African Designs from Traditional Sources

Williams, Geoffrey

ISBN 10: 0486227529 / ISBN 13: 9780486227528

Published by Dover, New York, 1971

About this Item

"This book brings together a varied selection of African designs which will find many uses in advertising and in the creation of book designs, bookplates, labels, and patterns for textiles and wallpaper; or may serve as inspiration for the creation of original designs. Rendered in stark b&w, they may be reproduced, enlarged, reduced or altered at will. Symbolic and simple geometric motifs, repetitive designs and textural patterns, representations of human beings, animals and mythical figures, masks, abstract motifs, and artifacts and objects with figural components are reproduced from the work of the Ndebele, Ashanti, Zulu, Masai, Bushongo, Mangbetu, Bariba, Toma, Baule and many other tribes. Each is identified by original use, and the source is listed for each." Text and designs from the originals by Geoffrey Williams. xxiv + 203 pages + a 14-page Dover catalogue; 378 b&w illustrations; 6.5 x 9.25 inches. List of sources; bibliography. Condition: A light crease to the cover, otherwise Fine. Books ship the next business day, wrapped in padding, in a box.

Seller Inventory # 28249

Bibliographic Details

• Title: African Designs from Traditional Sources
• Publisher: Dover, New York
• Publication Date: 1971
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0486227529
• ISBN 13: 9780486227528
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • Graphic Arts & Design

About this title

Synopsis

Since the discovery of African art by the Cubists, the primitive strength of its motifs has held a fascination for contemporary artists and designers and has exercised a considerable infl uence on the development of modern art. This book brings together an unusually varied selection of African designs which will find many uses in advertising and in the creation of book designs, bookplates, labels, and patterns for textiles and wallpaper; or may simply serve as inspiration for the creation of original designs. Rendered in stark black-and-white, they may be reproduced, enlarged, reduced or altered at will.
Symbolic and simple geometric motifs, repetitive designs and textural patterns, representations of human beings, animals and mythical figures, masks, abstract motifs, and artifacts and objects with figural components are reproduced from the work of the Ndebele, Ashanti, Zulu, Masai, Bushongo, Mangbetu, Bariba, Toma, Baule and many other tribes. There are designs from carved ivory pendants and bracelets, helmet masks, wooden combs, altar slabs and shields, and designs printed on cloth and painted on doors and walls. Each is identified by original use, and the source is listed for each.
Geoffrey Williams, himself a practicing designer, has reproduced most of these designs by means of linocut prints in order to capture the power of the originals. His sources have been artifacts in museums and private collections with a few designs gathered from the pages of important publications on the subject. A bibliography refers the reader not only to the sources of material used for this book, but to other major sources of information about African tribal art.