“Humble Masterpieces: Everyday Marvels of Design” is an insightful collection of design marvels from everyday life — from compact discs to chopsticks to Post-it notes — celebrated by a curator of MoMA’s Dept. of Architecture and Design. In this colorful visual feast, short and informative text descriptions accompany stunning photographs of 100 fantastic objects, detailing the little-known history of some of our favorite things.

Paperback, 209pp

HarperCollins Publishers, November 2005

ISBN-13: 9780060838317

Barnes & Noble online price: $17.60

Get This Book Now

SYNOPSIS

From the Publisher

An insightful collection of design marvels from everyday life, celebrated by a curator of MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design. Every day we use dozens of small objects, from Q-tips to paper clips. If they work well, chances are we don’t pay them much attention. Although modest in size and price, some of these objects are true masterpieces of the art of design.

In this colorful visual feast, Paola Antonelli portrays one hundred fabulous objects, from compact discs to LEGOs to chopsticks to Post-it notes. Short, informative text descriptions accompany stunning photographs of each object, detailing the little-known history of some of our favorite things. Did you know:

• That the fortune cookie is most definitely not Chinese in origin?
• That the first guitar picks were made from the shells of Atlantic hawksbill turtles?
• That M&M’s were used by soldiers going into battle who needed a quick pick-me-up (hence the durable candy shell that prevented melting)?
• That the amount of wire used to make Slinkys since 1943 could wrap around the earth 126 times?
• That Salvador Dal