Textile Society of America - R.L. Shep Ethnic Textiles Book Award
Awarded the 2012 R. L. Shep Ethnic Textiles Book Award given by the Textile Society of America.
Library Journal
Produced by a cooperative effort between Western and Chinese scholars and part of “The Culture and Civilization of China” series, which hopes to make previously inaccessible resources available to Western scholars, this book—the first general history of Chinese silk in English and the most comprehensive in any language—is an unqualified success. Its editor, Kuhn (sinology, emeritus, Univ. of W?rzburg, Germany; coauthor, The Age of Confucian Rule: The Song Transformation of China), along with a host of expert contributors, covers every aspect of Chinese silks from the Neolithic Era through the Qing Dynasty. Each chapter discusses a different period in history from archaeological, technological, art historical, and aesthetic perspectives. Artistic and technical innovations are highlighted as well as the economic and social significance of silk production in China. This book is a visual pleasure and is extensively illustrated with color photographs of textiles.
Verdict Providing a sense of the rich craftsmanship of Chinese silk making, this title will be of interest to anyone curious about textiles or the art, culture, or history of China. A delight for the mind and the eyes.—Julia A. Watson, Marywood Univ. Lib., Scranton, PA(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
