Thursday, December 29, 2011

11 Books from 2011

Burns, James D. Visions of Nature: The Antique Weavings of Persia Umbrage Editions New York 2011 135 color plates showing 130 examples 385 pp. 9.5 x 13 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  There are as many things to like about Visions of Nature as there are different styles of rugs shown within it. This is US rug collector Jim Burns’ third book, all of which have centred on rugs from his collection. Its colour plates contain 130 Persian rugs and textiles chosen from his collection, the culmination of over fifty years of focused collecting, and are printed on a large scale with great clarity, each given its own page. The layout of the book is very clear with each weaving area having its own introductory essay and reflects the design of his previous book, Antique Rugs of Kurdistan (London 2002), with supporting archival images adding context and texture to the book. ******However beyond the connoisseurial eye of the author, immediately obvious throughout the illustrated rugs, which quickly draw the reader into the book, there emerges from reading the accompanying essays a sense of the depth of knowledge and research underpinning his collecting. It is clear that to Burns an understanding of the context in which these rugs were created and used is a key component of his appreciation of the art form. Indeed his discussions give these weavings meaning beyond their respective designs and colours. -Ben Evans, HALI Magazine #169.

Cohen, James Turkoman  James Cohen Milan 2011  64 pp. 8.25 x 11.75 Hardback in dustjacket in As New condition  Dealer catalog of 30 Turkmen rugs illustrated in 90 color plates including backs and close-ups. Includes technical analysis. 

Diba, Layla S. Turkmen Jewelry: Silver Ornaments from the Marshall and Marilyn R. Wolf Collection  Metropolitan Museum of Art New York 2011 265 Color Plates 25 Black and White 264 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition The Turkmen people of Central Asia and Iran are revered for their carpets and textiles. Less well known, but equally stunning, is the extraordinary silver jewelry created by Turkmen tribal craftsmen and urban silversmiths throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. This catalogue presents nearly two hundred pieces in glorious detail, ranging from crowns and headdresses to armbands and rings, and featuring accents of carnelian, turquoise, and other stones. Characterized by elegant form, geometric shapes, and delicate openwork, Turkmen jewelry has typically been viewed through an ethnographic rather than an aesthetic lens. By highlighting these objects—which come from one of the most significant private collections of Turkmen ornaments in the world—and placing them in the larger context of Islamic art, this groundbreaking publication elevates the vibrant, monumental pieces from folk art to fine art. -Publisher

Edwards, Eiluned Textiles and Dress of Gujarat  V & A Publishing / Mapin Publishing Ahmedabad 2011 243 Color Plates 3 Maps 18 Line Drawings 248 pp. 9.5 x 11.5 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition The textiles and dress of Gujarat in northwestern India are acclaimed for their design and craftsmanship. The sophisticated weaves, dyeing techniques, intricate embroideries, vibrant motifs and embellished dress, and the communities to which many of these are unique, have all been the subjects of extensive documentation. Textiles and dress play a central role in the construction of a visual identity of Gujarat and its people. This book examines the 'social life' of Gujarat's textiles, tracing the historical journey of cloth and dress up to the present day. It looks closely at dyed and painted textiles, and embroidery, and locates their place in culture, trade and commerce, and the role of entrepreneurship in the survival of these handmade textiles. -Publisher "Excellent new book on the traditional textiles of the western Indian state of Gujarat. The author has lived and worked with tribal people, especially the Rabari nomads of the Kutch region, and speaks with deep knowledge of their skills and practices. This book is an important and valuable addition to the bibliography of work on Indian textile crafts." -Talia Attaille  

Kangal, Selmin ed. 18th-19th Century Anatolian Kilims: Gülgönen Collection / 18.-19. Yuzyil Anadolu Kilimleri: Gülgönen Koleksiyonu Vehbi Koç Vakfi Istanbul 2011 218 Color Plates 379 pp. 9.5 x 12.5 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  A selection of the Gulgonen collection exhibited at the Turkish Museum of Islamic Arts (TIEM) with full-page color illustrations and commentary by Rahmi M. Koc, Seacettin Sahin, Brigitte-Ayan Gulgonen, Ferit Edgu, Serife Atilhan and Seref Ozen. English/Turkish text.

