Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands [Paperback]

Nilda Alvarez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2007

A richly illustrated look at Andean weaving, which embodies the living history and culture of the Peruvian highlands, this guide extensively catalogs many of the intricate patterns found in traditional Peruvian textiles. Exploring the personal histories of the Quechua people who sustain this tradition, it examines how they weave extraordinary amounts of cloth on simple backstrap looms—just as their forebears have done for thousands of years—to make clothing, rugs, bedcovers, potato sacks, hunting slings, and sacrificial fabrics for both their villages and for interested tourists. How pattern names such as Meandering River or Lake With Flowers relate to the geography and history of the region is also discussed, as is how the traditional natural materials and colors enhance the value of the work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The armchair traveler . . . will be amazed at the variety of designs. . . . An excellent choice for ethnic textile collections in academic and large public libraries."  —Library Journal

"Highly recommended to people seeking a broader understanding of textile crafts or the traditions of the Peruvian highlands."  —Suite101.com

"A beautiful book. . . . The variety of colors and patterns are incredible."  —Fiber Arts News

About the Author

Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez is an expert in historic Peruvian weaving techniques. She founded the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco and established weaving co-ops in nine remote mountain villages in Peru that perpetuate traditional techniques and foster economic development in the region. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680555
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680555
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #597,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands, February 9, 2008

By 

Patritzia "librarian traveler" (Rhinebeck, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands (Paperback)

This is a marvelous contribution to understanding the beauty and cultural importance of traditional weaving in the Andean heart of the Incan empire. The author, whose Center for Traditional Textiles in Cuzco, just opened (2007) as a museum, market, and center of learning and research,
is superbly qualified, as the expert who is illuminating her own traditions. She has produced a stunning, accessible and fascinating work which should appeal to weavers everywhere and to anyone who is traveling to the area, or armchair travelers who wish to learn more about the vibrant traditions of the Andes. Highly recommended for artists, weavers, and travelers.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Examples of Traditional Peruvian Weaving, July 2, 2008

By 

Eric S. Waples (Estes Park, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands (Paperback)

Having traveled with Nilda to meet the weavers and observe the weaving process in most of the villages featured in the book , I can attest that the stunning color reproductions (kudos to the publisher for the choice of so many wonderful examples and for selecting a outstanding printer!) in the book accurately represent the superb work still being done under the direction of the Center for Traditional Textiles Cusco. If you are looking for "visual understanding and aesthetic appreciation" of the best of Peruvian textile weaving today, this is the book to buy! And the economical text thoughtfully complements the numerous illustrations.

Eric Waples

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous patterns from Peru, May 25, 2008

By 

Robert C. Ross (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands (Paperback)

Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez is a Quechua weaver and scholar. She was born in Chinchero, a village in the southern highlands of Peru, was educated in the United States and in Cusco, and is the founder of Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco.

"We started the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco in l996 to explore which Andean weaving traditions still exist today, how we might educate people in our culture to value and continue the Inca heritage, and how we , as a group of concerned individuals, might aid villages and families in this process.

"In the Andes we depend mainly on farming to provide food for our families,but it brings little income. Like those who came before us, we still honor the earth and continue practices adapted to difficult conditions of high altitude, steep slopes and unpredictable weather. But we can no longer depend on the agricultural systems of land planning and food store-housing put in place by our Inca ancestors to assure that everyone received enough to eat in bad years. Those systems were destroyed during colonial times. Families today must find ways to supplement their income to meet their daily needs.

"The work of the Center is not just to preserve and to study Peruvian textiles, their symbolism and significance, etc. Our goal also is to assist families to create a larger market for their textiles and a new economy for their communities."

The works of art are beautifully reproduced in this well printed book, and the text explains much of the history and the meanings of the patterns. On a recent visit to the Center, we saw many beautiful pieces, quite different from the acrylic tourist belts and purses on offer everywhere.

The book also explains some of the many difficulties using natural materials -- lack of firewood, scarcity of some plants, even practical problems -- a soft boiled egg takes either eight or nine minutes of cooking because of the high altitudes around Cusco.

The book and the Center make an important statement about preserving these ancient weaving techniques. The resulting works are a feast for the eye and for the mind.

Robert C. Ross 2008