For thousands of years, the peoples of Central Asia have created spectacular textiles for every aspect of life. Infinite care, resources and time have gone into making elaborate costumes (connoting the wearers identity and place in society), equestrian items, and exquisite furnishings for settled as well as nomadic lifestyles. Items of dress were decorated literally from top to toe: boots were embroidered with metal thread, while hats were stitched, appliquéd and felted. The women of a family would come together to embroider dazzling suzanis to form part of a brides dowry; master dyers and weavers would craft vibrant ikat hangings. Combined, these objects tell an evocative story of life along the Silk Road in times past.
This book brings together outstanding textiles from the Neville Kingston Collection, featuring many previously unpublished pieces. It is the second volume to document this exceptional English collection; Turkmen Carpets: The Neville Kingston Collection was published in 2016.
Introduction
The Neville Kingston Collection
The Role of Textiles in Central Asia
Turkmen Textiles
Central Asian Embroideries
Central Asian Textiles
Catalogue
Dr Snezhanna Atamova, Nazarbayev University, Astana, and Dr Tereza Hejzlarová, Palacký University, Olomouc, are experts on the material culture of Central Asia.
