RugBooks

One more for 2011!

2012-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Sadly we didn't get copies of OCTS7 until after the new year but we would have certainly included it on our 11 Books from 2011. I won't tell you what I would have excluded to keep the number 11. Check out these stats:

Farnham, Thomas J. and Daniel Shaffer ed. Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies VII: Selected Papers from ICOC X, Washington 2003 and ICOC XI, Istanbul 2007 International Conference on Oriental Carpets Norfolk, UK 2011 345 color plates 49 black and white 9 tables 200 pp 8.25 x 11.75 Paperback in New condition $95

Articles include:

"Textile Cultures of Syria: Palmyra, Mamluks and Bedouin" by Murray L. Eiland III
“Beyond the Carpet Design Revolution: Perspectives on 15th-century Carpet History" by Walter Denny
“End Finishes of Topkapi Palace Museum Prayer Rugs" by Serife Atlihan
“Design and Influence in the Brooklyn Museum of Art's Spanish Pomegranate Carpet" by Aimee Froom
“Ghost Story: Vestiges of a vanished Turkish carpet design seen in some 16th-and 17th-century European embroidered and pile carpets" by Sarah B. Sherrill
“Tulips to Roses: Changing Trends in Ottoman Embroidery" by Sumru Belger Krody
“Large, Larger, Largest... Large Medallion Suzanis in German Collections" by Christian Erber
“Hunting Imagery in Kaitag Embroideries from Daghestan: Origins, Influences, and Evolution" by Susan Scollay
“The Pazyryk Carpet: A Stylistic Appraisal ff The Deep-Frozen Treasure From Kurgan Number Five in The High Altai" by Michael A. Hann
“The Marby Rug" by Margareta Nockert
“Polonaise Carpets in Baroque Rome" by Irene Sabatini
“Carpets in Polish Paintings" by Beata Biedronska-Slota
“Do Not Believe Everything You Read: Early Indian, 'Portuguese' and Pashmina-Pile Mughal Carpets and the Importance of Original Documentation" by Steven Cohen
“A Structural Study of The Transylvanian Group and its Implications For Attributions to Anatolian Carpet Production Centers" by Stefano Ionescu and Ali Riza Tuna
“Tudoc's Coupled-Column Prayer Rug Fragment: A Virtual Reconstruction of the Original Design" by Mircea Dunca and Luiza Gherghinescu
“After the Safavids: Khorasan Carpets of the 18th and 19th Centuries" by Hadi Maktabi
“New Perspectives for Two Prestigious Carpet Collections: The Louvre Museum and Les Arts Decorarifs, Paris" by Susan Day
“Carpets And Kilims in the Tokat Dervish Lodge Foundation Museum" by Suzan Baybaktaro—Lu
“Mysteries of the Misplaced Mamluk Revisited: Mid-18th-Century Aubusson 'Mamluk' Carpets" by Sarah B. Sherrill
“Studio Style - The Use of Carpets and Textiles in Historicist Era Painters' Studios in Munich: The Reception of the Oriental Carpet in Europe in the Second Half of the 19th Century" by Michael Buddeberg
“The Compartment Group of Middle Amu Darya Pile Rugs and the Bactrian Carpet-Making Tradition" by Elena Tsareva
“Dervish and Sufi Costume in the Topkapi Palace Collection" by Hulya Tezcan.

11 Books from 2011

2011-12-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

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

Tibetan Rug Books

2011-12-22T15:50:00.000-08:00

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

Cole, Thomas Dream Weavers: Textile Art from the Tibetan Plateau

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.

Kuloy, Hallvard K. Fra Tempel til Hesterygg den Tibetanske Teppetradisjonen: Tibetan Rugs

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.

Also in Paperback.

Miller, Daniel ed. Auspicious Carpets: Tibetan Rugs and Textiles

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.

Newark Museum Tibetan Rugs: A Book of Postcards

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.

Pacific Asia Museum; Tom Rutherford Woven Jewels: Tibetan Rugs from Southern California Collections

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

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

New Books for December

2011-12-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

American Art Association Illustrated Catalogue of Beautiful Old Chinese Rugs of the Imperial Ch'ien-Lung and Earlier Periods personally selected from a recent direct consignment from China and catalogued by the well-known expert Mr. John Getz American Art Galleries New York 1910 34 black and white illustrations 74 pp. 5 x 7.5 Hardback in Good condition. Chipping to spine and edges. Slight stains to cover. Minor tear on front endpaper. Very scarce American Art Galleries auction catalog of old Qianlong (1735-1796) and earlier Chinese rugs. 75 entries. Not in O'Bannon.
More on Chinese Rugs and Carpets

Barth, Fredrik Nomads of South Persia: The Basseri Tribe of the Khamseh Confederacy Little, Brown and Co. Boston 1961 and later 10 black and white 161 pp. 5 x 8 Paperback in Very Good condition. Former owner's inked name on inside cover. Gift inscription to noted Oriental rug collector H. McCoy Jones with his bookplate. UNESCO project of 1958 in Fars. Anthropological study of this nomadic band. Few black and white photos show bags and cradles in use.
More on Anthropology of the Near East

Bidder, Hans Jagd Nach Seltenen Teppichen (Hunting for Rare Carpets) Wasmuth Tubingen 1965 3 color plates 48 pp. 8.5 x 6.5 Hardback in Very Good condition. Includes bookplate of renown Oriental rug collector H. McCoy Jones. GWO 1690. With a focus on Chinese and East Turkestan rugs. German text.
More on East Turkestan - Xinjiang - Sinkiang

Collingwood, Peter The Techniques of Rug Weaving Watson-Guptill New York 1968 (1978) 4 color plates 170 black and white 595 pp. 7.5 x 10 Hardback in worn dustjacket otherwise in Very Good condition
More on Repair and Conservation

