As the golden face of Tutankhamun was found garlanded with fresh flowers exquisitely preserved for 3,000 years, the plants of ancient Egypt are brought back to life in this botanical exploration of the Pharaoh's tomb. Usually ignored by grave robbers intent on gold, the baskets, fabrics, papyri, timber, unguent vases, and model granaries filled to the brim with seeds that were buried with Tutankhamun have survived, completely intact, and each chapter of the book carries detailed descriptions of the plant species found or represented in the tomb, including emmer, fenugreek, chickpea, and types of reed and grass. F. Nigel Hepper groups the plants according to their uses, with categories such as Flowers and Leaves; Oils, Resins, and Perfumes; and Papyrus, Flax, and Other Fibrous Plants. This new edition of the fascinating book that was first published in 1990 has been fully updated to take into account recent finds and interpretations, and it features a revised and annotated further reading section, now with a guide to websites; a glossary of botanical terms; a new diagram of the tomb; additional illustrations; and a Bible references section, keyed to the main text and with quotations from the Old Testament that illuminate ancient botanical knowledge and practices.

Describes the items found in Tutankhamun's tomb - willow, papyrus, mandrake, waterlilies, oils and resins - as well as their use in botanical designs. The book contains detailed descriptions of the plant species found or represented in the tomb, including aspects of their history and cultivation.

From modest beginnings in Paris to predominance in the world of high fashion, the rise of the house of Cartier is comprehensively chronicled in this lavish volume. In the 1980s Cartier granted Hans Nadelhoffer exclusive access to its archives in order to write the definitive history. Long out of print, Nadelhoffer's exhaustive research has been revived with lush new photography and design sketches of the world's most distinctive and finely crafted jewelry. Through charming and compelling anecdotes, these famed gemsand the elite clientele who don themare brought to life. This fully illustrated account is the essential complement to any jewelry lover's collection, and will satisfy the longings of all those who covet this legendary brand.

“Fascinating...Buchmann’s knowledge and enthusiasm jump off the page.” —The Wall Street Journal “An extraordinarily good book.” —Edward O. Wilson The lively and definitive story of the beauty, sexuality, lore, economics, and ecology of the world ’s flowers, written by a devoted scientist and illustrated with his stunning photographs. Flowers—and the fruits they often become—feed, clothe, and inspire us. Indeed, they have done so for all of human history. Yet although we use flowers to celebrate important occasions, to express love, and to please our senses, we know little about them, their functions in nature, or even how we depend on them. In a volume that will delight gardeners, naturalists, cooks, artists, or anyone interested in history or culture, pollination ecologist Stephen Buchmann serves as an expert guide through the fascinating world of flowers. He explains how other species relate to flowers in ways crucial to the natural world. Next he takes us on an engaging exploration of the roles flowers play in the production of food, spices, medicines, and perfumes. Flowering plants, Buchmann then shows, have long served as inspirational themes in art and literature. Flowers have in fact so thoroughly seduced us that we now buy some ten million a day, driving breeders to create infinite varieties and unusual blooms. In this cultural and natural investigation of floral history, Stephen Buchmann’s masterful narrative illuminates just why there is, indeed, a reason for flowers.

From the author of The History of the World in 100 Animals, a BBC Radio Four Book of the Week, comes an inspirational new book that looks at the 100 plants that have had the greatest impact on humanity, stunningly illustrated throughout. As humans, we hold the planet in the palms of ours hands. But we still consume the energy of the sun in the form of food. The sun is available for consumption because of plants. Plants make food from the sun by the process of photosynthesis; nothing else in the world can do this. We eat plants, or we do so at second hand, by eating the eaters of plants. Plants give us food. Plants take in carbon dioxide and push out oxygen: they give us the air we breathe, direct the rain that falls and moderate the climate. Plants also give us shelter, beauty, comfort, meaning, buildings, boats, containers, musical instruments, medicines and religious symbols. We use flowers for love, we use flowers for death. The fossils of plants power our industries and our transport. Across history we have used plants to store knowledge, to kill, to fuel wars, to change our state of consciousness, to indicate our status. The first gun was a plant, we got fire from plants, we have enslaved people for the sake of plants. We humans like to see ourselves as a species that has risen above the animal kingdom, doing what we will with the world. But we couldn’t live for a day without plants. Our past is all about plants, our present is all tied up with plants; and without plants there is no future. From the mighty oak to algae, from cotton to coca here are a hundred reasons why.

Your Ultimate Acacia-to-Zinnia Guide 550+ Magical Plants for Rituals, Spellcraft, Divination & More An indispensable resource for magical practitioners, this illustrated encyclopedia offers detailed profiles of all the herbs, houseplants, fruits, vegetables, trees, and flowers you could ever need. This comprehensive reference guide is packed with familiar favorites, like apple and lemongrass, alongside lesser-known options, like moonwort and pignut. With hundreds of plants to choose from, you are sure to find the best botanical partners for raising healing energy, communing with your ancestors, increasing psychic abilities, manifesting your dreams, and more. Reflecting herbal traditions from around the world, the meticulously researched profiles include: Botanical, common, and folk names • Description and attributes History and lore • Inspiration for spells and rituals Correspondences • Appropriate cautions With the option to look up entries by name, magical use, zodiac sign, planetary association, or element, this book makes it easy to find the right plant for the job. The Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants will support all your botanical needs along your unique spiritual path, making it an essential addition to your home library.