A beautifully illustrated collection of some of the finest examples of liturgical art and the culture that produced it, this medieval church treasury assesses the artistic techniques and methods, and places objects in the context of their practice and piety. Fliegel explores the origins from late antiquity and their ultimate disappearance as a result of the Reformation, French Revolution, and political upheavals of the early modern period. Reliquaries, censers, monstrances, chalices, patens and vestments, liturgical objects were usually crafted from precious metals such as silver, gilt-silver and gold to which costly gemstones, enamels, carved ivory plaques were often applied. They were often displayed only in a church sacristy, or a 'treasury', and important objects were displayed openly on or near the altar for all to see. The many books produced during the Middle Ages to celebrate the Mass were handmade and often costly to produce, decorated or illuminated with silver and gold leaf and colourful paint, these illuminated manuscripts were among the most prized possessions of any cathedral, parish church or monastery. Sometimes they were bound between bejewelled covers, befitting their function on the altar. Some of these great medieval treasuries have survived in situ in cities such as Venice, Hildesheim, Aachen, Trier and elsewhere. The medieval churchgoer would be overwhelmed by the sensory richness of the setting, the coloured light emanating from stained glass windows, the flickering lights from candles and the smell of incense and of course the crosses and chalices which dazzled and inspired the faithful in a world embellished with sculpture, icons and frescoes of God, the angels and saints. This is a rich treasury in a rare import of 108pp, 22.5 x 28.5cm.

The church steeple is the glory of the English landscape and for over a thousand years has evolved a grandeur and a beauty unrivalled in Europe. It is the icon of every parish. These exquisite line drawings celebrate some of the finest medieval buildings to survive, each parish church tower and spire a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of England in the Middle Ages. The 16 distinctive individual cards are blank for every occasion and printed on quality card and include St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, Ludlow Shropshire, Southwold Suffolk, Chipping Camden Gloucestershire and St Michael Coventry among them. Elegant, simple, 16 white envelopes and in a lidded box for safe keeping.

Sub-titled 'A Beginner's Guide to Zen Meditation', it is still possible to find stillness of mind even amidst our everyday activities. Beloved Zen master John Daido Loori shares the way of Zen meditation with easy-to-understand instructions, practical lessons and short but sweet titbits of useful information: 'One thing, all things, move among and intermingle without distinction...' The key is continuity and consistency, meditating for just ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night, and making an agreement with yourself to sit each day for a set period of time. This is when Zazen is best practiced, and if you wish, set up a little altar and hold your hands in the cosmic mudra with the active hand held palm up holding the inactive hand, mid knuckles overlapping and thumb tips touching lightly forming an oval frame. With every detail about positioning and centring the body, the head and hands, breathing and relaxation exercises and even walking meditation, it?s a perfect guide to home practice. 80 page illustrated paperback from Shambhala.

Martin Luther's Bible, first printed in 1534, was not only a milestone for the printing press, but also a momentous event in world history. A UNESCO world heritage masterpiece, Luther's translation from Hebrew and ancient Greek, very modern in vernacular and interpretation, into German made the Bible accessible to laypeople and gave printed reference to a whole new branch of Christian faith - Protestantism. In this meticulous two-volume reprint, Taschen presents a complete facsimile of the Luther Bible. Based on a precious copy of the original and printed in colour, it reveals the multilayered splendour of this publication, showcasing the meticulous script, elaborate initials and exquisite colour woodcuts from the workshop of Lucas Cranach. Careful attention has been paid to Cranach's elaborate ornaments, which are printed in colour and gold so as to be perfectly faithful to the original. In an accompanying booklet, Stephan Füssel, book scientist at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, adds his expertise to the publication with detailed descriptions of the illustrations, as well as an introduction providing an overview of Luther's life, a discussion of the significance of his bible, and detailed descriptions of the illustrations. Hardcover, two volumes with booklet in slipcase, 15.5 x 24.5cm, 3.02 kg, 1984 pages. UK delivery only. New from Taschen.

Officially entitled 'Manifesto of a Communist Party', an 1848 political manifesto by German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, this originally laid out the programme of the Communist League. It presents an analytical approach to the class struggle (historical and present) and the problems of capitalism and the capitalist mode of production, rather than a prediction of Communism's potential future forms. It contains their theories about the nature of society and politics, and briefly features ideas for how the capitalist society of the time would eventually be replaced by socialism, and then finally Communism. A bestselling classic that belongs in everyone's library, this beautifully designed illustrated edition includes an Introduction describing the pamphlet's enduring relevance to the tumultuous landscape of modern politics. English translation, with hundreds of colourful images. 160pp, 10.5 x 17.15cm.