Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-29-2004 09:27 PM            

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I am probably preaching to the pulpit... I have bought the Yale University Press printing of Myer Myers by David Barquist. I was reluctant to purchase it when it first came out due to cost and a tight economy.
My hats off to the quality of the catologue and the way the information is presented. I have just barely skimmed over the sumptuous photographs and the literature. The back of the book has images of each of the seperate marks on each of the items described. It is rare when you can compare marks side by side and see the variations on the same mark. The images of the pieces are clear and the observations are revealing. I expect to be reading this volume for weeks to come.
I would be interested in the comments of others in this group.

Fred

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Posts: 418
Registered: May 2003

posted 01-30-2004 11:39 PM            

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I agree FredZ - it is an exceptionally good book, and tells us about much more than just Myer Myers.

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Posts: 2920
Registered: May 2003

posted 02-01-2004 02:47 PM            

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I have had this book for a couple of years. As Fred has indicated it is beautifully presented. It includes 100 entries with photographs and descriptions of surviving examples of Myer's work. In addition to the biographical material there is also much information about the social context in which Myers lived and worked, including treatment of other individuals who had an in fluence on him. All in all it is a valuable reference for historians and students of American silver.

The one glaring omission I find is that the pioneering monograph on Myers, however they may have regarded it, written half a century ago by Jeanette Rosenbaum, is virtually ignored. Published research into the lives and works of historical figures has much bearing on how they are viewed as does their work itself, and is an important part of their overall history. There is only one entry for her name in the index, and that to a footnote (there are other footnoted citations as well). This earlier work, in addition to the biographical material presented, also catalogued 152 entries (written by Karhryn Buhler) of single or multiple items (36 of these being spoons), many of which were also treated in the later work. Without this foundation to provide a basis for their research, the task of the authors in compiling this volume would have been considerably greater. I find it incomprehensible that a prominent acknowledgement was not given in the introductory pages.

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Posts: 1070
Registered: Jun 99

posted 02-01-2004 08:34 PM            

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I too have noted that little mention was made of Rosenbaum's book. I spent a short time examining both books and was pleased to see the same pieces revisited. The images in the new book are understandably much clearer. I do not understand why they did not give more credit to the first monumental biography.

Fred

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