Caucasian Carpets and Covers

Wright, Richard E. and Wertime, John

ISBN 10: 1856690776 / ISBN 13: 9781856690775

Published by Lawrence King. 1995. ISBN: 1856690776, 1995

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Description:

Hardcover. New book. 184 p., 132 illus., 34.5 x 25 cm. A comprehensive survey of Caucasian weaving, with major focus on flatweaves and utilitarian objects, since the authors argue, based on the Russian literature, that these were more traditional than the piled rugs, many of which were made for the Western European or Russian export market. Seller Inventory # 6020816

About this title:

Synopsis: Caucasian Carpets & Covers is the first book to offer a comprehensive view of nineteenth and twentieth century knotted pile rugs and flat-woven textiles from Caucasia in the light of recent research. Written by two acknowledged experts in the field, the text is securely based on original written and photographic sources, coupled with a systematic analysis of woven structures.
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the consequent opening up of communication and trade between the West and the newly independent Caucasian republics has resulted in the release onto the market of previously little known items, in particular flat-weaves. This development calls for a re-evaluation of the subject of Caucasian weaving, a demand which this book seeks to answer. The authors suggest that utilitarian flat-woven covers and containers - many of them spectacularly graphic and colourful - are the true traditional products of Caucasia's weaving culture. This is a departure from previous books written in the West on Caucasian carpets, which have tended to concentrate either on pile-woven village rugs, or on tribal bags, covers and trappings made by nomads whose traditional range straddled the present political borders between Transcaucasia and northwest Persia.
Further light is shed on the subject in the authors' documentation of Caucasian knotted pile rugs, which shows that many examples of the popular types which are often thought to be 'authentic' nineteenth century (or even eighteenth in some cases) village weavings, are in fact part of a well-organised commercial production for the Russian and Western markets, which began in the latter part of the nineteenth century and continued well into the first part of the twentieth.

From Library Journal: Sakhai, a London rug dealer from a family of carpet weavers, shares his expertise on history, identification, and value of oriental carpets in this reasonably priced book. He offers tips on judging materials, dyes, patterns, age, and condition when selecting a carpet to buy. In handy guidebook format he describes different types of carpets, accompanied by color and black-and-white photographs (color photographs not seen). The author discusses value in comparative terms only, so prospective buyers will need to study the market to determine fair prices. Caucasian Carpets & Covers is a scholarly work by the curators who assembled the 1994 exhibit "From Kuba to Kars" at the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. Their book includes knotted pile rugs from the Caucasus in addition to the materials in that exhibit. The text is detailed and comprehensive, accompanied by maps and photographs, mostly in color. Much of the historical material is from Russian sources available only in the former Soviet Union. Unfortunately, full-page color-detail photographs have no captions, making it necessary for the user to search through the volume for the source photograph to identify the detail. Otherwise, the presentation is excellent; this is a major work in the field. Both books are highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.?Constance Ashmore Fairchild, formerly with Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana-Champaign
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Caucasian Carpets and Covers
Publisher: Lawrence King. 1995. ISBN: 1856690776
Publication Date: 1995
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: New
Book Type: Book