Synopses & Reviews
The latest in a series documenting the world-renowned Asian art collections of Alfred Baur, this new volume presents a group of 18th- and 19th-century Japanese Buddhist textiles. Previously unpublished, the collection is made up not of kimonos or monks’ kesa robes, but of uchishiki, beautiful and intricate Buddhist altar covers. Like kesa, they were made from lengths of sumptuous silk, most often donated to the temple. With elaborate polychrome decoration, highlighted by gold or silver thread, uchishiki stand out as testaments to the extraordinary skill of Kyoto weavers. Superb photographs are accompanied by full scholarly notes on the history of silk weaving in Japan as well as the techniques and decorative motifs used.
Synopsis
-This volume gathers together, for the first time, a group of 121 Japanese Buddhist textiles dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, housed in the Baur Foundation, the Museum of far Eastern Art, in Geneva This is the twelfth in a series of volumes documenting the Asian art collections of Alfred Baur (1865-1951) housed in the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Art, in Geneva. It gathers together for the first time a group of 121 Japanese Buddhist textiles dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, bought by Alfred Baur in 1927. The assemblage differs from similar collections in the West in not featuring any examples of kimonos or the kesa costume worn by monks, concentrating instead on a type of textile that is not very well-known outside Japan: the uchishiki, fabrics designed to cover temple altars. In spite of their small size, these cloths provide an important insight into the religious practices of the period, as well as being testaments to the extraordinary skill of the Kyoto weavers. Like the kesa, they were made from lengths of sumptuous silk donated to a temple by the faithful. With their elaborate polychrome decoration, highlighted by gold or silver thread, they are exemplars of the most intricate and luxurious weaving and give tangible expression to the extent of the donor's faith. Detailed notes are preceded by introductory discussions of the history of silk weaving in Japan and the techniques and decorative motifs used, complete with glossary and bibliography.
Synopsis
The Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva, Switzerland, houses one of the most important collections of Asian art in the world: some 9,000 works from China and Japan. This new book celebrates the 50th anniversary of the museum and the 150th birthday of Alfred Baur (1865andndash;1951). Lavishly illustrated with stunning new photographs, the book showcases the diversity and quality of Baurandrsquo;s collections, which span netsuke, lacquerware, saber fittings, prints, jades, imperial ceramics, textiles, and much more.and#160;
About the Author
Monique Crick is director of the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Art. Helen Loveday is curator and Estelle Nikland#232;s van Osselt is assistant curator, both at the Baur Foundation. Hughes Dubois is a photographer who specializes in art objects.