Merrell Publishing

Now available in paperback, this amusing but highly informative photographic journey reveals the idiosyncrasy and inventiveness that characterize the construction of the humble toilet around the globe. Along the way, the reader encounters every possible permutation, from the traditional English thunderbox to the Swazi thatched beehive hut, and discovers the fascinating cultural and historical differences that can make our travels to other countries so enjoyable.

In 1885, having achieved success painting fashionable society in London and Paris, French painter James Tissot (18361902) experienced a religious vision that led to both a renewal of his beliefs and a dramatic shift in his artistic focus. Over the next 10 years, Tissot devoted himself to a project to illustrate the New Testament. The result was The Life of Christ, a monumental series of 350 watercolors combining fantastic imagery with minute archaeological observation and vivid realism. James Tissot: The Life of Christ is the first comprehensive exploration of this extraordinary body of work. Featuring three incisive essays and an informative commentary on the paintings, this exquisitely illustrated book examines the conception, creation, and history of The Life of Christ as well as the cultural context in which it emerged.

In a world dominated more and more by urban development, nature is increasingly seen as an inspiration for gardeners. Sustainability and biodiversity, currently high on the world’s agenda, are important aspects of natural-style gardening. In this beautiful new book, gardening expert Noël Kingsbury considers a variety of approaches to making gardens that celebrate nature. He discusses what is meant by ‘the natural look’, gives guidance on how to achieve it, and outlines the ideas and problems involved. Organized into thematic chapters, the authoritative text deals with all aspects of natural-style gardening, from prairies and meadows to water and sculpture.With stunning images by award-winning gardens photographer Nicola Browne, Natural Garden Style is essential for anyone wishing to take an ethical and sustainable approach to gardening and garden design. • A timely in-depth exploration of approaches to garden design that take their inspiration from nature • Includes a directory of natural-style gardens worldwide that are open to the public • Features a special section on creating and maintaining your own natural-style garden

All wristwatches are true ‘micromarvels’ of engineering, yet some models have such enduring appeal that they attract the attention of collectors, investors and regular wearers alike. Now available in paperback for the first time, Cult Watches is a lavishly illustrated account of the world’s most popular classic timepieces – the top 30 that have achieved cult status, from the Rolex Submariner and the Tissot Banana Watch to the Ingersoll Mickey Mouse watches and the ‘quartz revolution’ Swatches. Watch-industry expert Michael Balfour introduces the great watchmaking innovators, sets their horological masterpieces in context and discusses their legacies.With future contenders for the status of cult watch also considered, this is a lively and informative history of some of the most sought-after and desirable watches ever produced. • The first book devoted to the wristwatches with the most dedicated following • Each model and its brand is profusely illustrated with both historical and contemporary images, for ready reference • An elegantly produced book that will appeal to watch enthusiasts, collectors and investors worldwide

The perfect companion to Merrell’s bestselling Dream Homes and More Dream Homes (see pp. 19, 43 and 44), Dream Gardens is a stylish sourcebook of 100 modern and contemporary gardens from around the world. Now available in paperback for the first time, this critically acclaimed volume presents an array of wonderful locations and garden-design ideas, from small, sophisticated, minimalist city gardens to large, richly planted gardens in breathtaking rural locations. Each garden is beautifully photographed to show all its key features and essential details, while concise descriptions explore the aims and achievements of some of today’s most influential garden designers.With full captions identifying the plants depicted, Dream Gardens is a valuable source of information and inspiration. • The definitive sourcebook of modern and contemporary gardens of all styles from across the globe, presenting a wealth of locations and design ideas • Features the work of such renowned designers as Terence Conran, Penelope Hobhouse, Piet Oudolf and Dan Pearson • Profusely illustrated, and written in a lively and informative style

A sourcebook of contemporary private houses of all styles in all parts of the world. Packed with 800 photographs by many of the most respected architectural photographers working today.

Now in an unabridged compact edition, this beautifully presented book gathers together more than 50 of the most significant British cars designed between 1907 and the present. With an introduction describing the often tortuous story of British motoring and its great brands, a succinct description of each cars history, design and performance, and unparalleled images by one of the worlds foremost car photographers, this book is an authoritative tribute to the nation that gave the world the sports car.

Of all mans fellow-creatures, the horse, with its inherent grace, intelligence and courage, has inspired the strongest feelings of empathy an affinity reflected in more than 30,000 years of artistic representation. This unabridged compact edition of Tamsin Pickerals stunning history of the horse in art documents the creative journey from prehistoric cave painting to the war horses of Uccello, the elegant portraits of Stubbs and the enigmatic prints of Elisabeth Frink. Profusely illustrated throughout, the book sheds particular light on mans relationship with the horse, and on the story of equine evolution from the stocky primitive to todays glamorous thoroughbred.

