West African Weaving

By Venice Lamb

In Really Good Condition – just some minor tears on DJ which have been taped

Venice Lamb is a pioneering figure in the study and documentation of West African textiles.

The books she published together her husband Alastair in the 1970s and 80s are still the only monographs devoted to most of these areas, and remain essential both for the wide variety of photographs and their recording of many traditions that have since evolved markedly or in some cases disappeared altogether.

In its beauty and originality of design, the narrow strip weaving of West Africa is on a level with other indigenous art forms such as bronzes and masks for which this region is justly famous.

The unique system of making large cloths, for clothing, domestic and ceremonial use, by sewing together narrow woven strips, usually less than five inches wide, is of ancient origin.

Well-preserved cloths from as far back as the eleventh century AD show the remarkable continuity of tribal designs.

In this book, Venice Lamb offers the first comprehensive survey of narrow-strip hori¬zontal-loom weaving in West Africa.

She examines not only the history and techniques, but also the geographical distribution and present economic development of this form of weaving.

Having travelled extensively in West Africa, she describes the textiles of many regions, from Dakar in Senegal east¬wards to Cameroun, and northwards to the sub-Saharan states of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad.

The most spectacular weavers, however, are the Asante and the Ewe, and it is their art which is described in most detail.

The text is accompanied by five new maps showing tribal zones, and over 400 photo¬graphs, many of which have been specially taken to illustrate existing cloths and techniques, and many others drawn from nineteenth century archives, hitherto unpublished.

Pub: Duckworth; First Edition (1975) Pages: 228

Binding: Hard cover with dust jacket

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