Review by Choice Review
Her authority based on dedicated and thorough research both on the written record and in the field, Reswick examines Tunisian textiles in the context of their history. For comparison, she also discusses related work in the neighboring countries of Algeria, Morocco, and Libya. Concentrating on carpets and flat-woven textiles, the author explains the process of turning fiber into finished textile pieces. Materials and their preparation, dyeing, looms, and weaving techniques are all explained in detail and illustrated in black-and-white photographs and diagrams. Besides learning about the technology, the reader becomes acquainted with the formal structure and iconography of the designs. The descriptions are complemented with 35 high-quality color photographs of traditional woven and knotted carpets. Printed overlays on the photographs help identification of the motifs in the designs. The bibliography lists 113 titles with 388 annotations, most by French scholars; an appendix gives a glossary of Arabic and Berber terms and names associated with weaving. Reswick writes with clarity and affinity brought by scholarly knowledge and close contact to the North African craftspeople. As their art in its original form is rapidly disappearing, Reswick's work becomes an important record in English, and it should be of interest to anthropologists as well as others interested in traditional textile arts. Recommended for undergraduates, all levels, graduate students, and general readers.-M. Tulokas, Rhode Island School of Design
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
