Beyond the Silk Road: Arts of Central Asia [Paperback]

Christina Sumner (Author), Heleanor Feltham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2000

This volume presents the Powerhouse Museum's collection of costumes, textiles, rugs, lithographs of designs and metalwork from Central Asia. The vivid images are accompanied by essays which look at the nexus between the nomadic and settled cultures of Central Asia and at the history of this region.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ikats are patterned textiles produced by tying and resist-dying the warp and/or weft threads before weaving, a technique known in many parts of the world. Moved by their bright colors and complex designs, Guido Goldman, a former professor of European studies at Harvard, began collecting 19th-century central Asian ikats. The Goldman collection is considered the largest and most comprehensive collection of wall hangings and robes produced during Asia's finest period of silk production. Fitz Gibbon and Hale, specialists in the silk-weaving tradition of central Asia and nomadic textiles, have produced a book on the collection that served as catalog to a recent traveling exhibition. The authors detail the silk trade in central Asia, weavers' workshops and guilds, the making of ikats, and design sources and influences. Their discussion of the role of textiles as wall hangings in domestic life and as men's robes and women's dresses give life to the complex weaving tradition. The items are beautifully photographed, with many close-up opportunities for textile study, and reproductions of historical photographs enhance the text. A nice addition to cultural and textile collections. Beyond the Silk Road was published in conjunction with an August 1999-June 2000 exhibition at the Powderhouse Museum's Asian Gallery (Sydney, Australia), which houses Australia's largest collection of textiles and clothing as well as Asian decorative arts and design. Following an overview of central Asian history, the text describes the material culture of the inhabitants, who are either nomads or oasis dwellers, with a focus on textiles. Included are brief details of textile production, various cultural influences on artisans, and costume. Examples of woven and embroidered textiles, including rugs, clothing, horse covers, camel headdresses, and designs for silk ikats, are all showcased. The book is nicely done, but the focus is narrow. Recommended for special collections only.DJudith Yankielun Lind, Roseland Free P.L., NJ
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1863170693
• ISBN-13: 978-1863170697
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,569,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful exhibition guide on Central Asian arts and crafts, January 21, 2001

By 

Kevin Brook "author" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond the Silk Road: Arts of Central Asia (Paperback)

I highly recommend this superb illustrated look at the Powerhouse Museum's collection of Central Asian arts and crafts. Included in this large 80-page book are color photographs of rugs, dresses, coats, headcoverings, jewelry, embroidery, architectural drawings, glass pottery, horse covers, bags, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Turkmens. The handcrafted items possess a rich treasure-trove of complex geometric forms and designs. The images are accompanied by helpful introductory texts by Christina Sumner and Heleanor Feltham concerning the history and culture of Central Asian peoples and a large map of the Silk Road routes. The selected bibliography lists 22 books and 4 websites where one can explore Central Asian traditions further.