The Rau Collection

Ikat fabric was used for centuries in the traditional garments and furnishings of Central Asian tribes such as the Uzbecks and the Tadjiks. This book is intended as an introduction to Ikats, reproducing over 50 examples from the author's private collection of Ikats. It aims to demonstrate both the magical effects created by Ikat weavers over the past two hundred years and the role Ikats played in the social and ceremonial life of the Central Asian peoples. The anecdotal introduction outlines the history of silk weaving and trading and explains how Ikats were made and who bought and used them. This book is both a history and a record of a virtually extinct craft. It is aimed at craftsmen, collectors, historians and anyone interested by the culture and trade of the East.