Eiland, Emmett Oriental Rugs Today: A Guide to the Best in New Carpets from the East Berkeley Hills Books Berkeley 2000 147 color plates 208 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in New condition Major book documenting positive changes in the quality of modern rugs and carpets from all weaving areas.
More General Oriental Rugs

Ettinghausen, Richard Masterpieces of Iranian Rugs and Textiles Textile Museum Washington D.C. 1964 1 color plates 7 black and white 16 pp. 6 x 9 Paperback in Very Good condition. Minor spotting to cover. GWO 1996. Early Textile Museum exhibition catalog of Persian rugs and weavings
More on Persian Rugs and Flatweaves

Fitz Gibbon, Kate and A. Hale Ikat: Splendid Silks of Central Asia Lawrence King London 1999 120 color plates 28 black and white 2 maps 208 pp. 9.5 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition The hardbound edition of the travelling museum exhibition catalog. Shows part of the Guido Goldman Collection of these wonderful 19th century textiles.
More on Central Asian Textiles, Suzanis, and Ikats

Hedlund, Ann Lane Reflections of the Weaver's World: The Gloria F. Ross Collection of Contemporary Navajo Weaving Denver Art Museum Denver 1992 89 color plates 112 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition Catalog of the Gloria Ross Collection of contemporary Navajo weaving.
More on American Indian Textiles

Helfgott, Leonard M. Ties That Bind, a Social History of the Iranian Carpet Smithsonian Institution Press Washington 1994 11 black and white 357 pp. 6 x 9 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition Important, scholarly study on "...the production, distribution, an use of Iranian carpets from the fifteenth century Timurid period through the Second World War, highlighting the carpet boom of 1873-1914 and focusing on the social, economic, cultural, and political factors that shaped the manufacture, the exchange, and the ultimate use of piled carpets. The carpet as an object of production, trade, and use is considered as part of the dynamic social, economic, and political relations within and among family, tribe, village, city, and state." -Cover
More on Persian Rugs and Flatweaves

Hermann, Fritz Teppiche aus dem Orient in der Sammlung Rietbergmuseums Museum Rietberg Zurich 1986 4 color plates 57 black and white 60 pp. 8 x 8.5 Paperback in Very Good condition GWO 529. Rietberg Museum exhibition catalog of Oriental rugs mainly from the collection of Robert Akeret. German text.
More General Oriental Rugs

Kanlaya, Dara et al. Legends in the Weaving Japan Foundation Asia Center Vientiane 2001 300 color illustrations 146 pp. 7.5 x 10 Hardback in Very Good condition Lao textiles. Essays include "Lao Weaving and Natural Dyeing Techniques", "Hmong Embroidery", "Terminology and Local Terms for Predominant Motifs in Traditional Lao Textiles". Lao/English text.
More on Southeast Asian Textiles

King, Donald Imperial Ottoman Textiles Colnaghi London 1980 12 color plates 12 black and white 61 pp. 8 x 12 Paperback in Very Good condition GWO 2324. Colnaghi sales catalog of Ottoman velvets, embroideries and brocades.
More on Turkish Textiles

Kreamer, Christine Mullen and Sarah Fee ed. Objects As Envoys: Cloth, Imagery, and Diplomacy in Madagascar University of Washington Press Seattle 2002 97 color and black and white figures 205 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition. Deaccessioned from a museum research library. Marks include tapes sticker, bookplate and inked stamp. Museum exhibition catalog. "Essays provide a comprehensive survey of Madagascar's textiles, past and present. They examine the importance of cloth to the Malagasy, both as creative works of art and as objects imbued with great social and cultural significance." -Cover
More on African Textiles

Lamb, Venice West African Weaving Duckworth London 1975 80 color plates 310 black and white 228 pp. 8.5 x 10.5 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Dustjacket has small chips and tears. The standard work.
More on African Textiles

Liu, Baojian and Hongqi Yuan Classics of the Forbidden City: Carpets in the Collection of the Palace Museum The Forbidden City Publishing House Beijing 2010 300 color plates 282 pp. 11.5 x 11.5 Hardback in Slipcase in As New condition Chinese text. "This volume from Forbidden City Press features a stunning collection of ancient Chinese rugs. Mostly originating from north and northwest China – areas such as Qinghai, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Ningxia and others – these rugs range in production period from the early Han to the later Qing. Sophisticated weaving techniques and patterns for the times are well represented and many of these items represent the ideal level of health and financial stability in traditional Chinese culture." -Publisher. 96 rugs and textiles are illustrated of which 78 are antique Chinese piled carpets, 2 East Turkestan, 1 Persian vase carpet, 6 Chinese textiles and coverlets and 9 Chinese tapestries.
More on Chinese Rugs and Carpets

Moss, Laurence A.G. Art of the Lesser Sunda Islands, A Cultural Resource at Risk San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum San Francisco 1986 8 color plates 28 black and white illustrations 40 pp. 7 x 10 Paperback in Very Good condition San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum exhibition catalog of the art of these islands in the middle-south of the Malay Archipelago. 3 color plates and 7 black and white illustrations are of textiles.
More on Southeast Asian Textiles

Ozal, Semra intro. An Exhibition of A Traditional Turkish House The Foundation for the Advancement and Recognition of Turkish Women (San Francisco) -1991 39 color illustrations 20 pp. 6.5 x 9.5 Paperback in Very Good condition. Deaccessioned from a museum research library with a taped sticker on cover. San Francisco's Craft and Folk Art Museum exhibition catalog. Includes sections on "Life in the Old Turkish Home", "Eating Tradition of the Turkish People", "Old Turkish Embroidery", and "The Special Language of the Oyas (Embroidered Borders/ Fringes) and the Talking Oyas",
More on Architecture

Parker, Gertrude intro. Native Arts of Luzon Collected by William S. Galvin San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum San Francisco 26 black and white 8 x 8.5 Paperback in Very Good condition Two textiles are shown. Includes baskets, ceramics, woodwork and jewelry.
More on Pacific Island Weavings

