Handwoven fabrics are the living history and cultural treasure of the Peruvian highlands. The weavers who create these extraordinary textiles are keepers of the culture and sustainers of a noble but difficult lifestyle in tune with the earth. Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands celebrates their authentic, well-crafted work by showing: Varied and distinctive styles of traditional clothing, the way the traditional crafts are passed from one generation to another, names and meaning of the myriad textile designs that reflect the culture and history of the people, and rituals and celebrations in which woven fabrics plays such an important role.
Whether actually travelling to the Cusco region or armchair travelling, Weaving in the Peruvian Highlands is the essential guide to understanding and appreciating the area's wealth of textiles and charming, inventive weavers who create them.
"The armchair traveller will be amazed at the variety of designs . . . An excellent choice for ethnic textile collections in academic and large public libraries." Library Journal

About the Author

Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez is a native of Chinchero, the Peruvian mountain village immortalized in The Motorcycle Diaries. She was identified by anthropologists at an early age as having an unusual capacity for understanding and recreating historic weaving technique, and was invited to demonstrate at the Smithsonian Institution even before she learned English. She lives in Cusco with her husband and two sons.
Christine Franquemont is an anthropologist with long experience living and working in the Andes studying textiles and essential native plants. She was twice a Fulbright Scholar in Peru, a Visiting Scientist in Japan, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. She is co-chair of Andean Textile Arts, a North American support organization for the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

Reviews
"The armchair traveler will be amazed at the variety of designs ... An excellent choice for ethnic textile collections in academic and large public libraries." -- Library Journal



Book Information
ISBN 9780983886037
Author Nilda Callanaupa Alvarez
Format Paperback
Page Count 112
Imprint Schiffer Craft
Publisher Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 394g