Koll, Harry Die Farben meiner Träume. Frühe Kelims aus Antolien / The Colors of My Dreams: Early Kilims From Anatolia  Pazyryk Gesellschaft Aachen 2011 212 Color Plates 264 pp. 13.75 x 9.75 Hardback in New condition  Massive catalog of a Museum Duisberg exhibition of 101 old kilims. Illustrations show details of the flatweaves and their use in context. Limited to 500 copies. German/English text. 

Langauer, Udo Turkmen Collection 2011  Udo Langauer Vienna 2011  121 pp. 7.5 x 10.75 Hardback in As New condition Dealer catalog of 68 Turkmen rugs and trappings illustrated in 133 color plates and figures. Minimal German/English text.

Moss, Roger Southwestern Banded Blankets: Three Cultures, One Horizon  Roger Moss (Berkeley) 2011 14 color plates  8 black and white 38 pp. 6 x 9 Paperback in New condition  San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles exhibition catalog of  the Jean and Roger Moss collection. "This exhibition looks at a particular aspect of the history of weaving in the Southwest and focuses specifically on the utilitarian banded blankets that were woven and used by the three cultures: Pueblo, Spanish Colonial Rio Grande and Navajo". -from the foreword by Deborah Corsini, curator of the museum. Photography by Don Tuttle.

Piccus, Robert P. Sacred and Secular: The Piccus Collection Of Tibetan Rugs  Serindia Publications Chicago 2011 186 rugs are shown in 412 color illustrations 12 historic black and white photographs 294 pp. 8.5 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  The best book thus far published on Tibetan carpets. "Rugs have been woven and used in Tibet for centuries, but until recent years, have been ignored by collectors and scholars alike because available examples were generally brightly colored, chemically dyed, clearly modern commercial production of little aesthetic appeal. This situation changed in the mid-1980s when the Chinese authorities began to allow tourism and foreign visitors discovered early, naturally dyed examples that had not been seen in the West. The Piccus Collection of Tibetan Rugs was formed during the exciting window of opportunity that existed during the 80s and 90s to collect in this previously little-known area. The Collection demonstrates the genuine aesthetic sense and cultural achievements of the unknown Tibetan weavers who produced these masterpieces. The book tells the story of the rugs' collection, the individuals involved and the evolution of scholarship in this field. Beautifully illustrated, the book is divided into design categories, including Tigers and Leopards, Dragons, Tantric, Geometrics, Medallions, Warp Face Backs, and Nomadic, among others. It also includes technical information and a visual glossary that will be useful for collectors and designers alike. The book documents a previously little-known aspect of Tibetan history and culture that deserves to be recognized and is an essential addition to any collector s and design libraries." -Cover

Tanavoli, Parviz Undiscovered Minimalism: Gelims from Northern Iran  Werner Weber Zurich 2011 67 color plates and over 70 color illustrations, maps.  256 pp. 11.5 x 14.5 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition Massive new title from famed artist and Persian rug scholar of mostly mid-20th century flatweaves with ‘minimalist’ abstract designs.

Tsareva, Elena with an introduction by Daniel Shaffer and Peter Hoffmeister Turkmen Carpets: Masterpieces of Steppe Art, from 16th to 19th Centuries. The Hoffmeister Collection  Arnoldsche Verlagsanstalt Stuttgart 2011 185 color plates 192 pp. 10 x 13 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  Some overlap with Hoffmeister's 1980 publication. "The Hoffmeister Collection is one of the best and most extensive private collections of antique and historic Turkmen knotted carpets in western Europe and America. It competes alongside important collections from Western museums as well as those in Russia and Turkmenistan. With almost 170 objects – among which are distinguished carpets and bags – artistic excellence and historical significance, in particular, come together. As one of the first to do so, Hoffmeister has determined the age of these knotted works of the Turkmen with the aid of radio-carbon techniques. According to the results from the science and technology university ETH in Zurich, the earliest pieces of the collection originate from the sixteenth century. ****Both the cultural significance of the collection and the scientific and artistic value of its pieces are discussed in the book. The readers can literally sense the texture of these knotted wares through the brilliant photography, which carry them away on a journey into the lost world of the steppes folk of Central Asia. ****The author Elena Tsareva is a curator and scientist and worked for some decades at the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg before switching to the Kunstkamera in St. Petersburg. As a specialist for Central Asian and North Eurasian art she particularly dealt with carpets and textiles. ****Discover the fascination of Turkmen knotted works with the masterpieces of the Hoffmeister Collection. Brilliant illustrations and well-informed texts demonstrate the cultural significance of the collection and also the highly scientific and artistic value of its pieces." -Publisher