Pomar, Maria Teresa and Juan Rafael Coronel Rivera Arte Textil Colecciones del Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya Fomento Cultural Banamex Mexico City 2003 60 plates, most in color. 88 pp. 9.5 x 12.5 Paperback in Very Good condition Exhibition catalog of modern Mexican textiles in traditional designs. Spanish text.
More on Central American Textiles

Robinson, Stuart A History of Dyed Textiles: Dyes, Fibres, Painted Bark, Batik, Starch-resist, Discharge, Tie-Dye, Further Sources for Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press Cambridge 1969 8 color plates, 42 black and white, 4 drawings 112 pp. 9.5 x 6.5 Hardback without dustjacket in Very Good condition. Small marks to front cover. Scholarly text.
More on Dyes

Salvador, Mari Lyn ed. The Art of Being Kuna: Layers of Meaning Among the Kuna of Panama UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History Los Angeles 1997 330 color plates 147 black and white 360 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in Near Fine condition A wide variety of molas are among the material culture shown.
More on Central American Textiles

Stapley, Mildred Popular Weaving and Embroidery in Spain Volvntad / William Helburn New York 1924 3 color plates 118 black and white 60 pp. 7 x 9.5 Hardback in Fair condition Ex-library with usual marks. Spine and foredge show repairs.
More on Embroidery

Stone, Peter Oriental Rug Repair: Step-by-Step Reknotting and Reconstruction, Care and Preservation Thames and Hudson Buchanan 2010 37 color plates 363 black and white 232 pp. 8.5 x 11 Hardback with concealed wire-o binding in New condition Comprehensive guide to all kinds of repair, cleaning and care of Oriental rugs. Revised and expanded edition of the 2000 publication. Includes a glossary and bibliography. "An indispensable owner's manual and an invaluable sourcebook for collectors and dealers. This comprehensive book covers all the essential techniques, materials and tools you will need to repair and maintain oriental rugs. The accessible text is accompanied by clear step-by-step diagrams and illustrations that teach you how to: • assess damaged areas • understand rug structure • select yarn • reknot • reconstruct warp and weft • use patches • repair selvage and edges • repair ends and flatweaves • wash rugs, remove stains and carry out general maintenance. Oriental Rug Repair is a must-have reference for beginners and a useful sourcebook for dealers and collectors." -Publisher
More on Repair and Conservation

Wass, Betty and B Murnane African Textiles University of Wisconsin Madison 1978 27 black and white 40 pp 9 x 8 Paperback in Very Good condition University Art Center exhibition catalog of mostly Western African textiles.

Two solid books for the beginner

2011-12-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

December is upon us and if you are looking for good general Oriental rug books suitable for new collectors or friends and family who are curious about your passion for the woven arts there are few better than Dr. Jon Thompson's seminal Oriental Carpets From the Tents, Cottages, and Workshops of Asia (a value at $30) or Eiland and Eiland's Oriental Carpets, A Complete Guide (only $50!) Both have solid information and lots of pretty pictures.

We still offer free media-mail shipping to US addresses for any order and pay California sales tax.

New Books for October

2011-10-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

American Art Association Illustrated Catalogue of Antique Oriental Weaves of Rare and Distinctive Quality, Fine Old Persian Faiences American Art Association New York 1914 153 black and white 372 pp. 6.5 x 10 Hardback in Good condition. Contemporary binding. Pencil priced throughout. GWO 20. An auction of the Kent-Costikyan inventory of 308 rug lots including carpets from all weaving areas and 15th-20th century pieces.

More Named and Important Auction Catalogs

Corwin, Bonnie Publisher-Editor Textiles Asia Journal May 2011, Volume 3, Issue 1 Bonnie Corwin Hong Kong 2011 24 pp. 8.25 x 11.75 Paperback in New condition Illustrated in color. Articles include "Khalsa and explosive Graphics in the Age of Maharaja Runjit Singh's Kasmir" by Frank Ames; "Love at the Loom: Burma" by Kathleen Forance Johnson; "Golok (n'Golock) Costumes of Eastern Tibet, Amdo and Kham" by Phila L. McDaniel.

More Miscellaneous Oriental Rug Magazines

Corwin, Bonnie Publisher-Editor Textiles Asia Journal September 2011, Volume 3, Issue 2 Bonnie Corwin Hong Kong 2011 24 pp. 8.25 x 11.75 Paperback in New condition Illustrated in color. Articles include "Shwe Chi Doe: A Recent Acquisition of the Tilleke & Gibbins Textile Collection" by Dr. Linda McIntosh; "Silk Design in China 1949-2010" by Yu Tingting and Xu Zheng; "The Power of a Panel: An Unusual Cloak Panel Distinctive of the Yellow Hat Sect of Buddhist" by Gil Green.

More Miscellaneous Oriental Rug Magazines

Der Manuelian, L. and M. Eiland Weavers, Merchants and Kings: The Inscribed Rugs of Armenia Kimbell Art Museum Ft. Worth 1984 68 color plates 211 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Former owner's discreet blindstamps on front free endpaper and half title page. GWO 1386. An important book that brings together old Caucasian rugs with Armenian inscription from present day Turkey and the formerUSSR. Sound text. Also in Paperback.

More on General Oriental Rugs

Oriental Carpet Manufacturers (OCM) Oriental Carpets Oriental Carpet Manufacturers, Ltd. (London) -1900 14 color plates 60 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in Good condition. Wear to edges and bumped corners. Text block has been professionally restored. GWO 866. A wholesale catalog from this reknown producer of Oriental rugs.

More on General Oriental Rugs

Oshanin, L. V. Anthropological Composition of the Population of Central Asia and the Ethnogenesis of its People: II Peabody Museum Cambridge 1964 53 black and white 62 tables 138 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition Volume 2 of 3 of the English translation of 1957 Russian research comparing physical characteristics of Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek and Tajik peoples.

More on Pre-Columbian Textiles

Sevi, Daniele Tappeti Anatolici del XIX Secolo (Anatolian Rugs of the 19th Century) Daniele Sevi Milano -1985 30 color plates 88 pp. 8 x 11.5 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Wear to dustjacket. GWO 1318. A dealer exhibition and sales catalog of collectable Turkish rugs. With an introductory essay and technical data by Alberto Boralevi. English/Italian text.

More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

San Francisco Antique Oriental Rug and Textile Show

2011-10-05T13:00:00.000-07:00

We will again be exhibiting in San Francisco at the 3rd annual Antique Rug and Textile Show. The opening is on October 20th and is exclusively for members of the Antique Rug and Textile Art Association. To join the ARTAA ($35 or $15 for students) and attend the opening reception visit the website at artsrugshow.org. During the show we will be extending a 10% discount to ARTAA members. The show runs from October 20-23, 2011 and will feature over 40 international dealers of Oriental as well as tribal and ethnographic textiles.

The Best Book on Tibetan Carpets Ever Published

2011-10-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

We are not given to hyperbole so believe it when we say that Robert Piccus' new book Sacred and Secular: The Piccus Collection Of Tibetan Rugs is the best book published on the subject. The collection of 186 rugs is shown in more than 400 color illustrations and includes history and technical analysis.

"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

New Acquisitions

2011-09-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Alexander, Christopher A Foreshadowing of 21st Century Art: The Color and Geometry of Very Early Turkish Carpets Oxford University Press New York 1993 98 color plates, 500 black and white 351 pp. 8 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Clear dustjacket has a few minor tears. Christopher Alexander owns what many now believe to be the finest collection of early Turkish carpets in the western world, with perhaps half being the only specimens of their kind anywhere. In this richly illustrated, oversized volume--featuring four hundred illustrations, eighty in full color--Alexander takes readers on an engaging tour of his fabulous collection. Readers will see a 13th-century Seljuk Carpet with Dragons, a 15th-century Animal Carpet, a scarlet-niched Transylvanian Prayer Rug, a turquoise Lattice Carpet from Alcaraz, a 16th-century blue Medallion Keyhole Design from Bergama, a rare 16th-century White Field Bird Carpet, the dazzling color and brilliant geometry of a 15th-century Karapinar with Three Gulls, and perhaps Alexander's favorite, a 15th- century Star Karapinar with Flowers (whose designs he describes as "the high point of all Sufi art, the state of liberation, in which the artist is so free, that he is able to be completely natural"). In addition, Alexander elaborates on his theory that these carpets teach structure to artists and architects through the beauty of their form. This lavishly produced volume makes an important contribution to the world of rug scholarship. Equally important, Alexander's thoughtful meditations on these pieces will fascinate the many architects, artists, and planners who follow his work.

More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

Bruggemann, Werner Yayla: Form und Farbe in türkischer Textilkunst (Form and Color in Turkish Textile Art) Museum für Kunsthandwerk / Museum für Islamische Kunst Frankfurt 1993 149 color plates 424 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in Very Good condition. Some scuffing to cover. Massive museum exhibition catalog of Turkish flatweaves and kilims. German text.

More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

Buhler, A. et al. Patola und geringsing. Zeremonial Tücher aus Indien und Indonesien (Patola and Geringsing: Ceremonial Scarves from India and Indonesia) Museum für Völkerkunde Basel 1975 2 color plates 71 black and white 96 pp. 8 x 8 Paperback in Very Good condition Museum catalogs of Indian and Indonesian ikats. German text.

More on Central Asian Rugs and Textiles

Chinese Porcelain Co. Pattern and Symbol: Chinese Rugs and Carpets Chinese Porcelain Co. New York 1986 16 color plates 16 pp. 7.5 x 9 Paperback in Very Good condition. Sunning to spine. GWO 1693. A dealer's exhibition catalog of Chinese carpets including Ningxia, Pautou and Sinkiang.

Happy September!

2011-09-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

For ruggies in Europe there is the Sartirana Textile Show September, 14-18. And for North Americans we have the third annual San Francisco Antique Rug and TextileShow on October 20-23. The Opening Reception is for Antique Rug & Textile Art Association members only and there will be no early picking or browsing so if you want to be among the first to view the wares of these 40-plus world class dealers join us for the opening on the 20th. The show will be open to the general public on the 21st to 23rd and will include seminars, tours, a show-and-tell, exhibitions and more.

New Acquisitions

2011-08-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

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 $95

More on Central Asian Rugs and Textiles

Powischer, Walter J. Beludj: Considerations / Gedanken. The Subject Matter and Classification of Motifs on Pile- and Flat-Woven Textiles in the Baluch Tradition / Die Thematik und Systematik der Motive auf gewebten und geknüpften textilien Arbeiten in der Belutsch-Tradition

Walter J. Powischer Wien 2008 458 color plates 626 pp. 9.25 x 12 Hardback in New condition Massive and well illustrated treatise on the design motifs and composition of Baluch rugs and textiles including geometrical designs, animal heads, horns, human, and floral motifs. Hundreds of examples of rugs with close-ups. German/English text. $325

More on Pre-Columbian Textiles

Coggins, Clemency Chase ed. Artifacts from the Cenote of Sacrifice, Chichen Itza, Yucatan: Textiles, Basketry, Stone, Bone, Shell, Ceramics, Wood, Copal, Rubber, other Organic Materials, and Mammalian Remains

Peabody Museum Press Cambridge 1992 335 black and white figures 389 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition Massive. 57 page chapter on textiles with 38 figures by Joy Mahler Lothrop. "In this abundantly illustrated third and final volume on the artifacts found by Edward H. Thompson in the Well of Sacrifice, specialists analyze the great variety of objects and debate whether they represent evidence of dateable prehistorical ritual. The collection includes the rare remains of hundreds of textiles, wooden objects, and copal incense offerings that were preserved in the waters of this limestone sinkhole, as well as the lithics, ceramics and bone and shell artifacts commonly found in Maya burials and caches and about 250 mammalian remains. These objects are remarkable for having been cut, torn, broken, and burned before they were thrown into the green waters of the sacred well at Chichen Itza." -Publisher. $120

More on Central Asian Rugs and Textiles

Vasta, Giulia Un'arte Americana: Hooked Rugs

Y & B Bolour / Textilia Rome 1996 74 color plates 112 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition Dealer exhibition catalog of early 20th century American hooked rugs. Italian/English text. $65

Rug News

2011-08-02T16:27:00.001-07:00

For ruggies in the Northern Hemisphere the dog days of summer have been busy ones. The International Conference on Oriental Carpets in Stockholm has wrapped up, the Textile Museum announced that it is joining George Washington University in DC and local rug clubs are humming along. This Saturday our local club, the Textile Museum Associates of Southern California is hosting Patrick Weiler, private collector and President of the Seattle Textile and Rug Society for his talk on "The Luri Tribes of Iran and Their Weavings".

The third San Francisco Antique Rug and Textile Show is scheduled for October 20-23 at the Motel Capri in the Marina district. It has become the most important tribal and antique rug show in North America and we are pleased to be exhibiting again (Room 102). The entire building will be taken over by 40 or so dealers from all over the globe along with an exhibition on Turkmen bags, and the ever-popular "Under $500 Room". Book your flights and make reservation because this is not a show to miss!

19 Rare and Unusual Books on Oriental rugs and textiles of the world

2011-07-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

American Art Association American Art Association: The Tiffany Studios Collection of Beautiful Old Chinese Rugs and Carpets The American Art Association New York 1916 4 Color plates 23 Black and white 40 pp. 7.5 x 10.5 Paperback in Good condition. Edgewear. Slight stains to cover. Spine has been reglued. Contemporary (c. 1916) notes and many prices in pencil throughout. GWO 1771. This catalog contains 145 lots of mostly Chinese with some East Turkestan rugs representing the liquidation of Tiffany's Chinese rug department.

More on General Oriental Rugs

Blomberg, Nancy Navajo Textiles, The William Randolph Hearst Collection University of Arizona Press Arizona 1988 200 mostly color illus. 257 pp. 8.5 x 11 Hardback in Very Good condition. Leather-bound limited edition with gilt edges and marbled endpapers. Number 9 of 250. Minor scratches to cover. Hinges have been repaired and new free-endpapers added. Magnificent collection assembled when prices were low.

More on Pre-Columbian Textiles

Danon, Enzo and Roberto eds. Imperial Court Carpets from the Qing Dynasty Orientalis Italy 2007 24 Black and white 80 pp. 13 x 19 Hardback in Fine condition Beautifully produced dealer catalog of old Chinese and East Turkestan rugs with full page illustrations and an emphasis on flower and dragon motifs. Number 127 of a limited edition of 500. Chinese text.

More on East Turkestan - Xinjiang - Sinkiang

Eicher, Joanne Bobolz Nigerian Handcrafted Textiles University of Ife Press Ile-Ife, Nigeria 1976 24 Color plates 71 Black and white 106 pp. 6.5 x 9 Hardback in Very Good condition. Presentation copy signed by the author. Includes chapters on geographical areas, fibres, fabrics and dyes, woven textiles, historical evidence of weaving, types of looms, dyed textiles, pattern-dyed textiles, whole-piece dyed textiles, ikat textiles, other textile crafts, embroidery, applique, and drawnwork.

More on General Oriental Rugs

Homayounpour, Parvis Jayran, Tribal Woman and the Chanteh Cheshmeh Tehran 2004 100 Color plates 172 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in As New condition Collection of small south Persian tribal bags both piled and flatwoven. Both the front and the back of the bags are shown.

More on General Oriental Rugs

Mascelloni, Enrico War Rugs: The Nightmare of Modernism Skira Milan 2009 144 Color plates 208 pp. 6.5 x 9.5 Paperback in New condition A fascinating journey through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran to seek out the mysterious origins of war rugs. For the first time, the context that has made possible one of the most perturbing visual novelties of the late twentieth century is reconstructed. This book analyses the multiple relations involved, ranging from the boldest contemporary art to Al-Qaeda propaganda posters. -Cover

More on Central Asian Rugs and Textiles

Muthesius, Anna Studies in Byzantine, Islamic and Near Eastern Silk Weaving Pindar Press London 2008 173 Color plates 1 Black and white 446 pp. 7 x 9.5 Hardback in dustjacket in As New condition Scholarly. "This volume complements Anna Muthesius' two earlier ground-breaking volumes in the field of silk as material culture: Studies in Byzantine and Islamic Silk Weaving and Studies in Silk in Byzantium. The publication highlights the fact that similar patterns of selection were at work in the acquisition of silks by secular and ecclesiastical bodies. These patterns of selection were governed not only by fashions of the time, but by access to international trade routes leading to the Great Silk Road linking the Near East to the Mediterranean. The surviving silks prove that Mediterranean/Near Eastern silk trade flourished continuously and for centuries prior to the thirteenth century, contrary to what has previously widely been assumed. It also highlights the crucial role of the Caucasian silk routes in accessing the Great Silk Road in the early period, and the contribution of Georgian (and Armenian) silk weaving after the thirteenth century. Above all, the book demonstrates how important it is to assess the impact of Near Eastern silk manufacture and distribution in relation to Byzantine and Islamic Mediterranean silk production and trade." -Publisher.

More on Pre-Columbian Textiles

Reid, James W. Textiles Peruanos Precolombinos: El Primer Arte Moderno (Pre-Columbian Peruvian Textiles: The First Modern Art) Industria Textil Piura S.A. Lima 2008 310 pp. 9.5 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket and slipcase in As New condition The history and influence of ancient Peruvian textiles and featherwork on modern art with side-by-side comparisons. Artists mentioned include Mark Rothko, Giuseppe Arimboldo, Keith Haring, Paul Klee and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Spanish text. 126 color plates of Precolumbian textiles and featherwork. 76 color plates of modern art. 90 color photographs of native peoples and historical architecture. 3 maps. 2 charts.

Antique Rug and Textile Show - Gifts of the Sultans

2011-07-13T17:46:00.000-07:00

The third annual San Francisco Antique Rug and Textile Show is scheduled for October 20-23 at the Carpi in the Marina district. It has become the most important tribal and antique rug show in North America and we are pleased to be exhibiting again. The website is pretty sparse but new information and photos are being added all the time so check back!

Every few years the Los Angeles County Museum of Art takes out its fabulous and famous Ardabil Carpet and it is now on display until Labor Day as part of the Gifts of the Sultan exhibition.

Tribal Bags, Silk Road Textiles, lots of Chinese Textile Books and more!

2011-06-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

Benguiat, V. and L. Rare Ancient Rugs, The V. and L. Benguiat Collection American Art Association / Anderson Galleries New York 1932 27 Black and White 58 pp. 8 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition. Slight chipping to edges and spine. GWO 104. Sale #3968. O'Bannon says, "The April auction to liquidate the Benguiats indebtedness to the American Art Association. Most are classical carpets, many now in museum collections." From the title page: Rare Eastern Carpets of the XVI and XVII Centuries, A Magnificent Royal Persian Animal Carpet, the 'Marquand' Imperial Persian Rug [no relation -Ed.], 'Polonaise' Gold- and Silver-Woven Court Rugs, Royal Ispahans, Oushaks, and Imperial Lahores, Silk-Woven Persian and Indian Examples, Egyptian, 'Damascus', and Chinese Rugs, A Rare Louis XIV Savonnerie Carpet, A XVI Century Veneto-Perse Velvet Fragment, Also Spanish Renaissance Examples.
More Named and Important Auction Catalogs

Cahlander, Adele Double-woven Treasures from Old Peru Dos Tejedoras St. Paul 1985 22 Color Plates 155 Black and White 203 Drawings 198 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition. Edgewear and creases to corners. The first part is a "comprehensive look at the varieties of pre-Columbian double cloth in the world's private and museum collections." The second is the author's instructions for reproducing these weaves on a variety of looms.
More on Pre-Columbian Textiles

Crisa, Nunzio Boro David Sorgato Milano 2004 50 Color Plates 95 pp. 8 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition David Sorgato exhibition catalog of vintage Japanese cotton patchwork textiles mainly in indigo. English-Italian text.
More on Japanese and Korean Textiles

Danon Antique Chinese Carpets Danon Italy (2005?) 26 Color Plates 2 Black and White 32 pp. 9.5 x 11.75 Spiralbound Paperback in Very Good condition High quality dealer catalog of old rugs from China. No text. English plate captions.
More on Chinese and Tibetan Rugs

Danon, Enzo and Roberto eds. Text by Loretta Paderni and Egidio Cossa The Flowers of Buddha: Silk and Metal Carpets From The Forbidden City / Tappeti di Seti e di Metallo della Citta' Proibita Doris Leslie Blau / Danon Gallery 2006 40 Color Plates 136 pp. 9.75 x 12.5 Hardback in slipcase in Very Good condition Beautifully produced dealers (Doris Leslie Blau and Danon Gallery) catalog of silk and metal thread Chinese rugs.
More on Chinese and Tibetan Rugs

Danon, Enzo and Roberto eds. Text by Nina Clara Danon Tiger and Bamboo: Tiger Rugs from Inner Mongolia / Les Tapis Tigres de la Mongolie Interieure 1880 - 1950 Orientalis Italy 2008 31 Color Plates 56 pp. 10 x 13.5 Hardback in box and slipcase in As New condition Beautiful, high quality dealer exhibition catalog. English/French text.
More on Chinese and Tibetan Rugs

Feng, Zhao ed. Textiles from Dunhuang in UK Collections Donghua University Press Shanghai 2007 356 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket and Slipcase in As New condition. Foot of slipcase is broken. A systematic and comprehensive scientific study of all the known silk textiles from the Mogao Grottoes (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas) in Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road. Hundreds of color illustrations.
More on Silk Road Textiles

Frauenknecht, B. and K. Frantz Anatolische Gebetskelims - Anatolian Prayer Kelims Nomad-Press Nurnberg 1978 21 Color Plates, 19 Black and White 91 pp. 7 x 9 Paperback in Fair condition. Corners bumped and torn. Cover stained. GWO 1242. Dealer exhibition and sales catalog of Turkish kelim prayer rugs. German/English text.
More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

Homayounpour, Parvis Jayran, Tribal Woman and the Chanteh Cheshmeh Tehran 2004 100 Color Plates 172 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in As New condition Collection of small south Persian tribal bags both piled and flatwoven. Both the front and the back of the bags are shown.
More on Persian Rugs and Flatweaves

[Hong Kong] Heavens' Embroidered Cloths: One Thousand Years of Chinese Textiles Hong Kong Museum of Art Hong Kong 1995 200 Color Plates 364 pp. 11 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition Massive and beautiful Hong Kong Museum of Art exhibition catalog from many museums and private collections. Text by leading scholars.
More on Chinese Textiles

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 As 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.
More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

Liu, Baojian and Hongqi Yuan Classics of the Forbidden City: Carpets in the Collection of the Palace Museum The Forbidden City Publishing House Beijing 2010 300 Color Plates 282 pp. 11.5 x 11.5 Hardback in Slipcase in As New condition. Chinese text. "This volume from Forbidden City Press features a stunning collection of ancient Chinese rugs. Mostly originating from north and northwest China – areas such as Qinghai, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Ningxia and others – these rugs range in production period from the early Han to the later Qing. Sophisticated weaving techniques and patterns for the times are well represented and many of these items represent the ideal level of health and financial stability in traditional Chinese culture." -Publisher. 96 rugs and textiles are illustrated of which 78 are antique Chinese piled carpets, 2 East Turkestan, 1 Persian vase carpet, 6 Chinese textiles and coverlets and 9 Chinese tapestries.
More on Chinese and Tibetan Rugs

lzbedeva, A.K. Vasily Vereshchagin Art Album State Publishing House of Fine Art Moscow 1954 10.5 x 14.25 Portfolio in Very Good condition Twenty loose plates in color and black and white accompanied by an eight page text of Russian artist Vasily Vereshchagin's (1842-1904) works. Most are paintings of his travels in Central Asia as well as the battle paintings he is most known for. Russian text.
More on Orientalist Paintings

Mackay, Leigh at al. Pathways Through Paradise: Oriental Rugs from Australian Collections Powerhouse Publishing Sydney 2004 40 Color Plates 72 pp. 8.5 x 9.5 Paperback in Very Good condition Powerhouse Museum exhibition catalog in association with the Oriental Rug Society of New South Wales. Includes the Trinitarias, the 'Yacob' Polonaise as well as tribal rugs from collectors.
More on General Oriental Rugs

Maria Fernanda Passos Leite Work of Art in Focus: A Carpet from Mughal India in the Calouste Gulbenkian Collection / Obra de Arte em Foco: Um tapete da India Mogol da Coleccao Calouste Gulbenkian Museu Calouste Gulbenkian Lisbon 1999 11 Color Plates 4 Black and White 12 pp. 8.25 x 11.75 Paperback in Very Good condition Two articles on Indian Carpets and brief descriptions of the other Indian Carpets in the Gulbenkian holdings. Includes glossary. English/Portuguese text.
More on Indian Rugs

Oshanin, L. V. Anthropological Composition of the Population of Central Asia and the Ethnogenesis of its People I-III Peabody Museum Cambridge 1964 135 Black and White Plus Charts 398 pp. 8.5 x 11 Paperback in Very Good condition. Deacessioned from the Museum of New Mexico Division of Anthropology. No marks except for two ink stamps on covers. Important three volume set of this 1927-1929 Russian study. Published as a part of the Russian Translation Series of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology Volume 2 Numbers 1, 2, 3.
More on Anthropology of the Near East

Piotrovsky, Mikhail B. and Anton D. Pritula eds. Beyond the Palace Walls: Islamic Art from the State Hermitage Museum, Islamic Art in a World Context National Museums of Scotland Edinburgh 2006 242 Color Plates 256 pp. 10 x 9.5 Hardback in As New condition Includes the article "Chinese Textiles for Islamic Countries" by Maria L. Menshikova 36 textiles (mostly Turkish) illustrated including one rug.
More on Pre Islamic and Islamic Art

Sabahi, Taher Vaghireh, Modelli per la Tessitura dei Tappeti (Vagirehs: Models for Carpet Weaving) KARTA Firenze 1987 23 Color Plates, 23 Black and White 95 pp. 8 x 11 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition GWO 2123. A book on samplers, woven as models for complete rugs. Mostly Persian and Turkish. Italian text.
More on Anatolian/Turkish Rugs and Kilims

Talwar, Kay and K. Krishna Indian Pigment Paintings on Cloth Calico Museum of Textiles Ahmedabad 1979 12 Color Plates 133 Black and White 284 pp. 8.5 x 11 Hardback in worn dustjacket otherwise in Very Good condition Volume III. Historic Textiles of India at the Calico Museum, Ahmedabad.
More on Indian Textiles

Tanavoli, Parvis Rustic and Tribal Weaves from Varamin Yassavoli Tehran 2001 81 Color Plates 144 pp. 8 x 11 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Unread but corners bumped. Carpets, flatweaves and bags from the Varamin area of Iran woven by various tribal groups including Lors, Kurds, Afshars and Shahsavan tribes.
More on Persian Rugs and Flatweaves

Verlet, Pierre The James A. De Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor. The Savonnerie: Its History, The Waddesdon Collection Office du Livre Fribourg 1982 22 Color Plates 220 Black and White 535 pp. 8 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in Very Good condition. Small tear to dustjacket. Massive, beautiful, and scholarly this is the standard source for French Royal carpets including those from Louis XIII and Louis XIV in the Rothschild collection.
More on European Rugs

Wilson, Lillian M. Ancient Textiles from Egypt in the University of Michigan Collection University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor 1933 77 pp. of text 8 x 10.5 Hardback in Very Good condition. Report by the University of Michigan on textiles found in the excavations at Karanis, in the Fayum district of Egypt in the years 1924-1926. 23 black and white plates show around 100 examples of early Coptic textiles.
More on Coptic Textiles

Zong, Fengying [Silks and Embroidery of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the Palace Museum, Beijing] Commercial Press Hong Kong 2005 Over 300 Color Plates 295 pp. 8.5 x 11.5 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition "China was the world's earliest producer and profiteer of fine silks and from the periods of the Ming and Qing Dynasties came some of the most beautifully created textiles and embroideries ever seen. In this Palace Museum collection of 279 pieces, great attention is paid to the details of these beautiful and colorful selections, the majority of which come from the exclusive Court Collection itself. Covering all periods of the Ming and Qing dynasty, the items covered in this volume are proof of China's creative expertise in the field." -Publisher. Chinese text. English plate captions include sizes, dates and descriptions.
More on Chinese Textiles

ICOC Book Sale

2011-05-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

We are less than a month away from the 12th International Conference on Oriental Carpets, the world's premier Oriental rug event for 2011! As official distributors of ICOC titles we are offering a select group at 20% off from now until the conference closes on June 16. These books are filled with world-class examples and scholarly research. The price changes are reflected on our website.

Free shipping on all US orders and we pay sales tax for California residents!

