Book introduction: From Myth to Art – Anatolian Kilims

When impressed by a newly released book, one should be careful if tempted to refer to it in such language as “the defining new textbook”. But Ali Riza Tuna’s English-language book Anatolian Kilims truly is of that stature as a work that illuminates Anatolian carpets from every angle, and therefore is heartily recommended reading for all carpet lovers.

Its various chapters, with titles like ‘The Anaolian Kilim as an Image’, ‘The Anatolian Kilim as a Symbolic Form of Culture’ and ‘The Aesthetics of the Anatolian Kilim’, are rife with cultural and art history insights. Most of the book is devoted to presenting 85 large-format images of kilims and kilim fragments. One particular highlight is of course the 15th century Zili, undoubtedly appearing in a book here for the first time, which is the oldest known piece of its kind. All flatweaves shown are accompanied by a technical analysis. Tuna has made the effort to provide detailed descriptions of all pieces, referring to comparable pieces and citing other references to the rug in literature. Radiocarbon analysis has been performed on seven of the 85 carpets shown, charts for which have also been published.

From Myth to Art – Anatolian Kilims
Author: Ali Riza Tuna
ISBN: 978-2-8399-3359-9
260 pages, 30 x 26 cm, hardcover
Language: English
Price: CHF 90.00 + shipping
Available from the authors via: mythtoart@bluewin.ch

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