Customer Reviews

Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asia

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
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A book that will appeal to history buffs, appreciators of indigenous cultures, and those ready to plunge into viewing page after page of artistically-laid-out photos of visually stunning Central Asian robes and their Russian linings. The opening chapters introduce us to the peoples of Central Asia, the "social life" of cloth, and how the Russian textile industry came to play such an important "undercover" role in the clothing worn by Central Asians.

It is a book that you can leave on your coffee table as a wonderful treat for the eyes, or you can read the text and become that much more knowledgeable about a part of the world which continues to gain in strategic importance day by day.

An extraordinary synthesis, this book makes for a great gift to oneself or others.

while this extravagantly illustrated compilation of Russian printed fabrics from 1900 to 1950 will be invaluable to both artist and collector, it is a visual delight to the general reader as well. The author skilfully weaves the history of the Cental Asian tribal peoples into the tapestry of mass migration and technology which produced stunning roller and block-printed cotton clothing.

This book is not only visually stunning, it is also a fascinating read. This is the first time that these beautiful and unusual fabrics have been given their due recognition both as designs and as an important part of Russian/Soviet history.

As a collector of, and dealer in Central Asian garments, I have long been fascinated by the printed, cotton linings of these garments. Some of the fabrics are so beautiful, that my customers turn the coats inside out, and wear them in reverse. How delightful to find a book on these fabrics. The book shows many different patterns of fabric, as well as a number of coats, turned inside out, to show the wonderful patchwork patterns. Well done.

As a recent traveller on a textile tour throughout Uzbekistan, I had the fortunate experience of meeting textile weavers and sellers. Just seeing the local women in the markets wearing traditional clothes and the array of magnificent silk garments lined with vibrant Russian cottons in museums was a visual feast. The museums throughout Uzbekistan allow you to get up close and personal (no touching) with an amazing exposure to these traditional clothes showing locally woven silks and Russian cottons. Women dressed in traditional clothes are still to be seen picking cotton in the extensive fields. I guess these days are quickly disappearing. The Russian cottons transend the local to international interest. Very good book with excellent representation of Russian cotton designs.

This book is stunning in a visual sense. Each print illustrates the creative choices of the Central Asian people and also reflect the influences of the world around them. More than a book reviewing Russian textiles, it records the history of a region of the world that is not commonly explored. So beautifully photographed, one can almost feel the weave of the prints. Cloth is so commonplace we take its history for granted. This book reminds us its importance. Its interesting that a swatch of fabric can weave a story of time and people.

This book is truly beautiful! The layout and textiles are elegant, exciting, exquisite! The well-written text and archival photographs introduce the reader to the peoples of Central Asia and their complex and artistic textile traditions. Clearly much love and care went into creating this unique book.

Put on your sunglasses and take a magic carpet ride! This is one of the single most beautiful books I have ever seen, rivaling some of my Taschen fine art tomes. The digital recreations of these patterns are remarkable for their clarity and beauty.

Once you've gotten past the wonderful plates---which isn't easy: every page is a new delight---the text is equally fascinating, tracing a trade for a century and showing how both manufacturer and buyer changed in the process.

One of the prizes of my textile arts library!

I wish there was a 6 star rate!
Love the quality (overall!) of the book! Amazong for inspiration!! This one goes on my special-favorite book rack!!!!

One of my best textile book purchases ever. Over 200 pages packed with gorgeous full-color images of great quality. There are image blocks of just the pattern, as well as actual pieces of clothing to see how they were worn. It's organized into the following categories: Paisley, Pre-Revolutionary Floral, Art Nouveau, Post-Revolutionary Floral, Post-Revolutionary Modern, Outside Influences, and Stripes & Chits. I cannot express enough how beautiful this book is. Just buy it!