Islamic Textiles

From the fine linens of medieval Egypt to the sumptuous silks and velvets of the Ottoman empire, textiles produced in the heartlands of the Islamic world have for centuries been highly valued and transported over vast distances. Whether offered as tribute, worn to express status or belief, or simply bought and sold by merchants and travellers from many countries, textiles have played a crucial cultural and economic role in Islamic society, where often a majority of the population earned a living from their manufacture and trade. The distinctive patterns and motifs were also to have an enduring effect on European design. The book begins with a description of materials and technical processes before moving chronologically from the early Islamic period through to the twentieth century. Exploring this rich tradition from the combined perspective of an art historian and textile expert, Dr Baker draws on a wide variety of evidence - from documents, photographs and examples of textiles from museum collections all over the world - to tell the fascinating story of Islamic textiles in a refreshing new way. 'I am excited by Dr Bakers approach to the subject - her use of written sources puts the textiles into context in a way that no-one has done before. Few people have her ability to combine knowledge of these sources with an understanding of textiles. It's bound to become required reading for everyone who admires Islamic textiles.' JENNIFER WEARDEN, Deputy Curator Textiles & Dress Collection, V&A