KEN STEACY

In the golden age of the American automobile—from the early 1930s to the late 1950s—cars were festooned with elegant chrome and colorful enamel decorations that manufacturers called "brightwork." If you ever forgot what kind of car you were driving, numerous emblems, horn buttons, script, and hood ornaments were there to remind you. Brightwork shows off these shiny treasures as small sculptures that capture the essence of grace in motion. Witness the evolution of the Pontiac symbol from a realistic Indian head to an almost pure abstraction embodying speed. There was no missing such futuristic-sounding features as "Dynaflow" and "Merc-O-Matic" when they were boldly touted in side badges and fancy scripts. Filled with hundreds of dazzling photographs of these rare and beautiful artworks, Brightwork is a book for all those who appreciate the undeniable style and craftsmanship of the little details that make a classic.