Encyclopedia of Embroidery from Central Asia, the Iranian Plateau and the Indian Subcontinent

Description

This is the first reference work to describe the history of embroidery throughout Central Asia, the Iranian Plateau and the Indian Subcontinent from the medieval period through to the present. It offers an authoritative guide to all the major embroidery traditions of the region and a detailed examination of the material, technical, artistic and design dimensions of the subject, including its use by today's fashion designers. For millennia, the peoples of Central Asian, the Iranian Plateau and the Indian Subcontinent have migrated and traded along the multiple strands of the Silk Road, both north-south and east-west. This history of contact has found rich expression within the arts and crafts of the region and particularly in the heritage of embroidery which has sat at the heart of the social and cultural lives of these diverse communities. Embroidery has been produced to decorate individuals, their families, their clients, their homes and public spaces and has reflected economic and political changes over time as well as social, religious and artistic contexts. Generously illustrated with 500 images (over 450 in colour) of clothes, accessories, and examples of decorated soft furnishings such as cushions, bed linen, curtains, floor coverings and wall hangings, the Encyclopedia is an essential resource for students and scholars of the subject. This volume is the second in the Bloomsbury World Encyclopedia of Embroidery series. The first volume, on embroidery from the Arab World, won the 2017 Dartmouth Medal, awarded by the American Library Association for a reference work of outstanding quality and significance.

Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood is Director of the Textile Research Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. Willem Vogelsang is Former Deputy Director of the International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden, The Netherlands.

An essential resource for students and scholars. * Book Threads * The encyclopedia will provide researchers with a strong knowledge base, including local language for techniques and a list of museums and institutions with related objects and collections for further study. The volume includes 125 excellent stitch diagrams based on "family" group, followed by a stitch list for practitioners, conservators, and curators. The true encyclopedia style of this book makes it easy to use as a reference. * CHOICE * This volume is a great reference book for archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, art historians, textile curators of museum collections, and private collectors. It is a source of inspiration for embroiderers, designers, textile artists, and anyone passionate about embroidery from this interesting area. * International Institute of Asian Studies * Encyclopedia of Embroidery is a very accessible book. It is well laid out, easy to navigate, and easy to read. It is filled with facts, but these facts are presented in a personal and understandable way. The author's obvious interest and delight in the subject matter, her genuine interest in, not only embroidery but in sharing her knowledge and love of the subject with the reader, is palpable. * The Zay Initiative * This book is relatable, practical, easy to read and packed with information. As with the first volume - this is not just a book, it is a legacy. * The Fabric Thread * This important encyclopedia covers a vast geographic and historical span with not only scholarship and technical expertise but with fascinating insights. Readers from many disciplines, art and embroidery, sociocultural historians and anthropologists as well as those interested in intercultural links will learn a lot from this magnificent production. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood and Willem Vogelsang should be complimented on a classic, which provides a vast amount of information within a single volume. -- Shernaz Cama, UNESCO Parsi Zoroastrian Project and University of Delhi, India Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood follows up her masterful volume Encyclopedia of Embroidery from the Arab World with seven further volumes covering the rest of the world. Each is replete with historical and geographical background and delineates the notable embroidered products of each region set into their social context. The techniques are illustrated with clear diagrams of the stitches employed. An essential guide for every textile enthusiast. -- John Gillow, Textile Specialist, UK An extraordinary achievement, comprehensively exploring the rich embroidering traditions of three regions. Profusely illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and stitch layouts, accessible in writing and explanation, this work will stand as a lasting reference tool for academics, artists, and enthusiasts. -- The Textile Society of America