Antique Kilims of Anatolia
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: October 2000
Language: eng
Number of pages: 160
ISBN-13: 9780393730470
First sentence: In the ancient rhythm of Anatolian pastoral life one of the major beats is spring sheep-shearing time, when the shearers, usually the men of the household, clip and turn back the matted wool and then, seeming to roll the sheep out of its coat, produce the fleece, a pelt-like mass of intermeshed raw wool.
Description: "The beautiful flatweavings called kilims made by the tribal women of Anatolia have come to be highly appreciated by collectors of Turkish rugs and have rightly earned a place in history for the anonymous women who created them. From fleece, yarn, and dyeing to looms and weaves to the unique visual language of kilims and the lives of tribal weavers, Antique Kilims of Anatolia illuminates the world of Turkish weaving.".

"Illustrated with ethnographic photographs by Josephine Powell, the noted ethnographic photographer, helpful line drawings explaining the shared symbolic language of the designs, and color plates of 73 important examples, this book was first published in 1993 as The Tribal Eye, which became a classic reference on the world of the kilim.

This expanded edition has additional text and illustrations that make a classic text into an authoritative reference on ancient Turkish kilims: it includes new research on radiocarbon dating, and new chapters that examine the evolution of two major kilim design motifs and explain how the kilim fits into the history of Turkish weaving and the larger Ottoman aesthetic. Over twenty new color plates show a selection of pre-nineteenth-century kilims.

An indispensable glossary of Turkish weaving terms is appended." "Those interested in design processes, art, anthropology, and history will find a wealth of information to enjoy. This book brings kilims to life; such weavings can never merely be floor coverings or dry museum pieces. They are windows into another culture and time and Antique Kilims of Anatolia is the perfect interpreter and guide."--BOOK JACKET.