Customer Reviews

Terra-Cotta Skyline: New York's Architectural Ornament

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Terra-Cotta Skyline provides the reader with a very competent overview of the history of architectural terra cotta, the base material and techniques, the companies involved, and the buildings themselves. The photographs of buildings are almost exclusively of New York City buildings, but the archive materials dealing with the history of the trade covers the country. I found this book to be a fine blend of information and illustration. The bibliography, partial listing of significant buildings in NYC, and the list of former companies are wonderfull source materials. My major complaint with the book is that it deals primarily with the history of the trade. I wish that more time had been spent with modern techniques, with more photographs of same. I do admit to being prejudiced however,as I am a finisher of terra cotta, working with one of the two remaining producers of this product in the USA. Perhaps current restoration/new buildings would be material for a another book. If Susan Tunick writes it, I would buy it, as she really knows her stuff.

This is a fantastic book on this historic building material. The author, Susan Tunick has provided the definitive work on this subject, covering all aspects of history, manufacturing and ultimately a gorgeous collection of photographs of terra cotta buildings.

From a book of this size and price, I expected more. Cervin Robinson's paperback book "Skyscraper Style" has better pictures of many same buildings. Too bad there isn't more info about terra-cotta across the country. Some of the best is out here in the Southwest. Just because most books are published in New York, do they mostly have to be about New York?

NICE CLEAN LIBRARY COPY, SENT IN A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME, PRICE WAS GREAT! THANKS.PAD