Eva Zeisel [Hardcover]

Lucie Young (Author), Marisa Bartolucci (Author), Raul Cabra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2003 | Series: Compact Design Portfolio

Continuing to put great classic and contemporary design within everyones grasp, Chronicle Books proudly delivers the next four installments of the popular Compact Design Portfolio. Written by top design critics, these books cover modern masters whose work ranges from the cozily domestic to the aggressively avant-garde: Eva Zeisel, whose elegantly democratic housewares span a 70-year career; Ingo Maurer, who raises lamp and lighting design to a high art form; Gaetano Pesce, whose rejection of traditional good taste brought about revolutionary furniture design; and George Nelson, the impresario behind the Marshmallow sofa and other Herman Miller classics. Follow-ing the introductory essay, a visual gallery exhibits selections of the designers best work in photographs and sketches. Presented in an irresistible small format, this series encapsulates the life, work, and influence of the great designers of our time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Part of Chronicle's Compact Design Portfolio series, this small-format illustrated volume showcases the graceful, curvy Modernist ceramic pieces of Hungarian-born industrial designer Eva Zeisel (previous books in the series have highlighted the work of designers including Michael Graves, Richard Sapper and Eileen Gray). With a career spanning several continents and nearly eight decades, Ziesel has racked up honors-a solo show at MoMA, for example (the museum has 75 of her pieces in its permanent collection), a Schramberg street named for her-and survived harrowing experiences (accused of plotting to kill Stalin, she spent 16 months Russian prisons). From sweetly humble 1926 handmade "crinkle planters" to the popular 1946 "Town and Country" salt and pepper shakers, reminiscent of softened Brancusi sculptures-or Schmoo-to the lovely "Eva" pitcher sets she made in 2002 for a Brooklyn design team, Zeisel's ceramics are pleasing, warmly minimalist, often "zoomorphic" forms. She identifies her mission as "the playful search for beauty," and believes that "one has to learn not to take oneself too seriously, not to overly respect one's designs," since for every choice made, "there are always many more possibilities." A true and endlessly energetic artist, Zeisel is as interesting as her designs, and Young's snappy, economical essay disappoints only in that one wishes it were longer, since there is obviously so much more to be said about Zeisel's life and art.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Raul Cabra is the principal of Cabra Diseno, a San Francisco design firm.

Marisa Bartolucci is former executive editor of Metropolis magazine and the author of several critically acclaimed design books. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811834336
• ISBN-13: 978-0811834339
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved the book, August 24, 2005

By 

Janae E. (Lake in the Hills, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eva Zeisel (Hardcover)

The book was more informative of Eva's life and persectives on art than another I purchased at greater by twice the price! The photos were excellent and the pieces chosen for representation were all my favorites! The biography can't be passed over, for it is what has developed her into the admirable woman life and hardship has made her. I bought it to give to a close friend who is a potter, but now it's mine to keep! Janet

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Compact Editions should be labeled as such in the main title, August 24, 2010

By 

Emily Schroeder (Calgary) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eva Zeisel (Hardcover)

This is a compact edition of a great book. Don't order it since it is only the size of a CD case. The pictures are very small and if you are purchasing this book to appreciate the incredible artwork of Eva Zeisel, make sure that the seller isn't giving you the compact version.