Review by Choice Review
Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia, this book highlights 92 pieces of recent Italian silver, all of which are illustrated in large (though unfortunately sometimes grainy) color plates. The text provides a brief survey of the history of Italian silversmithing since antiquity and an excellent synopsis of developments in silver design over the past 30 years. During this period, the Italian silver industry drew international attention for its collaboration with prominent architects in the design of products. Czernis-Ryl emphasizes the importance of the San Lorenzo, De Vecchi, and Alchimia studios in the 1970s and the Memphis group in the 1980s. The latter, founded by Ettore Sottsass Jr. as a cooperative with an international orientation, played a central role in the establishment of postmodern design. A number of Memphis group pieces, designed by international architects such as Michael Graves, Robert Venturi, Charles Jencks, Hans Hollein, Kazumasa Yamashita, and Aldo Rossi, are illustrated in the text. An excellent introduction to recent Italian silver and a good supplement to more extensive studies of tendencies in international design since the 1980s. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels. G. R. Brown Kansas State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
