BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Gothic Art
English Gothic Churches: the Story of their Architecture. By Charles W. Budden, M. A., M. D. Pp. ix + 143. (London: B. T. Batsford, Ltd. ) Price 7s. 6d. net.
The raison-d’être of this little work lies in the development of road transport, which makes it possible to get about the country with ease and comfort, and so to visit many fine specimens of Gothic architecture in the shape of churches nestling about the countryside. Dr. Budden’s book is not, however, a guide book, but aims at a lucid exposition of the principles of Gothic design and its progression through the centuries, and the illustrations are selected rather to give point to his explanation than as specially fine examples of Gothic building for the enterprising motorist to look up, although, incidentally, they may serve that purpose. For the layman who wants to get a grasp of the Gothic art, and an understanding of what he may encounter on his travels, this treatise should be particularly valuable; and the professional student will have no cause to disdain its help.
English Gothic Foliage Sculpture. By Samuel Gardner. Pp. xvi + 56. 112 Photographic plates. (Cambridge: The University Press. ) Price 7s. 6d. net.
A very useful pocket companion for Dr. Budden’s book of Gothic principles will be this volume of Mr. Gardner on the Gothic sculpture, a subject which he, and his son, Mr. Arthur Gardner, who furnishes about a quarter of, the plates for this work, have made peculiarly their own. This book, however, is more of a direct guide, for it leads one to very fine existing examples of the foliage carving of the Gothic craftsmen, and this lucid exposition of the development of their work should assuredly, as the author intends, help visitors to our old churches to a better appreciation of beauties that they might otherwise often overlook. To the architectural student the work should be particularly useful.
Examinationis in Art
The results of the Board of Education Examinations in Art, held in May and June this year, have now been published. Of 341 candidates examined in Drawing, 151 passed; in Painting, 24 passed out of 42 candidates, three with distinction; in Modelling, 2 passed out of 3 examined; in Pictorial Design, 25 passed out of 51 candidates; in Industrial Art (Part 1), 181 were successful out of 256, and in Industrial Art (Part II), 108 out of 189. The lists of successful candidates, awards, examiners’ reports and examination papers are included in the report which is published by H. M. Stationery Office, price 1s. net.
British Standard Specifications
No. 302, 1927. Round Strand Steel Wire Ropes for Cranes. Price 2s., post free. Nos. 304, 305 and 306, 1927, for Paints. Price 2s. 2d. each, post free. From the British Engineering Standards Association, 28 Victoria Street, London, S. W. 1.
Of these further standard specifications that have come to hand, No. 302 has been drawn up by a committee representative of both the buying and manufacturing interests, whose recommendations for the guidance of designers and users will, it is believed, ensure reasonable endurance in service of wire ropes of the types and kind covered by the specification.
The specification lays down sizes for drums and pulleys of cranes in relation to ropes of given construction and diameter, calculated on tensile breaking strength of the wire and speed of operation. Nos. 304 B. S. S. for Brunswick or Chrome Green Oil Paste. No. 305 B. S. S. for Indian Reds (pale, middle and deep), and No. 306 B. S. S. for Black Oxide of Iron, continue the series of specifications for paints, of which previous specimens have already been noticed in these columns.
Ancient Monuments
National Ancient Monuments Year Book. Illustrated. With Foreword by the Prime Minister and Introduction by the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres.
Edited by John Swarbrick, F. R. I. B. A. London: The Wykeham Press Agents — John Tirante & Co., 13 Maple Street, Tottenham Court Road, W. 1. Price 3s. 6d. net.
This is an exceedingly useful publication, which will be welcomed by all antiquarians, archæologists and others interested in our legacy of. important historical buildings, etc. It brings under one cover a mass of information in regard to this subject, including the lists of scheduled ancient monuments in the United Kingdom, the names of the various boards dealing with them, lists of societies, with their presidents and secretaries, interested in the preservation of ancient structures; also a section of advice to owners of old buildings on preservation measures, etc. It should be valuable as a work of reference.
Overseas Trade
Overseas Trade Economic Reports. Department of Overseas Trade. (1) Report on Economic Conditions in the United States of America,
May-June, 1927. 3s. net. (2) Report on Economic and Financial Conditions in Germany, to July, 1927. 3s. 6d. net. London: H. M. Stationery Office.
The reports of the D. O. T. on the economic conditions obtaining in various countries are of great interest and value, deserving more extended notice than can be afforded in these pages. The Building Industry in the U. S. A. appears to be flourishing, although compared with 1926, which was a peak year, the present year shows a drop. The average monthly value of building contracts awarded in the 36 principal States during 1926 was 512. 8 million dollars, and the monthly average from January to May inclusive 503. 6 million dollars. For the same months this year, the monthly average was 496. 6 million dollars. Building wages have risen 3 points this year, the relative figure being now 229, compared with 100 in 1913, and 182 in 1922. In spite of this, inclusive building costs had fallen in April to 191, compared with the relative figure of 194 in January last, 195 in 1926, 174 in 1922 and 100 in 1913.
The Booklet on German conditions does not deal with the building trade as a separate industry, and the Report, though it surveys a number of the principal industries, really resolves itself into a general consideration of conditions since the war. Wages generally showed a very slight increase last year, and the index figure for December, 1926, was for skilled workers, 141, and, for unskilled, 166, compared with 100 for 1913.
Book Received
Roses, Marjoram and Nettles. By Adelaide L. J.
Gosset. (Methuen & Co., Ltd. ) Price 5s. net.
Gothic Art
English Gothic Churches: the Story of their Architecture. By Charles W. Budden, M. A., M. D. Pp. ix + 143. (London: B. T. Batsford, Ltd. ) Price 7s. 6d. net.
The raison-d’être of this little work lies in the development of road transport, which makes it possible to get about the country with ease and comfort, and so to visit many fine specimens of Gothic architecture in the shape of churches nestling about the countryside. Dr. Budden’s book is not, however, a guide book, but aims at a lucid exposition of the principles of Gothic design and its progression through the centuries, and the illustrations are selected rather to give point to his explanation than as specially fine examples of Gothic building for the enterprising motorist to look up, although, incidentally, they may serve that purpose. For the layman who wants to get a grasp of the Gothic art, and an understanding of what he may encounter on his travels, this treatise should be particularly valuable; and the professional student will have no cause to disdain its help.
English Gothic Foliage Sculpture. By Samuel Gardner. Pp. xvi + 56. 112 Photographic plates. (Cambridge: The University Press. ) Price 7s. 6d. net.
A very useful pocket companion for Dr. Budden’s book of Gothic principles will be this volume of Mr. Gardner on the Gothic sculpture, a subject which he, and his son, Mr. Arthur Gardner, who furnishes about a quarter of, the plates for this work, have made peculiarly their own. This book, however, is more of a direct guide, for it leads one to very fine existing examples of the foliage carving of the Gothic craftsmen, and this lucid exposition of the development of their work should assuredly, as the author intends, help visitors to our old churches to a better appreciation of beauties that they might otherwise often overlook. To the architectural student the work should be particularly useful.
Examinationis in Art
The results of the Board of Education Examinations in Art, held in May and June this year, have now been published. Of 341 candidates examined in Drawing, 151 passed; in Painting, 24 passed out of 42 candidates, three with distinction; in Modelling, 2 passed out of 3 examined; in Pictorial Design, 25 passed out of 51 candidates; in Industrial Art (Part 1), 181 were successful out of 256, and in Industrial Art (Part II), 108 out of 189. The lists of successful candidates, awards, examiners’ reports and examination papers are included in the report which is published by H. M. Stationery Office, price 1s. net.
British Standard Specifications
No. 302, 1927. Round Strand Steel Wire Ropes for Cranes. Price 2s., post free. Nos. 304, 305 and 306, 1927, for Paints. Price 2s. 2d. each, post free. From the British Engineering Standards Association, 28 Victoria Street, London, S. W. 1.
Of these further standard specifications that have come to hand, No. 302 has been drawn up by a committee representative of both the buying and manufacturing interests, whose recommendations for the guidance of designers and users will, it is believed, ensure reasonable endurance in service of wire ropes of the types and kind covered by the specification.
The specification lays down sizes for drums and pulleys of cranes in relation to ropes of given construction and diameter, calculated on tensile breaking strength of the wire and speed of operation. Nos. 304 B. S. S. for Brunswick or Chrome Green Oil Paste. No. 305 B. S. S. for Indian Reds (pale, middle and deep), and No. 306 B. S. S. for Black Oxide of Iron, continue the series of specifications for paints, of which previous specimens have already been noticed in these columns.
Ancient Monuments
National Ancient Monuments Year Book. Illustrated. With Foreword by the Prime Minister and Introduction by the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres.
Edited by John Swarbrick, F. R. I. B. A. London: The Wykeham Press Agents — John Tirante & Co., 13 Maple Street, Tottenham Court Road, W. 1. Price 3s. 6d. net.
This is an exceedingly useful publication, which will be welcomed by all antiquarians, archæologists and others interested in our legacy of. important historical buildings, etc. It brings under one cover a mass of information in regard to this subject, including the lists of scheduled ancient monuments in the United Kingdom, the names of the various boards dealing with them, lists of societies, with their presidents and secretaries, interested in the preservation of ancient structures; also a section of advice to owners of old buildings on preservation measures, etc. It should be valuable as a work of reference.
Overseas Trade
Overseas Trade Economic Reports. Department of Overseas Trade. (1) Report on Economic Conditions in the United States of America,
May-June, 1927. 3s. net. (2) Report on Economic and Financial Conditions in Germany, to July, 1927. 3s. 6d. net. London: H. M. Stationery Office.
The reports of the D. O. T. on the economic conditions obtaining in various countries are of great interest and value, deserving more extended notice than can be afforded in these pages. The Building Industry in the U. S. A. appears to be flourishing, although compared with 1926, which was a peak year, the present year shows a drop. The average monthly value of building contracts awarded in the 36 principal States during 1926 was 512. 8 million dollars, and the monthly average from January to May inclusive 503. 6 million dollars. For the same months this year, the monthly average was 496. 6 million dollars. Building wages have risen 3 points this year, the relative figure being now 229, compared with 100 in 1913, and 182 in 1922. In spite of this, inclusive building costs had fallen in April to 191, compared with the relative figure of 194 in January last, 195 in 1926, 174 in 1922 and 100 in 1913.
The Booklet on German conditions does not deal with the building trade as a separate industry, and the Report, though it surveys a number of the principal industries, really resolves itself into a general consideration of conditions since the war. Wages generally showed a very slight increase last year, and the index figure for December, 1926, was for skilled workers, 141, and, for unskilled, 166, compared with 100 for 1913.
Book Received
Roses, Marjoram and Nettles. By Adelaide L. J.
Gosset. (Methuen & Co., Ltd. ) Price 5s. net.