An essential guide to sustainable building, decorating materials and techniques. Features thirty case studies from around the world.

As all book lovers know, a collection of books affords not only access to endless pleasure and knowledge, but also, when skillfully displayed around the home, the opportunity to create a myriad of different impressions. In this beautifully illustrated guide, self-confessed bibliophile Leslie Geddes-Brown offers inspirational solutions and practical tips on how to make the most of books in every room and forgotten nook of the house. A dazzling array of photographs shows how books can transform any room into an alluring and magical place.

Celebrates the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg by exploring the role fo the Romanov dynasty as collectors of fine and decorative arts. Explores in particular the historic role of St Petersburg as Russia's window to the West, and features the great masterworks of western European art collected by Romanovtsars.

Situated beside the River Thames south-west of London, Hampton Court Palace was a centre of court life in England from 1529 to 1737 and remains one of the finest palaces in Europe. The Official Illustrated History celebrates this intriguing architectural ensemble, including the palace's original sixteenth-century building of Henry VIII's reign. It features full coverage of the famous formal gardens and also reveals the lifestyles of monarchs, mistresses and courtiers. Includes full coverage of Hampton Court's famous and everpopular formal gardens, a precious survival of gardening 300 years ago In the same series as Merrell's highly popular official illustrated histories of the Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace

This brand new title in the definitive «Car Design Yearbook» series features all the new cars launched worldwide from April 2006 to March 2007. Also included are profiles of the industry's leading designers, a full technical glossary and a list of all the motor shows in the year ahead. For the sixth yearbook, Stephen Newbury also considers 'ecologically friendly' developments in how cars function, and explores the importance of glass in contemporary vehicle design, including photovoltaic glass, glass bending capabilities and UV reflection characteristics. «The Car Design Yearbook» remains the only annual reference available to all the latest trends in car design worldwide. It features over 120 cars, clearly organized A-Z, from mass-market brands to high-performance models. Over 550 stunning photographs and original renderings show exterior and interior styling, engine layouts and significant details. It includes key performance and technical data provided for each car, plus a review of the car's main stylistic features and innovations. It offers a unique and detailed reference for all car and design enthusiasts.

Kew Palace, which stands in the world-famous Royal Botonic Gardens in south-west London, is Britain's smallest royal palace and the third building to bear that name. Built in 1631 as a merchant's house, it later became the home of George III. Queen Charlotte and their large family, and a private place of recuperation for the so-called 'mad' king during his illness. Around the palace, the eighteenth-century royal pleasure grounds gradually evolved into the world's centre for botanical study, shaped by Charles Bridgeman, 'Capability' Brown and others and adorned with important garden buildings by William Chambers.

This is the 3, entirely new edition of the phenomenally successful annual guide to all the new production and concept cars unveiled during the twelve months prior to the book's publication.

World Graphic Design is the first-ever survey of contemporary graphic design and designers outside the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, North America and Australasia. Organized into four main geographical regions or cultural zones — Africa, the Far East, Latin America and the Middle East — and then alphabetically by country and designer/studio within each zone, it focuses on the work being carried out today within the most popular genres of graphic design: posters, book and album covers, packaging and promotion. As graphic design in the developed world becomes increasingly focused on the same small pantheon of designers and the same canonical approaches, World Graphic Design seeks to expose it to the energy, vitality and diversity of a vast body of work that has long co-existed alongside it, but that has hitherto been all but ignored. It is a deliberate attempt to do for graphic design what has been achieved for world music. With an informative critical profile and full contact details of each designer and studio, and more than a dozen illustrated examples of their recent output, World Graphic Design is a ground-breaking survey and an essential reference for anyone involved in graphic design worldwide.

Exquisitely decorated porcelain eggs were produced by the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St Petersburg, and were presented by the Imperial family to their courtiers at Easter. hese eggs have become much-prized collectors’ items, and Russian Imperial Porcelain Easter Eggs, illustrated throughout in stunning colour, is the first survey in English of the subject, the definitive reference work for collectors, historians and Russia enthusiasts.

As dogs crossed the threshold and curled up on the hearthrug of our homes, so in art they leapt from the margins to the centre of paintings. Symbolic, statuesque or sentimental, the developing portrayal of “man’s best friend” in visual art is a fascinating tale. Beautiful reproductions range from the earliest African rock paintings to the work of contemporary artists, bringing delight to art-lovers and dog-lovers alike.

