Textiles were the Incas' most prized possessions. Their first gifts to European strangers were made not of gold and silver, but of camelid fibre and cotton. They believed that the highest form of weaving was created expressly for the sun, which they considered the greatest of the celestial powers. This book uses this image to symbolise Andean tradition as a whole and documents the collection of ancient and Colonial Andean textiles in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which is among the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. Described and illustrated here, in many cases for the first time are the finest examples from the collection: weavings of astonishing virtuosity with striking geometric designs, elaborate carpets and covers, mantles, tunics, featherwork, woven shoes with metal decoration and intriguing figural sculptures with tapestry faces - representing the major cultures of the pre-Columbian period as well as the achievements of Spanish Colonial times. A chronological overview and accompanying essays examine the weavings as primary sources of information about their makers. For archaeologists, ethnographers, textile designers and weavers and all those who appreciate the brilliant artistry of ancient civilizations, the achievement of the weaver as creative artist is both celebrated and explored.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hand woven treasures from Peru,
By K. Maxwell "katmax1" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To Weave for the Sun: Ancient Andean Textiles (Paperback)
This is a 1992 exhibition catalogue from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The museum has an a very diverse collection of pre-Columbian and colonial textiles from Peru.The catalouge is well presented with a number of essays on these ancient textiles, their method of construction and meaning at the front - followed by a colour listing and description of each textile on show in the second half of the book. The photography is beautiful in this book and we are shown textiles ranging from 500Bc to the 18th century. There are also a few pieces of featherwork thrown in. My only dissapointment with this book was the lack of secondary textile objects such as featherwork head ornaments or fans. But you can't have everything. A good book to buy if you are into pre-colubmian textiles or art work.
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