Spiritually Moving: A Collection of American Folk Art Sculpture [Hardcover]

Thomas H. Geismar (Author), Harvey Kahn (Author), Ralph Sessions (Author), Dave Hoffman (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810963655 | ISBN-13: 978-0810963658 | Publication Date: September 1998 | Edition: Slipcase

This work presents a private collection of American folk art sculpture. Weather vanes are the focus of this collection of mostly 19th-century pieces, but included are ship's figureheads, decoys, and a painting of a stalking tiger, reproduced in a four-page gatefold. All the sculpture has been specially photographed for this book, with many pieces shown in double page spreads and from multiple perspectives. An illustrated catalogue includes descriptive captions and provenance, and this is repeated and provided loose in a plastic sleeve attached to the binding, ready to be removed and referred to alongside the plates. An introduction sets the collection and specific works in the context of American folk art history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Essentially a picture book, this sumptuous oversized volume arrives just in time for Christmas. Graphic designer Geismar and folk art collector Kahn have assembled an impressive selection of folk art sculpture from the David Teiger Collection. Weathervanes are the featured item, but there are also classic examples of mastheads, decoys, and freestanding sculpture. The book is high on visual impact, full of two-page spreads inviting close scrutiny. Everything is detailed, from the form and structure of these works of art to their surface texture and patina. The authors compress a lot of historical information into a small space, including the origins of weathervanes and bannerets. While this would not be useful as a guide to collecting folk-art sculpture, it is a wonderful survey of a 19th-century aesthetic. Many of these works have not been illustrated elsewhere, which along with the strong visual appeal makes this volume a fine addition to libraries with art or Americana collections.?Susan M. Olcott, Columbus Coll. of Art & Design, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Harry N Abrams; Slipcase edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810963655
• ISBN-13: 978-0810963658
• Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 12.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,017,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This exciting book is aptly named!, November 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spiritually Moving: A Collection of American Folk Art Sculpture (Hardcover)

As a collector of American Folk Art I always wondered what guided my purchases. Only now do I understand, through the collector's and the author's eyes, that I too have focused on the Spiritually Moving. Anyone who would like to view one of the finest private collections would appreciate adding this table top book to his/ her library.

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece, August 19, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spiritually Moving: A Collection of American Folk Art Sculpture (Hardcover)

Spritually Moving, a Collection of American Folk Sculpture, produced by Harvey Kahn and Tom Geismar accomplishes in one book what decades of collecting often never achieves. To blur the line between American Folk Art, Contemporary and Fine Art is the ultimate lesson.