Kwakiutl String Figures [Hardcover]

Julia Averkieva (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1992

Julia Averkieva’s study represents the most comprehensive Native American string collection ever assembled from a single tribe. In addition to characterizing the social conditions that prompted string figure making among the Kwakiutl during the time of her field study, Averkieva noted step-by-step instructions for each figure and transcribed traditional accompanying chants. In editing and expanding Averkieva’s manuscript, Mark Sherman addresses string figure enthusiasts as well as cultural anthropologists. Sherman includes in his introduction a complete description of basic openings and string figure moves. For each Kwakiutl figure he has prepared clear illustrations based on Averkieva’s original photographs and pencil sketches. In addition he has tested each figure for workability, clarifying instructions where necessary and recasting them in Rivers and Haddon’s standard terminology.

Editorial Reviews

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About the Author

Julia Averkieva (1907-1980) was director of North American studies at the Institute of Ethnography, Soviet Academy of Sciences, Moscow, and editor-in-chief of the internationally known journal Sovetskaia Etnografia. Mark A. Sherman (editor) is a biochemist who devotes his leisure time to the study of string figures.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of British Columbia; 1St Edition edition (December 31, 1992)
• ISBN-10: 0774804327
• ISBN-13: 978-0774804325
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,225,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, challenging, enlightening, September 13, 2009

By 

Jamis Buck (Caldwell, ID USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kwakiutl String Figures (Anthropological Papers of the American) (Hardcover)

If you're an intermediate to advanced string figurist, you really ought to check out this book. Mark Sherman's instructions and illustrations for the figures are precise and well-tested, but the figures themselves are (for the most part) very challenging! It's like solving puzzles, and each figure you complete successfully is a small victory. Completing the entire book is very rewarding! The cultural analyses at the back of the book are fascinating, as are the analyses of the individual figures, which are given throughout the book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!, March 29, 2000

By 

Myriam Namolaru (Haifa, ISRAEL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kwakiutl String Figures (Anthropological Papers of the American) (Hardcover)

You'll spend hours to make the figures offered.
This big book is a must for all string figures's lovers.
This book have about 110 string games and 10 tricks.
The explanations and illustrations are clears.
The book is for intermediates and advanced.
Enjoy!

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 étoiles ce n'est pas assez!, April 9, 2000

By 

Myriam Namolaru (Haifa, ISRAEL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kwakiutl String Figures (Anthropological Papers of the American) (Hardcover)

Vous passerez des heures à ficeler les figures proposées. Ce gros livre est le "must" des jeux de ficelle. Ce livre a environ 110 jeux de ficelle et 10 tours de ficelle. Les explications et les illustrations sont très claires. C'est un livre pour intermédiaires et avancés.