This volume deals in depth with Indian textiles in the ikat technique. It is based on the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection of ikats from all over India, many of which date from the mid-19th century, and represent aspects of weaving and dyeing that no longer survive in their places of origin. A complex form of resist-dyeing in which threads are patterned before weaving, ikat has been used in India since at least the early centuries AD. Over 100 pieces are discussed and illustrated, from the satin-weave mashurs of South India and the silk patola from Gujarat, to simple cotton saris from Orissa and Tamil Nadu and subtly-coloured rumals from Andhra Pradesh. Further sections explore the influence of Indian ikat on the textile traditions of other areas, including South-East Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

The Kitt Peak National Observatory is located in the Quinlan Mountains, southwest of Tucson, Arizona. For more than 40 years, astronomers have used the telescopes here to make many remarkable discoveries about the Universe. Today, Kitt Peak is the most visited astronomical observatory site in the world. With over twenty telescopes of different types and sizes, the site gives visitors an indication of the great diversity of modern astronomy. This guide gives a comprehensive tour of the Kitt Peak telescopes, and introduces some of the important science that is done with them. It also points out some of the beautiful surrounding scenery, and gives an idea of what it is like to be an astronomer on the mountain. The book will enable visitors to make the most of their trip, and contains color-coded walking tours of the telescopes.

In the past hundred years or so, 'chintz' has come to mean any floral printed furnishing fabric. Its origins as a hand-drawn and dyed fabric from India are often forgotten, but it is with these rare earlier chintzes that this book is concerned. It explores in detail the background and development of this beautiful technique and looks at the use of chintzes in Europe from the early 17th century to the mid-19th century, first as bed-curtains and wall-hangings and later for popular men's and women's dress. The V&A's collection, published for the first time in glorious colour and including close-up details, will interest interior designers, textiles students and those involved in fashion.

"[A] handsome digest of commercial, tribal, and folk textiles." —Fiberarts The production of textiles in India continues to flourish just as it has for many centuries. The interactions of indigenous tribes, invaders, traders, and explorers throughout history has built a culture legendary for its variety and color. From the Rann of Kutch to the Coromandel coast, handloom weavers, block printers, painters, dyers, and embroiderers are creating the most extraordinary textiles. This all-encompassing survey of textiles from every region of the Indian subcontinent runs the gamut of commercial, tribal, and folk textiles. The authors first place them in context by examining the cultural background: the history, the materials, and the techniques—weaving, printing, painting, and tie-dye. They then give a detailed region-by-region account of traditional textiles production, including chapters on Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. A dazzling array of images provides an unsurpassed visual representation of the textiles, while a detailed reference section with further reading, museums, and information on technical terms completes this essential guide.

"Published to accompany the exhibition The Fabric of India at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, from 3 October 2015 to 10 January 2016"--Title page verso.

A captivating exploration of the sacred and mystical underpinnings of Indian textiles, illuminating their deeply rooted religious, philosophical, and ceremonial significance.

Textile Arts of India is the most lavish volume ever published on the magnificent textiles of India. Hundreds of full-color photographs, taken especially for this volume, present a glorious array of cloths: painted and block-printed, roller-printed, tie-dyed, woven, embroidered or exquisitely hand-painted with gold and silver leaf; as well as prized ikats. Dating from the seventeenth to the first half of the twentieth century, this dazzling collection presents a wonderful spectrum of designs, from graceful florals and simple geometric patterns to spectacular day-to-day life. An informative text traces the history of textile manufacturing in India and discusses the various methods of weaving, dying, and other means of decoration. Each textile is accompanied by an identifying caption.

Here is a visual record of one of the great untold stories of Asian design history: the trade in Indian textiles to Southeast and East Asia. For over 1000 years Indian cloths were traded for spices and the forest and mineral wealth of the East by Asian, Arab and European merchants.