Owen Jones classic The Grammar of Ornament is online. The 1910 edition is provided free by the Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture
Another gem from the same collection of e books also by Owen Jones is the 1867 edition of Examples of Chinese ornament selected from objects in the South Kensington Museum and other collections. Page after page is houses enough design inspiration to keep you busy for the next year.
I warn you need a couple of hours on this site to browse and discover what is on offer.
another fabulous resource! Thanks Sharon, and get well soon.
My nephew gave me a copy of this book a couple of years ago. In paperback of course. I have had a great time looking at it and was amazed when I realized it had been originally printed in the 1800’s.
Doni
Sharon, thanks so much for the link, so much to see and read, I love that Rene
Thank you for these links! They are just great!!!
I made another discovery that I wanted to share (if you don’t know it already ;o)
http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/embroiderypubs.htm
a lot of patterns and history…
Er, that should have said “cool”, not “col” 😛
A very col find 🙂
They are some of the first books I bought when I was at art college in Sydney in the (very) late 80’s
WOW! What a GREAT find!! TORTURE TORTURE…you may not hear from me for months now!! Thanks bunches, Sharon!