Published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name held by The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., November 1, 1984 to March 31, 1985. Includes chapters on the origins of the Tibetan pile rug tradition (archaeological evidence), the recorded history of rug making in Tibet, sources and uses of symbol and design, materials and weaving techniques, and the various functions of the rug in Tibet. Also includes the catalog of the exhibit with 55 annotated b/w photographs; a glossary; and an extensive bibliography.

Temple Household Horseback: Rugs of the Tibetan Plateau

Arts & Photography

Diana K. Myers

History & Criticism

Textile Museum

For centuries Tibetans have used carpets for decorative and functional purposes, favoring colorful dyes and lively designs to enrich their homes and monasteries. Not bound by the codified rules governing the creation of religious art, the artisans who wove carpets often demonstrated a delightful sense of imagination in their work, drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources. Carpet motifs such as medallions and checkerboard patterns suggest considerable influence from Tibet's historical textile trading partners, countries as close as China and as distant as Iran. Other popular imagery, such as the snow lion, is indigenous to the region. With exceptional examples of saddle rugs, sleeping rugs, pile pillows, cushion covers, and door rugs, Patterns of Life explores the stylistic variety and uses of Tibetan carpets in the everyday life of the Tibetan people.

Patterns of Life: The Art of Tibetan Carpets

Cole, Thomas

Museum

Bhutanese textiles are among the last of the major arts of Asia to gain recognition in the West, and this is the first book to present this outstanding art form in its cultural and historical context. Bhutan's textiles, especially the intricate brocades and complex supplementary-warp patterns, are unmatched anywhere in the world. This art, with a steadily growing and devoted following in the West and Japan, has become Bhutan's most powerful emblem abroad. 
 This volume, first published in 1994 (now reprinted in 2008) in conjunction with a special exhibition organized by the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem, Massachusetts, covers all aspects of Bhutan's textiles and weaving heritage, from the central role of women - more than 80 percent of Bhutanese women contribute to their household's income by weaving - to fibers, dyes, and looms, to the functioning of beautiful cloth as an item of trade and an indicator of historical change and social identity. This copiously illustrated book reveals the richness, originality, and striking beauty of Bhutanese textiles. Examples come from the Peabody Essex Museum, which holds the largest such collection of any North American museum, and public and private collections in Bhutan, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The illustrations are supplemented by field photographs and rare archival images.

From the Land of the Thunder Dragon: Textile Arts of Bhutan

Michael Aris

Françoise Pommaret

Susan S. Bean

Serindia Publications, Inc.

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Books by Diana K. Myers