Product Description

This book celebrates Charles Horner in many ways. The richness and diversity of Horner products are beautifully illustrated and throughly researched; the inventiveness of the Horner firm, the social history of the period and the character of Charles Horner are also discussed ina chapter dedicated to Horner's life. Employees tell their story through oral history extracts while the initiative of managers is conveyed in the detail of the patents lodged and a broad history of the firm itself. Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco style enthusiasts will discover in this inspired book the wealth of numerous Horner products and can enjoy the revealing company pattern and price books that accompany them. Thimble collectors will be pleased to find that this work features a chapter that was specially commissioned from Norma Spicer - acknowledged as a leading authority in the field. Paul Atterbury states in his foreword: 'In design terms, Charles Horner was clearly not a Tiffany, a Lalique, a Cartier or a Knox but pradoxically therein lies the importance of the book. It is all too easy to qrite about great names and famous designers for they stand on their own, far harder to bring to life, and record for posterity the more mundane existence ofa commercial manufacturer whose products reflect the actuality of the marketplace. Collectors are easily seduced by names, and books about names. By documenting so assiduously the story of Charles Horner, Tom Lawson has given a permanent galaxy to a name that hitherto had little substance'.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171195 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

well illustrated
This is a very well illustrated and researched book, full of luscious images. It's not in any way a theoretical text, but is a highly desirable item for any collector.

Charles Horner of Halifax
A very imformative book that you can go back to time and time again.Pages full of pictures of products ranging from brooches to buttons,hatpins,thimbles etc.
The historical imformation charting Horners early years and the pictures showing the workers at work also make for a fascinating read.