American Lighting: 1840-1940 [Hardcover]

Nadja Maril (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2007

A revolution in lighting took place in the last part of the nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth century. Nadja Maril explores the dramatic changes in lighting technology and form in this amply illustrated, informative volume. Using color photographs and rare catalog material, American Lighting concentrates on domestic lighting, making it an important work for home restorers and decorators seeking to capture an authentic look in their homes. The informative text and history of the American lighting industry makes it a welcome, valuable addition to the literature for historians, collectors, and others, interested in the development of American design and technology.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nadja Maril and her husband, Cyril Patrick, are well-known dealers and authorities in antique lighting, living in Annapolis, Md.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0887408796
• ISBN-13: 978-0887408793
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars American lighting - Maril's weak history of lighting, July 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American Lighting: 1840-1940 (Hardcover)

Ms. Maril's late husband left her a hodgepodge collection of light fixtures. She has tried to mold this collection into a history of lighting. Unfortunately a book of photographs and some old catalogue pages do not a history make. Ms. Maril needs to move beyond her limited collection and give us a real history. For some time the author has written a column on antique lighting for Victorian Home magazine. Unfortunately the column suffers from the same weaknesses as the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It has a valued place on my shelf!, May 31, 2001

By 

Dennis Hearn (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Lighting: 1840-1940 (Hardcover)

I really like this book as a general reference. Great visuals and wonderful aesthetic. Great definition of "Fluid Lamps". Using color photographs and rare catalog material, this book concentrates on domestic lighting, making this an important book for home restorers and decorators seeking to capture an authentic look in their homes. The informative text and history of the American lighting industry makes it a welcome, valuable addition to the libraries of historians, collectors, and others interested in the development of American design and technology. Advanced researchers may express disappointed but for a general overview you'll want it for your library. It has a welcomed place on my shelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview of the History of Lighting, April 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: American Lighting: 1840-1940 (Hardcover)

Filled with beautiful photographs and catalogue pictures, this lovely hardback book is packed with useful information about antique lighting in the United States. Focusing on lighting for domestic household use, Ms. Maril skillfully explains how the evolution in technology of producing light, influenced the development of lighting styles.
Although the current price guide should be updated and the quality of some of the catalogue reproduction could be improved, this is the best reference book available on the sibject. I highly recommend purchasing this book for your library.