Tezcan, Hulya; Sumiyo Okimura; Kathleen Hamilton Gundogdu; eds.: Weaving Heritage of Anatolia (2 Volumes)
Istanbul 2007
328 Color Plates 510 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition. Slipcase damaged, as issued.
This sumptuously illustrated two-volume boxed set was published on the occasion of the 11th International Conference on Oriental Carpets held in Istanbul in April 2007. The first volume is on the exhibitions of private collections that were on display at the Swissotel including yastiks (78 color plates), kilims (65 color plates), catmas (24 color plates), Ottoman textiles (11 color plates), costumes (10 color plates), and piled rugs (22 color plates). The second volume is of 118 of the 266 recently conserved rugs at the Istanbul Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (TIEM). Turkish/ English text. Printed and bound in Turkey. This title is the latest in the series of publications by the ICOC that provide continuing scholarship on Oriental rugs for the collector. Limited to 500 copies.
Price: $295    $236

Eiland, Murray L. ed.: A World of Carpets and Textiles
Danville 2003
325 Color Plates 290 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition.
Exhibition catalog of the 10th International Conference on Oriental Carpets. Massive display of Textile Museum and collector rugs, including displays of Ensi, Kaitag, Central Asian, Persian tribal and Caucasian rugs. A sparkling book illustrating the many exhibitions of the 10th ICOC in Washington, DC in 2003. The weighty volume contains: rare Spanish and Mamluk carpets from the Textile Museum Collection, essays by Carol Bier; a large section of Kaitag embroideries from the Caucasus, essay by Susan Scollay; Central & Southern Zagros Mountain weavings, essay by John Wertime, and Khorjin & Mafrash of NW Persia and Transcaucasia, essay by Wendel Swan. Essays by Hoffmeister, Tsareva and Crosby lead a special exhibition of The Turkmen Ensi and Traditional Textiles of Uzbekistan are supplemented with essays by Makhamova, Mirsadiyeva, Babanazarova and Tsareva.
Price: $110    $88

Dodds, Dennis R. et al.: Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections
Philadelphia 1996
331 Color Plates 277 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition.
Massive catalog of the 8th ICOC in Philadelphia in 1996. Contains a wide range of rug types from private and museum collections, including rare Central Asian rugs and trappings from the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg and Classical carpets of the 16-17th centuries from the distinguished collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Beautifully illustrated, large pictures, cogent writing by leading authorities: Dodds, Eiland, Jr., Indictor, Mallary, Mast, Pickering, Pinner and Tsareva. Central Asian and tribal rugs are well represented.
Price: $110    $88

Eiland, Murray: Oriental Rugs from Pacific Collections
San Francisco 1990
230 Color Plates 244 pp. 9 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition.
GWO 337. This substantial book documents the superb pile rugs, kilims and trappings exhibited during the 6th ICOC in San Francisco in 1990. As a major center for collectors and dealers since the 1960s, the Bay Area contains numerous world-class private and museum collections. Eiland's essays are useful additions to the wide range of mostly tribal, village and classical pieces. There are several extraordinary Central Asian weavings from the Russian Ethnographic Museum. The private collections show strong tribal interest.
Price: $110    $88

Morehouse, Brian: Yastiks: Cushion Covers and Storage Bags of Anatolia
Philadelphia 1996
144 Color Plates 109 pp. 8 x 12 Hardback in dustjacket in New condition.
Important book in this area. Exhibition catalog from 8th International Conference on Oriental Carpets. The groundbreaking book on these diminutive treasures. Excellent introduction covers historical background and merging influences from both the ancient Mediterranean world and from nomadic tribes originating in the east. Looks at early Anatolian carpet designs and their relationship to the yastik, discusses dating and regional design/technical differences. Color illustrations are organized by geographical regions of Turkey and assist in viewing design similarities within these areas.
Price: $65    $52

Eiland, Murray L. and R. Pinner and W. Denny : Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies Volume IV
Berkeley 1993
9 Color Plates, 452 black and white illustrations and figures 281 pp. 7 x 10 Paperback in New condition.
Papers from the 7th ICOC presented in San Francisco.
Price: $35    $28

Eiland, Murray and R. Pinner: Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies Volume 5 Part 1
Danville, Ca 1999
240 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition.
Well illustrated in color and black and white. Conference papers presented at the 8th International Conference on Oriental Carpets. This impressive book contains selected conference papers. Edited by Murray Eiland and Robert Pinner, the new, larger format and abundant use of color illustrations make this a useful and important reference.
Price: $65    $52

Eiland, M. and R. Pinner: Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies Volume 5 Part 2 The Salting Carpets
Danville, Ca 1999
136 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition.
Well illustrated in color and black and white illustrations. Conference papers presented at the 8th International Conference on Oriental Carpets. This compendium of academic sessions discusses a long-controversial subject for the origins of the so-called "Salting carpets" and makes an important contribution to settling the question. "...serves to underline the importance of combining aesthetic and chromatic considerations with archival research...(Michael Franses') paper is painstakingly researched (with) and illustrated catalogue, structural analyses, C-14 dating and translations...of the inscriptions." Susan Day, HALI #110, May-June 2000, pp 74-75.
Price: $45    $36

Eiland, Murray and R. Pinner ed.: Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies Volume VI
Danville 2001
507 Color Plates 65 Black and White 240 pp. 9 x 12 Paperback in New condition.
Papers presented at the International Conference on Oriental Carpets in Milan, 1999, covering most areas of Oriental rugs including Moroccan rugs. Important and original papers on the early development of carpet weaving and Classical carpets; rugs from the Caucasus; Anatolian carpets, Moroccan carpets; conservation and materials; Turkmen and other Central Asian weaving. Authors include Farnham, Parham, Sinderman, Mills, Sherrill, Eiland, Boehmer, Balpinar and Ryder. An important addition in large format to the Oriental Carpet and Textiles Studies (OCTS) series.
Price: $65    $52