African Textiles (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "African textiles have been the subject of much study over the last few decades..." (more)
Key Phrases: stitched resist, tripod loom, adire eleko, West Africa, North Africa, Sierra Leone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Generously sized and beautifully illustrated, African Textiles is an authoritative survey of textile arts - unique and collectible rugs, tapestries, garments, and much more - from across the continent. Author John Gillow traveled extensively throughout Africa, uncovering the dazzling range of traditional hand-crafted textiles from each region. Five sections detail the textile history and traditions within Africa's major geographical areas, examining materials, dyes, decorations, patterns, and techniques. From the stripweave cloth of the Ashanti in the West to Ethiopian embroidery in the East, from Berber rugs in the North to the Madagascan silk of the South - and everything in between - the breadth of coverage in African Textiles is peerless. Robustly illustrated with over 500 color photographs and drawings, this is an exciting new sourcebook for those interested in textile design and the traditional arts of Africa.

About the Author

John Gillow is a scholar who has been tracking down outstanding and unusual textiles for the past 30 years and has written extensively on the subject.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; First Edition edition (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811841669
• ISBN-13: 978-0811841665
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #894,177 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars African Textiles in an Amazing Source, June 22, 2004

By A Customer

This book is a wonderful source of material for anyone doing historical research on African and subgroup textiles. It has sections from Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Eastern African, etc. It goes in a good depth on the process and cultural influence of each textile and their signifigance. The illustrations are also an amazing quality with good size picture. As a Theatre Studies major, I had to research material for Nigerian costuming and this book was a nice resource to get a feel of the fabric in this region. Although this book doesn't go too much in depth about the attire Africans wore, it does go about telling what fabrics are used. This is definitely a must buy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding creativity captured in a book, May 8, 2006

By	Trudi Bean (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Gillow's African Textiles is an inspiring review of the diverse creativity of textiles in Africa. I read this book before I travelled in south and south-eastern Africa and it helped me identify what I was seeing and its quality. A fantastic and well written resourse.

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding presentation any library strong in African art history will relish, September 15, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Textiles: Color and Creativity Across a Continent (Paperback)

John Gillow's AFRICAN TEXTILES: COLOR AND CREATIVITY ACROSS A CONTINENT is the first comprehensive survey to illustrate the textiles of the entire continent, region by region, covering the handmade textiles of every area and using an outline of techniques used to create the different works. Full color illustrations of items such as Pygmy bark cloth from the Congo and Ethiopian weavings makes for an outstanding presentation any library strong in African art history will relish.