Just a note about a new book to look out for:
'Lao-Tai Textiles: The Textiles of Xam Nuea and Muang Phuan' by Patricia Cheesman and published by Studio Naenna Co. Ltd. (138/8 Soi Chang Khian, Huay Keo Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50300, tel: 66 53 226042, Fax (66-53) 217707
http://www.studio-naenna.com/index.html ISBN 974-272-915-8
I was fortunate to find the book piled high in Suriwong Book Store in Chiang Mai just over a week ago. The price(s) were quite reasonable at Baht 1,780 for the paper back and Baht 2,260 for the hardback. (exchange rate of about Baht 41 to US$1.00). Sandie Shamis has reported a more eye-watering cost of around US$100 at the Textile Society of America conference earlier this month. So far I cannot find that any other bookseller with a web presence is offering the book. I am not sure of the distribution as Studio Neanna is Patricia Cheesman's own company - hence the full contact details given above for Studio Neanna. (There are no specific details of the book on the website.)
As several members of this forum are Lao-Tai textile enthusiasts I think that you will want a copy of the book. I been dipping into it during this last week and thoroughly enjoying it. From a textile collector's perspective it is excellent, full of photos with detailed and careful captions. There is an interesting section on the meaning of motifs and also technique including natural dyeing as well as weaving. I found the photos of supplementary warp very helpful - but they left me with an even greater awe for the weavers of some of the textiles in my collection. (There are chapters on: Geographical setting, Historical setting, Classification and identification system, Cultural aspects, Textiles for women's everyday wear, Textiles for women's ceremonial dress, Textiles for men's clothing, Textiles for shamanic rituals and Buddhist ceremonies, Household textiles, Techniques for dyeing and weaving, Textile motifs and their symbolism, and appendices on Transliteration and literary system, Ethnographic terms, Transcrition of Lao-Tai words.)
The book - of 300 pages - is closely researched and based on textiles older than fifty years which led to the study not being restricted to present-day political boundaries. The area of research covers present-day Lao PDR and Vietnam. Patricia took textiles from her own collection on her research trips for first hand identification.
Quote:
"Photographs of textiles have not proved so useful as the majority of my informants were over sixty years of age and had poor eyesight. Even bringing gifts of eyeglasses did not overcome this problem as the two dimensional image was unfamiliar to them........It has been indispensable to follow-up real life scenarios such as the practical impact of dowry textiles from a different region to a village in the case of intermarriage."
I would thoroughly recommend the book as a key reference work.
_________________
Pamela
http://www.tribaltextiles.infoon-line tribal textiles resource
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
