Books about
Russia-

Her Arts, History and People

A selection of books and other materials from our stock about Russia,
Russians, Russian art, architecture, history, crafts and society.

Bubnova, E. Old Russian Faience. Moscow; Iskusstvo: 1973. A well illustrated study of all types of 18th-19th century Russian pottery, from fine to folk. The 122-page text is in both Russian and English, and there are English picture captions. The 40 color illustrations are big and beautiful. Over the last 20 years, this has been one of our most popular books on Russian ceramics. Hardcover. 9"x12", 187 pages, b/w and color illustrations; marks; dj. A fine copy in a lightly worn jacket. [03768] $125.00

Byelorussian Glassmaker's Art. np:1978. A survey of glass by modern glass artists from this region. With picture notes and brief biographies in English.  Hardcover.  8"x8", 162 pages, 145 color illustrations, dj. [16782] $45.00

DeJonge, Alex. The Life and Times of Grigorii Rasputin. New York; Coward, McCann and Geoghegan:1982. "Few historical figures have been as shrouded in myth and speculation as Grigorii Rasputin. 'Rasputin' is the story of an illiterate Siberian peasant who penetrated the very highest circles of the Romanov dynasty..."  Hardcover.  6.5"x9.5", 368 pages, b&w illustrations, dj. [28882] $25.00

Goberman, D. (Russian Guzul Potters) No place: 1972. A colorful, lively pictorial survey of this 19th and 20th century folk pottery which was made in a section of the Ukraine. The tiles, plates, jugs and other pieces all featured incised and brilliantly colored naive decorations of people and animals. Illustrated with 184 color plates, this book has a short English text which includes a background of the pottery and brief mention of some potters, as well as picture captions. Hardcover. 7.5"x9.5", 199 pages, 184 color plates and additional b/w illustrations; slipcased. A fine copy. [07250] $85.00

Howerton, Paul W. & Alexander Akhonin. Russian-English Glossary of Metallurgical and Metal-Working Terms. Cambridge; Center For International Studies, MIT: 1955. 1st Edition. "Since many significant contributions to science and technology are being made in Russia, anything that can be done to facilitate access to Russian materials should be useful to students and scholars. With the recently announced relaxation of Russian restrictions on the export of technical journals, the potential usefullness of aids such as this is further increased."   Softcover. 8.5"x11", 175 pages. A little light soil, but otherwise a nice copy. [00258] $125.00

Kaeima, Emaestera. "(Russian Pewter Work)" Moscow: 1995. A fine softcover catalog of Russian pewter work of the 16th-18th centuries, with many illustrations of objects as well as photos of 200 touchmarks and biographies of 250 makers. The entire volume is printed in Cyrillic, but then again, what else is there on Russian pewter? Softcover. 8"x11.5", 95 pages, b/w illustrations, near fine. [02496] $75.00

Lukomskij, Prof. G.K. Zarskoje Sselo. Innenraume und Mobel des Ehemals Kaiserlich Russischen Residenzschlosses. Berlin; Verlag fur Kunstwissenschaft: 1924. A good pictorial survey of the decorations and furnishings of the Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) palace in St. Petersburg. Much of the furniture was neo-classic, Biedermeier and Empire in style. Hardcover. 10”x12.5”, 112 pages, hundreds of b/w illustrations; blue cloth with gilt decorations; covers with moderate wear, hinges loosened, some soil. [07271] $125.00

Monuments of Siberia. Moscow:1974. This study includes many political and army monuments from the Soviet era, and nonetheless manages to be a compelling pictorial document. The dramatic Siberian sky looms large in many photos, and the bare, thick trees and overall feeling of chill are impossible to escape, yet as you pass through them the pictures begin to convey a feeling of warmth and beauty. There is dignity in almost every photo, and even tired Soviet granite-hewn cliches are seen anew. A moving book (despite itself? I'm not sure.) There is a very good selection of army-related memorial monuments, almost all of 20th century vintage.   Hardcover.  8.5"x9.5", 22 pages of Cyrillic text plus a 40 page insert which includes a summary and picture captions in English, French and German plus 385 b&w illustrations, dj; dj with a large chip at the spine head. [21561] $85.00

  Pelliot, Marianne. Verres Anciens. Paris; Editions G. van Oest:1929. A rather scarce and beautifully produced survey of outstanding 18th century European engraved and enameled glass, some of it Russian, from private collections. Duncan notes: "Describes glasses hidden in private collections; notably those of G. Moser-Millot; Alexander Popov; Zolonitzky; Madame Wannieck; Madame Felix Lemaire and Madame Lucien Sauphar; also glasses in the Museum Pierre Stchoukine, Moscow". The text includes an essay on Russian glass. This is followed by the 48 plates, each of which is fully described. An elegant collection of fine antique European decorated glass.   Hardcover.  10"x13", 153 pages plus 48 b&w plates. Original softcovers bound into a very handsome gilt-decorated quarter leather binding which is fairly new but done in an authentic 18th century style. A very handsome copy and binding. [16851] $550.00