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Tibetan Rug Books

This is by no means a comprehensive bibliography of Tibetan rug books but rather selected highlights from our inventory. Enjoy!
Chodrak, Trinley and K. Tashi Of Wool and Loom: The Tradition of Tibetan Rugs  
 White Orchid Bangkok 2000
 154 color plates 160 pp. 8.5 x 11 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition
 The book first presents a brief history of Tibetan carpet and textile weaving, from their early origins, to 'planted pile' textiles, Drumste knotted-pile carpets of the Wangden Valley, and the warp-backed rugs of the Lhuntse region. It then traces the emergence of Tibet as a commercial carpet-weaving centre and outlines steps in learning the art of weaving, from apprentice to master-weaver. In a final chapter, the authors give an account of the wide range of uses of Tibetan rugs: by nomads, the aristocracy, and the cavalry, as well as their ecclesiastical and equestrian uses, and their use as floor rugs. The work includes 124 beautiful colour plates of rugs, showing details of their intricate designs and rich colours, accompanied by detailed descriptions of each. The authors are both natives of the region; not only are both considered to be eminent scholars in Tibetan Studies, but one holds the important position of Director of the Tibetan Museum, while the other is a prominent founder and promoter of sustainable enterprises in Tibet through commercial carpet and wool handicraft production, forestry conservation and ecotourism. -Publisher

 Marshall Cavendish Singapore 2004
 68 full page color plates with details 188 pp. 9.5 x 11 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition
 Tom Cole takes readers through the tribal tradition of the Tibetan weaving aesthetic. The tribal tradition, on which he speculated more than 10 years ago, is validated through the interesting synthesis of ideas and sources, and is discussed in a well-documented historical text that reads like an unfolding narrative. This perceptive text establishes a fascinating new light in which the Tibetan people and their traditions should be viewed. Accompanying the text are complete descriptions and technical analyses of 68 eye-dazzling rugs from the collection of Shirin and Giuseppe De Giosa. The weavings presented here not only reflect the inner warmth of a very soulful people, they represent a cross-section of the breadth of design as seen in the mind's eye of the Tibetan weavers. -Publisher

Cole, Thomas with an introduction by Diana K. Myers Patterns of Life: The Art of Tibetan Carpets  
 Rubin Museum of Art New York 2010
 60 color plates 8 historical black and white photographs 104 pp. 10 x 11 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition
 For centuries Tibetans have used carpets for decorative and functional purposes, favoring colorful dyes and lively designs to enrich their homes and monasteries. Not bound by the codified rules governing the creation of religious art, the artisans who wove carpets often demonstrated a delightful sense of imagination in their work, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources. Carpet motifs such as medallions and checkerboard patterns suggest considerable influence from Tibet's historical textile trading partners, countries as close as China and as distant as Iran. Other popular imagery, such as the snow lion, is indigenous to the region. With exceptional examples of saddle rugs, sleeping rugs, pile pillows, cushion covers, and door rugs, Patterns of Life explores the stylistic variety and uses of Tibetan carpets in the everyday life of the Tibetan people. -Publisher

Danon, Enzo and Roberto Tibet: Tappeti 1850-1950  
 Textilia Rome 1995
 53 color plates 126 pp. 9 x 12.25 Paperback in New condition  
 Quality dealer catalog of Tibetan rugs.

