Textile and Fashion Arts

Before committing a couple of days to museum hopping while in Boston, a word to the wise: this book is a must for understanding the scope of the collection of Textile and Fashion Arts - everything that makes the MFA one of the best museums in America. But more important than that, this is a compendium of examples of some of the finest art. The reproductions are excellent with all of the data needed to give a brisk brush up on not only the work illustrated but the timeframe incidentals that make the MFA such a user friendly museum. Whether for the personal library or for the perfect gift for art lovers, this guide (MFA Highlights series ) is highly recommended.

TEXTILE & FASHION ARTS offers a similar format but journeys the world to provide a hundred of the finest textile and fashion pieces. Nearly thirty short essays discuss not only history but techniques, covering everything from medieval silk production in the Islamic empire to Andean weaving under the Spanish. Both individual artists and world trends are illustrated in pieces that pair well with the selected textile representations.