellery at the bottom of their jewellery boxes and helps them to understand the fine craftsmanship that many of these pieces represent. All types of jewellery are described and illustrated, either in colour or in black and white, and the traditional methods, decorative techniques and tools used by jewellers and goldsmiths are detailed through easily understood drawings.

Buttons £4.50
Alan and Gillian Meredith

978 0 7478 0466 6 (Album 382) 40 pp, 22 b/w ills and 75 colour

Buttons have been made from almost every known material and by every manufacturing technique. Their study provides insight into fashion trends, the clothing industry and social history in general. This book introduces the wonderful array of these treasures from the past, to show the variety of materials and the intricate design and workmanship incorporated in making the humble button. Military and civilian uniform buttons are not included.

Alan and Gillian Meredith have been button collectors for over thirty years, undertaking much original research and writing articles for leading antiques magazines, as well as appearing on television and radio. They owned and ran the first and only button museum in Great Britain, creating a focus for those interested in the history, design and manufacture of buttons, as well as introducing a fascinating subject to the general public.

Everyday Fashions of the 20th Century £9.99 £3.99 *special price until 31.1.08
Avril Lansdell

978 0 7478 0428 4 (History in Camera 12) 160pp, 20 colour and 163 black and white ills.

The invention of photography in the nineteenth century provided a means of looking back into the none-too-distant past, and in this book Avril Lansdell makes use of this medium to share her fascination of how people lived, the work they did and the clothes they wore. Clothes and photography have changed drastically during the twentieth century; this book shows some of these changes and will bring back many memories to its readers.

Avril Lansdell, now retired, was the Curator of Weybridge Museum from 1968 to 1989. Other titles for Shire by this author are:

Fans £4.50
Hélène Alexander

978 0 7478 0402 4 (Album 243) 40 pp, many colour illustrations ills.

This book traces the history of fans from biblical times to the present day. Originating as an everyday functional object, the fan rapidly acquired ceremonial and social significance, becoming the utilitarian sceptre of kings, the subject of conversation for bluestockings of the seventeenth century, the toy of frivolous ladies, the vehicle of revolutionary messages, the sentimental possession of the Victorians, the mirror of the Belle Époque, and an advertising gimmick. Above all, fans are hand-crafted objects and therefore no two are identical, which makes recording and classifiying them an absorbing and fascinating historical adventure.

Hélène Alexander FRSA has collected fans for over thirty years. In 1991 she founded The Fan Museum and is currently President of The Fan Museum Trust.

Hat Pins £3.99
Eve Eckstein and June Firkins

978 0 7478 0182 5 (Album 286) 32 pp, 64 ills.

Hats replaced bonnets as headwear for women around the 1890s and hat pins were needed to secure the hats firmly; they were essential for the larger hats worn around 1910–12. The hat-pin industry expanded rapidly, producing pins of many materials, styles and qualities. Hat pins were necessary for everyday wear as well as for sports and motoring. Suffragettes used them as offensive weapons and were not allowed to wear them when they appeared in court. Bye-laws prohibited hat pins from being worn with protruding unprotected points and contemporary cartoons poked fun at their use. Prices in the early days ranged from one old penny to several pounds, but the hat pins of the Edwardian period have now become collectors’ items.

Eve Eckstein and June Firkins have been collecting hat pins for many years. June Firkins is a member of the Hat Pin Society of Great Britain and gives talks on hat pins and other related fashion items.

Jet Jewellery and Ornaments £3.50
Helen Muller

978 0 85263 503 2 (Album 52) 32 pp, 42 ills.

This book chronicles the history of jet as a jewel in Great Britain and the rest of Europe from Bronze Age times to the present day. It discusses the geology and origin of jet and describes its chemical and physical properties. Jet is particularly associated with Whitby in North Yorkshire, and the author gives an account of the flourishing Whitby jet industry of the nineteenth century,. The illustrations include unique photographs of the craftsmen at work. An important section on the imitations of jet and their identification will be of great interest and value to collectors and dealers. The work of modern jet carvers is also described.

In her spare time Mrs Muller writes articles and gives lectures on jewellery. Her main interest is the study of the Whitby jet industry, which she and her husband have been researching for many years.

Ladies’ Dress Accessories £5.99
Eleanor Johnson

978 0 7478 0570 0 (Album 421) 56 pp, 80 colour and 9 b/w ills.

As human societies evolved, so clothing became more than just a basic necessity to protect the body from cold. Both men and women used their costume to display their status and wealth. This additional function of dress was from the beginning accompanied by the appearance of a wide variety of complementary accessories. These included perfume and scent bottles, jewellery, buttons, buckles, buttonhooks, hat pins, gloves, handbags, purses, fans, parasols and many other attractive items and, since the First World War, objects associated with make-up and smoking. In this book Eleanor Johnson describes and illustrates many of the items that one may come across.

Eleanor Johnson has for many years been interested in social history and costume. Other titles for Shire by this author: