Catalogue of the Andrew Alpern Collection of Drawing Instruments - Hardcover

Avery Architectural And Fine Arts Library

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0978903730 ISBN 13: 9780978903732

Publisher: Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, 2010

Synopsis

This elegant volume documents three hundred years of exquisite drawing tools, richly photographed and described, for architects, draftsmen, and engineers.

Crafted in silver, ivory, steel, and brass, the instrument sets catalogued here range from small silver-mounted tortoiseshell pocket étuis to multitiered mahogany cases housing every professional aid imaginable. Computers have supplanted their manufacture and use, yet these exquisite traditional instruments are still fully functional. 225 color photographs

About this title

About the Author:

Andrew Alpern is an architectural historian, an architect, and an attorney who is a native New Yorker with a life-long habit of walking the city and documenting its architectural oddities. He is an expert on historic apartment houses in New York, and his credentials include nine published books and scores of published articles about historical architecture and particular buildings.He practices law as in-house counsel to a small financial asset management firm.
James F. O'Gorman, professor emeritus Wellesley College Department of Art, is widely acclaimed as a prolific author, lecturer, editor, consultant, and historian. He is best known for his works on H.H. Richardson and the recent monograph on Henry Austin. O'Gorman has written extensively about architectural drawings for exhibitions in Portland, Wellesley, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Carole Ann Fabian is the director of the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library. For many years as an architectural design professional, she became intimately familiar with drawing instruments such as those in this catalogue, and used them as extensions of her hands, just as she now uses a mouse.

Review:

“An extremely handsome book crammed with photographs of architectural tools of earlier eras....will light up the eyes of steampunk devotees everywhere.” (The New York Times)

“[T]here’s great beauty in these pages, and a sensuality of means that bears appreciation. This book will prove encouraging and even essential to anyone who seeks to understand how architectural practice landed where it is today.” (The Architects Newspaper)

“Modern day architects and engineers accustomed to the computer mouse will gain new perspective when exposed to the Catalogue of the Andrew Alpern Collection of Drawing Instruments. While the tools are eloquently described for architects, draftsmen, and engineers, the photographs almost speak louder than the text, with breath-taking color photographs that highlight the details of the exquisite metals and luxurious cases. Although modern technology has made possible some of today’s most prized architecture, this catalogue allows us to thoroughly appreciate the past.” (Zoe Namerow - Contract Magazine's "Talk Contract" blog)

About this edition

• Publisher: Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0978903730
• ISBN 13: 9780978903732
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160