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Architecture Decorative Arts Fine Art Forthcoming Titles Instruments and Technology Oriental Art Exclusive Titles 2007 - 2008 Catalogue

Catalogue >Decorative Arts >  Great Women Collectors Great Women Collectors Charlotte Gere and Marina Vaizey This is the first book devoted to the very few women who, from 1750 to the present, have assembled significant art collections. This book considers how and why these women collected, and explores the obstacles they overcame to assemble the objects. It closely examines the characteristics of their collections, many of which can be seen today, sometimes in their entirety, in public museums and galleries. 192 pages, 16 colour and 60 mono illustrations, cloth, 270 x 212mm ISBN 0 85667 503 2 | Retail Price £9.95  Online price: £7.00 / €10.50 In the introduction, the authors provide a general survey of the different collecting fields that appeal especially to women, including jewellery, fans, lace and textiles. It also looks at women who ventured into new areas, collecting items such as fossils, insects and theatre memorabilia. In each case, a leading pioneer is cited, with a brief look at the nature of her collection. They observe how, with the shift from the eclectic mix of works of art and curiosities of nature collected in the eighteenth century to the focus on antiques in the nineteenth century, women were - whether by design or otherwise - collecting the posessions of their predecessors. The chapters look in detail at 30 great women collectors, each prominent in their fields. Rather than presenting these women individually, they are grouped together according to common themes, such as 'Royal Consorts' or 'Twentieth Century Creators of Museums.' Charlotte Gere specialises in nineteenth century decorative arts, particularly jewellery. She has written several books and many articles on the decorative arts and lectures regularly. Marina Vaizey has been an art critic for over thirty years. She has written many books, lectures extensively and has curated several exhibitions.