New Book on Gio Ponti

For anyone interested in twentieth-century design, Ugo La Pietra's new book Gio Ponti is an exciting must-have. Revealing the vast scope of Ponti's output, the book offers an account of a design practice that stretched from cars to furniture, and interiors to buildings. Arranged by decade, La Pietra's text gives a view into the changes and continuities that characterised 60 years of highly influential work.

Published by Rizzoli, Gio Ponti is a beautifully designed book; full of vividly-reproduced photographs, drawings, plans and architectural elevations. The publishers have also chosen their typography and typesetting with flair, with fantastic graphic design working to recall the mid-century aesthetic that the book's subject so brilliantly describes.

A real treat, this title has just arrived in stock and is available at only £45.00.

Valentine's suggestions..?

We're getting some more beautiful books coming in the shop now, and don't forget Valentine's day is only around the corner..!
There's a great new David Bailey book, 'Eye', which looks at all the creative types of the 20/21st century and Bailey photographs the likes of YSL, Warhol and many others in a refreshing and quite indifferent way. The book is also sporting Damien Hirst cover art, which is an added bonus for Hirst fans.
There's a gorgeous, large-format luxury jewellery book, 'Jewels Today', relating to an exhibition at the State Museum of Applied Arts and Design in Munich on jeweller Stefan Hemmerle. If you can't afford to buy the real thing, this book is just as beautiful and a fraction of the price.
For more information on the books mention, please call 020 7730 4235 or email shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk

January sale now on ALL categories of art and design titles...

This is the time to treat yourself to that book you wanted before Christmas but never got, as we've got a great selection of sale stock, from ALL categories of our art and design books. Some highlights include a fabulous compendium of Sonia Rykiel's work from £55 down to £39 and the beautiful out of print Jane Grigson's Fruit Book from £65 to £45. We also have some Beta Plus titles on sale down from £40 to £30 and gorgeous photography titles such as Atget, Snowdon and Doisneau. Unlike most sales, this isn't ex-Christmas stock, so come in and grab a real bargain!
Email the shop at shop@pottertonbookslondon.co.uk and request our online mailout of sale highlights or call us on 020 7730 4235.

Happy New Year..!

Now we are into a new year, we hope you all had a very merry Christmas and are looking forward to 2010! We have some excellent books in the shop at the moment, which we hope shall ease the displeasure of going back to work once more - the new Gio Ponti book is especially fab, which is a very thorough reference of his work. In the shop we also have a limited selection of artworks available by artist Mark Hearld and toy theatre maker Horatio Blood. If you haven't had the chance to come in and see them due to the chaos that is Christmas, now would be the perfect time to see these magnificent pieces. There is also a list of works on our website with images, perfect for looking in the comfort of your own home, out of the cold!

Click here to see a list of available works

Only 5 days to go!

The shop is busy with cheerful customers and with the Christmas tunes on loop- I’m beginning to feel in a festive mood. There’s been a steady stream of boxes to unpack full of exciting new books and beautiful glass bowls in pale jewel-like colours and even more parcels to wrap up again in time for the Christmas post.

In amongst the books, Horatio Blood’s toy theatres contribute a sense of old fashioned Christmas cheer, their bright colours and exuberant characters conjuring up a spirit of fireside fun and jolly times. Beautifully detailed and complete with scenery and characters, from the fashionable couples in the front row, to the double bass player in the orchestral pit, these traditional toys will provide hours of fun and endless possibilities. So gather the family together and let the show begin!

Lovely new prints by Jenny Capon in store...

We have some beautiful and very sweet illustrations in the shop by artist Jenny Capon, which are fine giclee prints. Jenny is a freelance artist and illustrator living and working in London. She has recently completed an MA in Illustration at Camberwell College of Art and she makes pictures for children and grown ups that feature a collection of creatures and imagery from in and around London. Her series of birds are especially lovely, featuring different areas of London (see right).
They are reasonably priced at around £45-£60 and would make really great Christmas presents too!

Maharajas' Jewels

I read this after visiting the V&A's current Maharajas exhibition. The book is an amazing companion to the show - a very lavish illustrated account of the Maharajas and their jewels, from the fifteenth century onwards. Full of photographs of incredible pieces of jewelery, it also showcases contemporary portrait painting, interiors, and nineteenth-century photography. A fascinating and rich account of this very interesting history.