Denwood, Philip The Tibetan Carpet  
 Sunflower Warminister 1974 (1978)
 25 color plates  85 black and white 120 pp. 8.5 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Blank bookplate on decorative front free endpaper.  
 GWO 1697.  Second printing of the first book devoted to Tibetan rugs. Factually written and sound.

 Kuntindustrimuseet I Oslo Oslo 1989
 1 color plates  111 black and white 56 pp. 8 x 9 Paperback in Very Good condition. Cover is slightly creased. Includes bookplate of late Oriental rug scholar George O'Bannon.  
 GWO 1722. Oslo Museum of Applied Arts loan exhibition catalog of a variety of carpets from Tibet. Norwegian-English text.

Lipton, Mimi The Tiger Rugs of Tibet  
 Thames and Hudson London 1988
 108 color plates  50 black and white 191 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition
 GWO 1736. The most comprehensive study of this type of Tibetan carpet showing 108 various design examples.

 Daniel Miller Manila 2009
 94 color plates 22 color and 23 black and white anthropological photographs 160 pp. 7 x 7 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  
 Articles by Thomas L. Guta, Ted Worcester, Daniel Miller, Rupert Smith, Bob van Grevenbroek and Charles Gay. More than just another book on rugs. With evocative images and insightful text it is as much an ethnography of the inhabitants of the Tibetan landscape -- the nomads who raise the sheep that produce one of the best carpet wools in the world and the weavers who fashion this wool into textiles and rugs -- as it is an introduction to the aesthetics of the Tibetan weaving and textile traditions. –Cover.

 Pomegranate Communications Petaluma, CA 2005
 30 color postcards 1 page of text 7 x 4.75 Paperback in New condition  
 Thirty richly colored postcards illustrating carpets of Tibet from the permanent collection at the Newark Museum.

 Chris Pearce / Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena) 1992
 120 color plates 95 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition  
 GWO 1760.  Museum exhibition catalog of Tibetan carpets from the Rutherford collection.

Page, John and Serina The Woven Mystery, Old Tibetan Rugs  
 John and Serina Page London 1990
 73 color plates 155 pp. 8.5 x 10 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition
 GWO 1755. Priced dealer exhibition and sales catalog.
Since the Chinese occupation of Tibet thirty years ago these rugs have found their way, via Katmandu into the Western world, leaving behind their secrets of origin.
There has been a huge upsurge of interest in Tibetan textiles and culture. Our collection of over 80 stunning rugs show the complete range of amazing colour and design over the last 100 years. Tigers, Dragons, Phoenix Birds, Art Deco, Abstracts and Lush Florals. Such diversity of design and colour do not appear in any other group of textiles.
These rugs were never intended for walking upon as in the European tradition, but used for sleeping, sitting, meditating on and monastic decoration. Several of our most spectacular rugs were made for High Lamas. -Cover

 Serindia Publications Chicago 2011
 186 rugs are shown in 412 color illustrations 12 historic black and white photographs 294 pp. 8.5 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition  
 The best book thus far published on Tibetan carpets. Rugs have been woven and used in Tibet for centuries, but until recent years, have been ignored by collectors and scholars alike because available examples were generally brightly colored, chemically dyed, clearly modern commercial production of little aesthetic appeal. This situation changed in the mid-1980s when the Chinese authorities began to allow tourism and foreign visitors discovered early, naturally dyed examples that had not been seen in the West. The Piccus Collection of Tibetan Rugs was formed during the exciting window of opportunity that existed during the 80s and 90s to collect in this previously little-known area. The Collection demonstrates the genuine aesthetic sense and cultural achievements of the unknown Tibetan weavers who produced these masterpieces. The book tells the story of the rugs' collection, the individuals involved and the evolution of scholarship in this field. Beautifully illustrated, the book is divided into design categories, including Tigers and Leopards, Dragons, Tantric, Geometrics, Medallions, Warp Face Backs, and Nomadic, among others. It also includes technical information and a visual glossary that will be useful for collectors and designers alike. The book documents a previously little-known aspect of Tibetan history and culture that deserves to be recognized and is an essential addition to any collector s and design libraries. -Cover