One of the world's most important collections of medieval Islamic embroideries is to be found in the Department of Eastern Art in Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum. The textiles were collected by the Egyptologist Percy Newberry between 1900 and 1930, while he was living in Cairo. Most of the embroideries were made in Egypt or Syria, they were mainly used as dress items and domestic furnishings, but the collection also has a number of samplers. Much of the material is now fragmentary, but the embroidered designs are still clearly visible. The richness of patterns and the technical brilliance of the majority of pieces make the collection a treasure trove for textile scholars and embroidery enthusiasts alike. The 66 examples of embroideries illustrated are from the Tulunid period (AD868-905), the Fatamid period (AD969-1171), the Ayyubid period (AD1171-1249), and the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria, ending with the Ottoman Conquest in 1517 and demonstrate the wide variety of embroidery stitches and techniques already in use at that time. A large proportion are worked in geometric design but there are also examples of scrolling and Arabesque design, figurative motifs such as birds, animals and fish, and calligraphy. It is possible that some of the comparatively simple open-work techniques were imported to Italy via trade and became the basis for the development of needlelace in Europe.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A must for textile scholars and embroidery enthusiasts..." -- Embroidery, January 2002.
About the Author
Marianne Ellis
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Resource for Re-enactors,
This review is from: Embroideries & Samplers from Islamic Egypt (Ashmolean Handbooks) (Paperback)
Large all color plates and detailed notes about construction and stitches make this book an invaluable resource for anyone researching medieval Islamic embroidery.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and Invaluable,
By Historical Artisan (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Embroideries & Samplers from Islamic Egypt (Ashmolean Handbooks) (Paperback)
Whether you are a lover of beautiful embroidery or a needleworker looking for inspiration, this book is an invaluable addition to any library. The photographs are excellent quality high resolution so that each stitch is visible. Both the introductory text and picture captions are full of rich information with details such as thread count, size, provenance, even carbon dating as well background on patterns and practices. This is a book that can be read again and again - well worth the price
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Embroideries from Islamic Egypt,
By Kathleen (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Embroideries & Samplers from Islamic Egypt (Ashmolean Handbooks) (Hardcover)
One of the most interesting books I have purchased for some time.
Very well researched and presented. I have recently attended an excellent class on this subject and am now endeavouring to receate some of these embroideries.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
