Art historian Milanesi presents a beautiful photographic compendium of carpets representing the main geographic areas of production: Anatolia, Persia, the Caucasus, India, western and eastern Turkestan, China, and the historical European centers. More than just a pretty catalog, her book serves as a useful guide for identifying and studying carpets. Milanesi ably describes and illustrates materials, dyes, knots, and weaving technology and examines layout and design; also provided is an analysis of the cultures in which these carpets were created. The text combines a discussion of the symbolism of motifs with a visual presentation of photographs and design diagrams. While providing a comprehensive stylistic study and interpretation that will interest experts, Milanesi gives even a novice the ability to understand the decorative and technical aspects of these functional yet sophisticated artistic objects. Recommended for general and subject collections.
Date Published 10/1/1999
Ratings
Rated By: Deborah Abernethy
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Rating:
Comments: The book is a good overview of carpets This book is a good overview of carpets produced in eight areas- Anatolia, Persia, The Caucasus, Western Turkestan, Eastern Turkestan, India, China, and Europe. The listing of these titles of the various carpet areas should tell you that this book has focused on historical carpets. It is neither the most basic nor the most detailed of books on this subject. There is more emphasis on earlier, more historical carpets, and on more commercially produced rather than tribal carpets. The photographs are wonderful. Overall, I would give this book high marks. Target market for this book would be interior designers or highly informed buyers, not so much the rug dealers or other professionals who want even more detailed information.
Art historian Milanesi presents a beautiful photographic compendium of 
