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Pashmina: The Kashmir Shawl and Beyond
• Lavishly illustrated, the book offers a comprehensive view of pashmina, one of the most exqusite textiles ever woven
• Constructs a complete narrative of the textile, from the raw material to the finished product
• Covers the history for the pashmina industry from the nomadic tribes to the fashion industry
The classic Kashmir shawl is among the most exquisite textiles ever woven, the product of consummate skill and artistry applied to one of the world's most delicate fibers. This authoritative study introduces the Kashmir shawl as a cultural artifact with a known history spanning four centuries. Lavishly illustrated and accessibly written, the revised edition of this book has much to offer textile scholars, and those interested in the history of Kashmir.
Preface and Acknowledgements; Maps; A Felicitous Conjunction. PART THE FIBRE - Chapter 1: Pashm and Other Animal Fibres; Chapter 2: Changra and The Goats and Their Herders - Monisha Ahmed; Chapter 3: From Changthang to The Pashm Trade. PART 2: THE TEXTILE - Chapter 4: Spinners, Weavers, and Needleworkers; Chapter 5: Design and Designers. PART 3: THE HISTORY - Chapter 6: Early Conjecture and Speculation; Chapter 7: The Mughal Period; Chapter 8: The Iran The Termeh; Chapter 9: The Business in the 19th Century. PART 4: BY LAND AND SEA - Chapter 10: The Kashmir Shawl in India; Chapter 11: The Kashmir Shawl in Iran, West Asia, and Russia; Chapter 12: Shawls in the West. PART 5: CASHMERE AND KASHMIR - Chapter 13: Beyond the Pashmina Becomes Cashmere; Chapter 14: Meanwhile, Back in the Valley. Appendix I Update 2008-17; Appendix II Myths, Misconceptions, and Oddities; Appendix III Terminology and Glossary; Notes and References; Bibliography; Picture Credits; Index.
• Constructs a complete narrative of the textile, from the raw material to the finished product
• Covers the history for the pashmina industry from the nomadic tribes to the fashion industry
The classic Kashmir shawl is among the most exquisite textiles ever woven, the product of consummate skill and artistry applied to one of the world's most delicate fibers. This authoritative study introduces the Kashmir shawl as a cultural artifact with a known history spanning four centuries. Lavishly illustrated and accessibly written, the revised edition of this book has much to offer textile scholars, and those interested in the history of Kashmir.
Preface and Acknowledgements; Maps; A Felicitous Conjunction. PART THE FIBRE - Chapter 1: Pashm and Other Animal Fibres; Chapter 2: Changra and The Goats and Their Herders - Monisha Ahmed; Chapter 3: From Changthang to The Pashm Trade. PART 2: THE TEXTILE - Chapter 4: Spinners, Weavers, and Needleworkers; Chapter 5: Design and Designers. PART 3: THE HISTORY - Chapter 6: Early Conjecture and Speculation; Chapter 7: The Mughal Period; Chapter 8: The Iran The Termeh; Chapter 9: The Business in the 19th Century. PART 4: BY LAND AND SEA - Chapter 10: The Kashmir Shawl in India; Chapter 11: The Kashmir Shawl in Iran, West Asia, and Russia; Chapter 12: Shawls in the West. PART 5: CASHMERE AND KASHMIR - Chapter 13: Beyond the Pashmina Becomes Cashmere; Chapter 14: Meanwhile, Back in the Valley. Appendix I Update 2008-17; Appendix II Myths, Misconceptions, and Oddities; Appendix III Terminology and Glossary; Notes and References; Bibliography; Picture Credits; Index.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 29, 2019
This book is like the girl who wants to go to India but she has to go there alone but she was happy there. I think the students who like to read realistic faction will like this book.
February 1, 2022
This book is an excellent study and history of the Kashmir shawl from its origins on the underbelly of a Tibetan goat, through the complex commercial and technical process that transforms the fiber into one of the most exquisite textiles ever woven. There is so much terminology associated with the shawl industry, many words whose meaning has changed over time, and Janet Rizvi explains them all. Most notably, she details the various meanings of “shawl” and the actual definitions of cashmere and pashmina.
There are plenty of gorgeous pictures to accompany this amazing story. The photos are not just of shawls, although those are some of the best ones. There are also pictures of people at work on shawls, and historical illustrations showing how shawls were worn during different time periods.
My favorite part of the book told how Kashmiri designers created a floral motif for the shawl called a buta or boteh and centuries later this became known as the paisley.
This is a beautiful, fascinating book that I think both a scholar or a layperson will find easily readable and enjoyable.
There are plenty of gorgeous pictures to accompany this amazing story. The photos are not just of shawls, although those are some of the best ones. There are also pictures of people at work on shawls, and historical illustrations showing how shawls were worn during different time periods.
My favorite part of the book told how Kashmiri designers created a floral motif for the shawl called a buta or boteh and centuries later this became known as the paisley.
This is a beautiful, fascinating book that I think both a scholar or a layperson will find easily readable and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews