The World of Rozome: Wax-Resist Textiles of Japan (Paperback)

by Betsy Sterling Benjamin (Author) "Humans have spun fiber and woven cloth since the seventh millennium B.C..." (more)
Key Phrases: imported sarasa, city art college, kimono company, Kageo Miura, Yusuke Tange, Central Asia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"... an admirable book, combining the scholarly with the artistic with great success...." -- Textile Fibre Forum

"... an invaluable account of the artists and their creations." -- Kyoto Journal

"Benjamin's love of research -- and rozome itself -- shines forth from every page." -- Leesa Hubbell, The Japan Times

"Brimming with meticulous, well-annotated detail." -- Daruma: Japanese Art & Antiques Magazine

Product Description
This is a comprehensive and fully illustrated guide to a 1000-year-old textile tradition and its modern interpreters. In-depth interviews with leading Japanese textiles artists demonstrate the wide variety and colour of this unique art form, while the colour photographs provide a vivid insight into the working arrangements and techniques of the many artists and craftsmen working today.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (JPN) (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770028571
• ISBN-13: 978-4770028570
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,693,185 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything on the subject!, October 27, 1998

By	Kass McGann "kass101" (Easton, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World of Rozome: Wax-Resist Textiles of Japan (Hardcover)

If you want to know anything or everything about Japanese textile dyeing techniques, this is the sourcebook. It is expensive, but well worth the price. This is not your usual coffee table book. Sure, it shows pictures of the textiles themselves. But it also discusses the dyeing techniques in great detail. It even gives the reader step by step instructions, with pictures, of how to make and apply to various resists. It even gives recipies for resists! It is an invaluable reference for the textile artist and clothing historian. I have never before seen a book so useful and so informative. It gets the Reconstructing History thumbs up!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 22, 2008

By	Olivia Batchelder - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is considered the seminal text in English on this ancient artform, which is similar to batik in that it utilizes melted wax as a resist, but uses completely different techniques and completely different tools. The resulting artwork had a unique look, more like a painting. Filled with photos and detailed text, it is a comprehensive book, detailing the styles of several living rozome masters in Japan, as well as providing instructions for how to begin to do this work, and what supplies are needed. I learned about this book during travel. It is out of print and hard to get. My companion told me I'd never find one for sale. I was delighted to get this used copy in excellent condition, received just 3 days from when I placed my order. The author is a fine artist in her own right, going beyond the techniques described in the book to create timely, exquisite and visionary artwork.