ISBN 0 7156 0905 X ,size with 80 full colour illustations and over 400 monochrome illustations,
Cloth bound,price £38 plus postage £3.50.
In its beauty and
originality of design, the narrow strip weaving of West
Africa is on a level with other indigenous art forms such
as bronzes and masks for which this region is justly
famous. The unique system of making large cloths, for
clothing, domestic and ceremonial use, by sewing together
narrow woven strips, usually less than five inches wide,
is of ancient origin. Well-preserved cloths from as far
back as the eleventh century AD show the
remarkable continuity of tribal designs. |
 |
In this book, Venice Lamb
offers the first comprehensive survey of narrow-strip
horizontal-loom weaving in West Africa. She examines
not only the history and techniques, but also the
geographical distribution and present economic
development of this form of weaving. Having travelled
extensively in West Africa, she describes the textiles of
many regions, from Dakar in Senegal eastwards to
Cameroun, and northwards to the sub-Saharan states of
Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad. The most spectacular
weavers, however, are the Asante and the Ewe, and it is
their art which is described in most detail. |
The text is accompanied by five new maps
showing tribal zones, and over 400 photographs, many of
which have been specially taken to illustrate existing cloths and
techniques, and many others drawn from nineteenth century
archives, hitherto unpublished.
