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The Catalogue of Fantastic Inventions
Shows and describes facetious tools, furniture, toiletries, sports equipment, garden furniture, toys, games, clothing, antiques, watches, and televisions
- GenresDesignArtHumorNonfiction
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 5, 2017
A catalogue of the absurd. Every invention is a stretch beyond the limits of conventional wisdom, sensibility and practicality. Some of the photos, drawings and descriptions are metaphorical monstrosities and others are as lighthearted and whimsical as a Miro painting. I have to admit, though, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page. I laughed out loud several times.
August 26, 2018
Très fantastique!
Most peoples' introduction to Carelman's work, mine included, has been through the reverse teapot design on the front cover of Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things. The artist's whimsical designs are an impossibilist's delight ranging from hammers made of glass to curved shotguns for people who can't shoot strait, fanciful chairs that could never balance to umbrellas with multiple domes to accommodate small families. There are hundreds of drawings mimicking the black and white engraved style of old merchant catalogs illustrating tools, clothing and architectural details that cannot fail to bring out a smile. Shoes that point both ways, faucets to manage nasal drip and a Swiss army knife that includes a feather duster, pipe, toothbrush AND a revolver, no doubt handy for committing the perfect crime. A wonderful collection of visual paradoxes of designs gone beautifully wrong. The pleasure is in puzzling out the various absurdities and how they would function if the object actually existed.
Carelman's books come in several editions. This purchase is a replacement copy for a colour edition I had had years ago and lost by lending. It includes both volumes 1 and 2. Each of the diagrams is accompanied by a short description in easy to understand French as to the intended purpose of the article or device. Lots of fun and a great conversation piece. Recommended!
Most peoples' introduction to Carelman's work, mine included, has been through the reverse teapot design on the front cover of Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things. The artist's whimsical designs are an impossibilist's delight ranging from hammers made of glass to curved shotguns for people who can't shoot strait, fanciful chairs that could never balance to umbrellas with multiple domes to accommodate small families. There are hundreds of drawings mimicking the black and white engraved style of old merchant catalogs illustrating tools, clothing and architectural details that cannot fail to bring out a smile. Shoes that point both ways, faucets to manage nasal drip and a Swiss army knife that includes a feather duster, pipe, toothbrush AND a revolver, no doubt handy for committing the perfect crime. A wonderful collection of visual paradoxes of designs gone beautifully wrong. The pleasure is in puzzling out the various absurdities and how they would function if the object actually existed.
Carelman's books come in several editions. This purchase is a replacement copy for a colour edition I had had years ago and lost by lending. It includes both volumes 1 and 2. Each of the diagrams is accompanied by a short description in easy to understand French as to the intended purpose of the article or device. Lots of fun and a great conversation piece. Recommended!
March 8, 2021
È la cosa più geniale su cui abbia mai posato gli occhi
Want to Read
July 14, 20258 t2
December 21, 2019
Stupendo, assurdo, geniale, divertente...
October 18, 2021
1969 memes
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews