Textiles For This World and Beyond

This sumptuous book, published in association with The Textile Museum, Washington, DC, presents a fascinating overview of the use of cloth, its function in society and the messages contained within colour, pattern and technique. Encompassing Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Indonesian and Malaysian societies, it describes how each share a common heritage – their extraordinary sense of the power of cloth. Before cloth and cloth patterning became solely an aspect of commercial transactions, these societies gave textiles a great significance in all aspects of life, whether as a sign of benevolence from the gods to a ruler, a supreme honour to the dead, symbols of contractual alliances and obligation, or as items of beauty and conceit. The fine details of Southeast Asian textile construction and usage weave a historical record of diverse societies. This stunningly designed and informative book examines this legacy.