Kilim, The Complete Guide: History, Pattern, Technique, Identification [Paperback]

Alastair Hull (Author), Jose Luczyc-Wyhowska (Author), Nicolas Barnard (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2000

Bold, distinctive patterns; brilliant colors; affordability-these are some of the characteristics that explain the overwhelming popularity of the exquisite, flatwoven textiles from the Near and Far East known as kilims. The most comprehensive and beautifully illustrated survey to date, Kilim contains hundreds of color photographs accompanied by an authoritative text examining the origins, history, and weaving techniques of these unique cloths. A directory to international kilim auction houses; a source listing of dealers and services; and a reference guide to the collecting, care, and further study of kilims conclude this definitive work on a widely appealing subject.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Some books are classics in their field and deserve to be described as "essential" reference tools. This is one such book. It is informative but, even more important, comprehensive, well written, and beautifully illustrated with more than 600 photographs, many in color, of Kilims--classic rugs from the Middle East that have become increasinly popular. In the opening chapters, the authors have provided information on how kilims are made, the construction of looms, and the dyes and dyeing techniques used. They also analyze motifs and symbolism employed by the weavers. In separate sections the authors next discuss the four major kilim producing areas of the world: North Africa, Anatolia, Persia (and the Caucasus), and Afghanistan. The book concludes with a chapter on new kilims and how to evaluate them, an excellent glossary, a chapter on rug care, and a list of kilim dealers and auctioneers throughout the world. Despite its relatively high cost, this book is essential for all art libraries and most public libraries.
- Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The popularity of colorful, flat-woven kilim rugs has increased steadily in recent years. Highly prized as collectible textiles, kilims easily double as beautiful assets in home decor, even to the often unfortunate extent of their being cut up and made into pillow slips or upholstery fabric for sofas and chairs. Hull, who has an earlier and very informative book to his credit, teams up with Luczyc-Wyhowska in this current guide to describe in considerably more depth the design motifs, symbols, and patterns of tribal and contemporary commercially produced kilims. Illustrations, including line drawings and extensive color photographs, will help to educate aficionados and to provide detailed information to aid in identifying kilims from areas of North Africa, Anatolia, Persia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. This is most likely the definitive guide to kilims thus far, and it surely qualifies as an important acquisition where other resources are unavailable. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (June 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811828883
• ISBN-13: 978-0811828888
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,594,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent kilim picture book for the tribal rug fanatic., October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kilim: The Complete Guide, History, Pattern , Technique , Identification (Hardcover)

Gorgeous rugs. Gorgeous photographs. Lots of them. For people who love oriental rugs, especially funky tribal rugs, and for people who are demanding about the pleasure they expect from rug books--this book is a great find.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favorite book on Flatweaves., June 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Kilim: The Complete Guide, History, Pattern , Technique , Identification (Hardcover)

This is my favorite book on Flatweaves. It covers more than just kilims and is very comprehensive. If you are interested in any Flatweaves you should have this book. I use this book when I am trying to identify flatweaves and I find it a simple, user friendly, but comprehensive resource.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I Wanted to Know About Kilims, February 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Kilim, The Complete Guide: History, Pattern, Technique, Identification (Paperback)

This book is very informative. I wanted to become knowledgable about Kilims and this book has really helped me to become so. The photographes are very beautiful. I hope to become an advid collector and with the information from this book I am a confident buyer.