Few names in the automobile industry evoke as much glamour as Ferrari. From its inception as a motor racing team in the late 1920s to its position today as one of the world’s leading car manufacturers, Ferrari has produced some of the most alluring and iconic machines ever to grace both the racetrack and the road. Ferrari Legends presents 40 of the most remarkable and significant Ferraris from the marque’s history. Featuring an engaging study of the company’s origins and development, concise descriptions of each car’s background, design and performance, and unrivalled images by one of the world’s foremost car photographers, this book is a spectacular celebration of the passion and brilliance behind this coveted marque.

In the late 1950s, throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, such artists as Margaret Keane, Gig and Maio created a new kind of mass-produced art known as ‘big eye’. Now big-eye art has undergone a major revival, but with a twist: the wide-eyed, endearing waifs of the earlier movement have transformed into fairies, mermaids, demons and myriad otherworldly beings, including the famous ‘Blythe’ doll. This extraordinary book showcases the dazzling works of over 20 of today’s most significant big-eye artists, offering an insight into a fantastical, sometimes bizarre, metaphysical world. • A fascinating introduction to a cult art form, providing biographies of the featured artists, contact details and website addresses • Includes over 150 captivating images of the work of more than 20 big-eye practitioners, among them Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Lisa Petrucci and Misha • Will appeal to collectors of big-eye and Japanese anime and manga art and dolls, fans of fantasy and Gothic culture, and anyone interested in pop culture

The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) is one of the most famous artists of all time. However, while much has been written about Kahlo’s striking self-portraits (of which some 80 are known), her still-life paintings (of which 40 or so are documented) have not been subjected to such close scrutiny until now. In this groundbreaking study, noted Kahlo scholar Salomon Grimberg explores in detail and interprets all of the artist’s still lifes, including some that have come to light only recently. Offering provocative new perspectives on Kahlo’s creative process, and revealing how the still lifes reflected her internal reality and complement her self-portraits, this book represents an indispensable contribution to the literature on an enduringly popular artist. • The only complete study of Kahlo’s still lifes, indispensable to understanding the artist, her internal reality and her work • Offers original interpretations by a leading authority on Kahlo • Includes stunning reproductions of every known still life painted by Kahlo, as well as other relevant works and photographs

From Eltham and Greenwich to the east of the capital and the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall and Westminster in the centre to Hampton Court and Kew to the west, London's magnificent royal palaces, past and present, have always been places of beauty and power. Some remain working institutions and living homes; others have acquired new functions as show houses of history and art; all have remarkable tales to tell. Sumptuously illustrated throughout. The Royal Palaces of London is the first major survey to bring together the stories of these buildings and the characters, events and art that have filled their grand spaces and intimate corners from the Norman Conquest to modern times.

In the early twentieth century Zaida Ben-Yusuf (1869–1933) was one of the busiest photographers in New York City, maintaining a fashionable studio on Fifth Avenue, exhibiting her distinctly modern portraits across America, Europe and Russia, and publishing work in many magazines. Her self-portraits also challenged traditional perceptions of female identity. This striking book celebrates Ben-Yusuf’s achievement, showcasing a significant selection of her elegant and compelling portraits featuring prominent artistic and political figures of the day. • Brings together much new information about the remarkable life and career of this pioneering woman photographer • Features a revelatory collection of portraits representing a ‘Who’s Who’ of America in the early twentieth century, including Lincoln Steffens, Edith Wharton, Elsie de Wolfe and Robert Henri • An insightful text investigates groundbreaking aesthetic and social changes in the field of photographic portraiture

Famed for their high-concept catwalk shows and extravagant collections, the radical Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf have taken the fashion world by storm over the last 15 years. This sumptuously produced book is the most comprehensive exploration of Viktor & Rolf’s work to date, and includes an essay by the fashion historian Caroline Evans, an interview with the designers, a detailed biography and perceptive texts on each collection. Particular attention is given to signature looks from such collections as Atomic Bomb and Russian Doll, which showcase the duo’s unique blend of cool irony and surreal beauty. Featuring style shots by some of the world’s most celebrated photographers, catwalk images, behind-the-scenes snapshots and portraits, The House of Viktor & Rolf is a stunning tribute to two of the most original designers in haute couture. • The first major overview of the 15-year career of the avant-garde fashion designers • Includes 200 captivating images by such renowned photographers as Herb Ritts, Juergen Teller and Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin