Wednesday 5 May 2010

Legacy in Cloth: Batak Textiles

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This massive and wonderful book on the weaving of the Batak peoples of Sumatra sets a new standard for the documentation of the textile heritage of an indigenous tradition. Combining two decades of fieldwork with detailed study of museum collections and archive photographs Sandra Niessen has produced an exhaustive and definitive study which repays both casual browsing and careful study. For scholars of African textile traditions it lays down a challenge in terms of depth and detail of documentation and illustration that is both inspiring and daunting. For more details, a pdf of a sample chapter, and a way to purchase a copy direct from Sandra visit her website here

1 comment:

  1. Dear Duncan,
    Thank you kindly for these words about my book. I am updating my website www.Bataktextiles.com and would like to include a page of reactions to Legacy. May I include these words of yours? If so, do I refer to you correctly using your website address, or would you like me to use your name (and title? or position?)
    Please let me know at san@sandraniessen.com.
    Many thanks. sandra. Below is the quote that I would like to use:
    This massive and wonderful book on the weaving of the Batak peoples of Sumatra sets a new standard for the documentation of the textile heritage of an indigenous tradition. Combining two decades of fieldwork with detailed study of museum collections and archive photographs Sandra Niessen has produced an exhaustive and definitive study which repays both casual browsing and careful study. For scholars of African textile traditions it lays down a challenge in terms of depth and detail of documentation and illustration that is both inspiring and daunting. (Adire African textiles site: http://adireafricantextiles.blogspot.com/2010/05/legacy-in-cloth-batak-textiles.html )

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