Guatemalan Textiles.

Beschreibung

112 Seiten Very good, clean copy. - THE TEXTILES OF GUATEMALA - - A land of dense tropical rainforests, mountains and volcanoes, Guatemala has a history charac- terized by struggle, violence and upheaval. For centuries the native people have been threatened by the combined forces of natural disaster and the aggression of mankind attacked first by the Aztecs, then by the Spanish and more recently brought under military rule. Descendants of the unique and magnificent Maya civilization, how- ever, they have clung with extraordinary tenacity to their culture and traditions. - - The art of weaving was developed during that ancient Maya period alongside sophisticated writing and astrological systems, beautiful sculp- ture and staggering architectural feats. The com- plex network of ruined cities stretching across the country with their towering monumental pyramids has until recently been considered the only testimony to this remarkable classical civilization. This book will illustrate, however, that part of that culture is still very much alive: whilst many of the designs and the myths which inspired them have been lost, the vibrant colours and daz- zling patterns, the animals and birds that appear on the modern textiles testify to the lasting influence of the Maya. - - Fewer people may be weaving today because of the new and demanding pressures of modern life, the ways fibres are gathered and dyed may have changed, but the women still weave by hand on a horizontal loom as they have for centuries and, if they can no longer devote themselves to weaving full-time, they strive at least to preserve the tradi- tion by working when they can and by ensuring that the younger villagers are taught the age-old patterns and methods. - - Maya culture was principally inspired by nature there were gods of the sun and moon, crops and rivers. The myth of creation which is recounted in the Book of Time tells of how man was made out of maize. Guatemalan weaving today still reflects this mystical relationship between the earth and the people but, after several centuries of Spanish rule, the rituals, saints and symbols of Catholicism have inevitably come to play an important part in everyday life. Guatemala today is a world of rich contrasts - magic and religion, mystery and faith - visible in the daily life of the people, their religious ceremonies and their clothes. - - Régis Bertrand has spent many years in Guate- mala. This book is his dedication to a people who, against all odds, succeed in maintaining one of the richest, most vibrant and ancient craft traditions in the world. - - PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LIBERTY, REGENT STREET - ISBN 9781851708123 Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 990.

Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 1257688

Verkäufer kontaktieren

Diesen Artikel melden

Bibliografische Details

Titel

Guatemalan Textiles.

Verlag

Studio Edns. 09.1991.

Veröffentlichungsdatum

1991

Sprache

Englisch

ISBN-10

185170812X

ISBN-13

9781851708123

Bindung

hardcover w/ dj.

Zustand

Sehr gut

Verkäuferkataloge

• Varia

Über diesen Titel