Judith Miller : A Closer Look at Antiques
To the inexperienced, buying antiques can be about as stressful  as a trip to the dentist. How do you correctly identify antiques? How  can you spot the genuine article and not be fooled by a fake? What is  an appropriate price for the piece you want? InA Closer Look at  Antiques, Judith Miller answers all those questions, plus a few  more.Miller, cofounder of the popularMiller's Antiques Price Guideand whose previous books include the bestsellingMiller's Antiques Encyclopedia, begins with a handy guide to identifying  different styles--including Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Federal,  Regency, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, and  Modernist. She notes the characteristics that define each style and  offers detailed photographs to illustrate. The furniture timeline that  follows helps put it all into perspective.The rest of the book examines pieces in terms of styles, types, methods  for determining authenticity, and evolution throughout history. "The Story  of the Table," for instance, tells of the evolution of this ubiquitous  piece of furniture, from a plank of wood resting on a trestle that  served as a portable table in the Middle Ages through the 18th century's tripod  tables to the large central dining tables that served prosperous middle-class  families in the Victorian era. "Types of Chinese Ceramics" details the  Celadon, Wucai, Qingbai, Blanc-de-Chine, Famille Verte, Doucai,  Peachbloom, and Famille Rose ceramics found throughout China. Miller  details the period in which each type was made and the distinctive  characteristics of each.Miller devotes sections to each of the major categories of antiques-- furniture, ceramics, silver, and glass--making this a truly  comprehensive guide. Value codes are included for each of the antiques  featured, serving as a rough guide to what one can expect to pay for a  similar piece. A glossary of terms and an "A-Z of People and Places"  are exceptionally handy reference tools.--Robin Donovan