Pelliot, Marianne. Verres Anciens. Paris; Editions G. van Oest:1929. A rather scarce and beautifully produced survey of outstanding 18th century European engraved and enameled glass, some of it Russian, from private collections. Duncan notes: "Describes glasses hidden in private collections; notably those of G. Moser-Millot; Alexander Popov; Zolonitzky; Madame Wannieck; Madame Felix Lemaire and Madame Lucien Sauphar; also glasses in the Museum Pierre Stchoukine, Moscow". The text includes an essay on Russian glass. This is followed by the 48 plates, each of which is fully described. An elegant collection of fine antique European decorated glass.   10"x13", 153 pages plus 48 b&w plates. Original softcovers. [16852] $400.00

Ross, Marvin C. Russian Porcelains. The Gardner, Iusupov, Batenin, Novyi, Popov, Kudinov, Sipiagin, Fomin, Safronov, Kiselev, Kornilov, Gulin, Khrapunov-Novyi, Sabanin, Miklashevskii, Guzhev, Ikonnikov, and Kuznetsov Factories. The Collections of Marjorie Merriweather Post. Norman; University of Oklahoma Press:1968. One of the most beautiful and informative studies of 18th and 19th century Russian porcelains, exclusive of those of the Imperial Factory. This study contains examples from a number of both important and lesser-known Russian manufactories, is illustrated with many clear photographs, and contains an extensive marks section. A highly recommended reference work.  Hardcover.  7"x10", 427 pages, 86 color and 144 b&w illustrations, 41 b&w illustrations of marks; dj. [15230] $300.00

Sjeklocha, Paul & Igor Mead. Unofficial Art in the Soviet Union. Berkeley; University of California Press:1967. The authors spent 8 months in the Soviet Union, touring with an American graphics-art exhibit. While there they made discreet, informal visits to the studios and homes of "unofficial" Russian artists, those working outside the mainstream of "approved" Soviet art. This book presents the work and lives of these artists, along with a short explanation of the Artists Union and the approved "socialist realist" school, which was itself much misunderstood in the West.  Hardcover.  7.5"x10", 213 pages, many b&w and color illustrations, slightly soiled dj with small tape repairs; white-out spot on endpaper. [21898] $65.00

Snowman, A. Kenneth. The Art of Carl Faberge. Boston Book and Art Shop: nd (1962). 2nd, enlarged edition. years before the First World War, was a consummate craftsman, a virtuoso artist in the design and production of exquisite objects. It was his good fortune and ours", comments the author of this magnificently illustrated study of his work, "that he was born into an age still able to afford him". A beautiful and comprehensive study, drawing on many public collections including those of the Kremlin and the British Royal Collection at Sandringham, and more interestingly, many fine private collections. A stunning pictorial survey with an informative, readable text. This is the 2nd edition, with additional color plates, and when working with Faberge, you really need those color plates... Hardcover. 7.5"x10", 186 pages, plus 84 color and 407 b/w illustrations, dj; jacket with some soil, a slightly worn but overall nice copy. [05322] $60.00

Sotheby Parke Bernet. Russian Works of Art. New York; Sotheby Parke Bernet: May 20th, 1976. Sale 3877. Includes icons, bronzes, porcelains, enamels, and Faberge, including the c.1913 Faberge silver model of the steamer 'Volga', which was in the Armand and Victor Hammer Collection before becoming the property of President Franklin Roosevelt and later passing to his son Elliot. Softcover. 9"x9", 276 lots, b/w and color illustrations; light wear. [05716] $20.00

Spasskii, Grigorii (Ivanovich). Antiquis Quibusdam Sculpturis et Inscriptionibus in Siberia Repertis. Petropoli; Typis N. Gretschii:1822. Grigorii Ivanovich Spasskii (d.1864) published several studies of ancient history and numismatics. This interesting treatise concerns cave paintings found in Siberia, and seems to have been his only publication to be written in Latin, not Russian. Spasskii seems to try to relate the hieroglyphs found there to those found in other parts of the world, an idea that has remained popular, even if still largely futile. 

10"x8", [iv] + 6 pages of text, plus 7 engraved plates; original paper covers featuring an oak-leaf border design and a central vignette of a bow and arrows. Covers somewhat worn, chipped along the edges and thumbed at the tips, front cover with some light staining, and the upper outer corner sheared off cleanly and reattached (lightly) with archival tape; contents with some soil and a little marginal browning; a slight stain on the title page and a much smaller one on the first text page; the book was folded once vertically and has a faint crease. Although not in fine condition, this is more than made up for by the survival of the interesting original decorated paper covers. OCLC lists one copy, at Harvard. [29597] $750.00

Click here to see our fully illustrated description

Voronov, N. & E. Rachuk. Soviet Glass. Leningrad; Aurora Art Publishers:1973.   Hardcover.   7.5"x11", 180 pages, profusely illustrated in b&w and color. [16880] $85.00

Home |*| Ordering |*| Our Books