Traditional Textiles of Central Asia - Hardcover

Harvey, Janet

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0500016704 ISBN 13: 9780500016701

Publisher: Thames & Hudson, 1996

Synopsis

The oasis towns of the Silk Route are the source of opulent ikat-dyed silks and velvets, fine cotton weaves and exquisite embroideries. Textiles are also produced in the villages: each house generally has a loom where the women still weave for the needs of the household as well as for the bazaar and, nowadays, the co-operative. But perhaps the most deeply rooted and dynamic textile tradition is that of the nomads. The skills of dyeing, weaving and embroidery are passed on from generation to generation, from mother to daughter, the harsh life of the nomadic tribeswomen gaining color and splendor with magnificent woven articles, felts and embroideries, as vibrant as the spring flowers that blossom on the steppelands.
The marvelous results are displayed in this book in more than 200 spectacular color plates. Janet Harvey describes the decorative motifs, the materials, dyes and looms; the types of objects made and their diverse regional and tribal variations; the clothes and costumes; and the lavish embroideries and embellishments. A valuable source of information for designers and students, collectors and travelers, and an inspiration for anyone interested in the decorative power of textiles, the book is completed with a glossary, a bibliography and a list of collections.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

No region has a textile tradition more vivid and romantic than that of Central Asia. This book provides a spectacularly illustrated survey of these textiles, displaying in more than 200 color plates the opulent silks and velvets, the exquisite embroideries, the magnificent felts and woolen fabrics produced in the workshops of the oasis towns of the Silk Route.

About the Author:

Janet Harvey has traveled extensively in Central Asia, studying firsthand the making and uses of the region's traditional textiles. She lives in Scotland.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0500016704
• ISBN 13: 9780500016701
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160