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Silk and Cotton: Textiles from the Central Asia that Wasby Susan Mellerpublished by Abrams, New York, 2013Hardcover; 336 pages; 800 illustrations“In addition to being an invaluable resource for collectors, scholars, and travelers, this stunning survey will be an inspiration to artists, designers, decorators, and anyone eager to know more about Central Asia, its history and peoples, and the textiles that tell a story of a faraway place and time… Silk and Cotton is destined to become a classic.” – ABRAMS BOOKS “Your book sits on my desk, speaking eloquently of what great publishing can be. I find it an inspiration, and show it to others as we discuss books.” – Malcolm Margolin, Publisher, HEYDAY BOOKS “The past decade has seen several important monographs on Central Asian textiles come to press. Meller’s book is the first I am aware of to focus on ‘everyday textiles’…Meller is among the first serious collectors to elevate these garments to connoisseurship…Even if you already have three feet of Central Asian textile books on your shelf, this one will still be a worthy addition. If you’d like to peruse the splendor of Central Asian cloth for the first time, then Silk and Cotton will soon be a well-thumbed book on your coffee table.” – Sam Omans, HALI Magazine, Issue 178 Winter 2013/14 “As the enticing images signify, dynamic multilayered patterns in vibrant singing colors are the hallmark of these textiles. Eclecticism is the other prevailing leitmotif, with robes, dresses, and hangings constructed on mix-and-match principles…Textile historians will appreciate the wealth of contextual pictures, but the textiles themselves can be enjoyed on a purely visual level as joyful and inspiring works of art.” – Lesley Jackson, WORLD of INTERIORS Magazine, April 2014 issue “Best book in years on the fascinating and complex world of Central Asian textiles. Meller’s thorough study of archival sources along with her deep understanding of textile production in the region combine to make this an important contribution to the field. Her selection of photographs, both modern and vintage are also well chosen. These especially are helpful in understanding the way the textiles were made and used. The range of textiles illustrated, especially embroideries, is quite extensive. Anyone with an interest in collecting Central Asian textiles, whether in Central Asia or the west, will find this book an essential guide to the vast array of examples available today. It was both a pleasure and an education to read. Highly recommended!” – Andy Hale, co-author IKAT: Silks of Central Asia; UZBEK EMBROIDERY: In the Nomadic Tradition “Susan Meller is a California textile expert who is plainly obsessed with Central Asia…she has journeyed in time, reading old travel writers as well as newer ones, dipping into history from the Mongol Empire in the 13th century to the end of the Soviet Empire in the 20th. She includes passages from the travelers’ narratives and illustrations from their books…The result is a lot more than just a book about silk and cotton…It is indeed a wonderful album. Its range of textiles is huge, not just the famed ikats and suzanis of the area, but everyday household textiles and cloths. She points to the details of regional stitching in clothing and hats. And how patterns have evolved according to tribal groupings and handed down. All this is presented against a background of the complex history of the region…and a social history which had a determing effect on the textiles themselves.” – Philippa Watkins, SELVEDGE MAGAZINE, May 2014 issue To purchase this book for $75 plus shipping (with or without autograph), please contact Susan Meller.
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Russian Textiles: Printed Cloth for the Bazaars of Central Asiaby Susan Mellerpublished by Abrams, New York, 2007Hardcover; 207 pages; 250 illustrations“Russian Textiles is one of those rare and serendipitous books that can be judged by its cover. From first bold photo to final footnote, the bright, complex language of Russian trade cottons, mostly hidden as linings of Central Asian ikat robes and embroidered wall hangings, is given full voice in Susan Meller’s new book.” – HAND/EYE Magazine “Seldom does a new textile book invite one to view its subject matter in an entirely new light, from an entirely new perspective. Russian Textiles does just this… The published images raise these colorful printed cloths to the level of high art.” – HALI Magazine “Meller’s book is a joyous celebration of pattern and colour, and a way of life in Central Asia.”. – STEPPE Magazine To purchase this book for $75 plus shipping (with or without autograph), please contact Susan Meller.
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Textile Designs: Two Hundred Years of European and American Patterns Organized by Motif, Style, Color, Layout, and Periodby Susan Meller and Joost Elfferspublished by Abrams, New York, 2002Paperback; 464 pages; 1823 illustrations“This wonderful book is a little bit like being let loose unsupervised in the archives of the Victoria and Albert Museum.” – The NEW YORK TIMES “Textile Designs is a dazzling, informative fabric encyclopedia of archival beauty. It is a necessary tool for the fashion industry, schools, and libraries.” – WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY “Open this volume to any page and prepare to lose yourself in a dizzying array of patterns…In addition to the book’s visual splendor, its text is refreshingly intelligent, informed, and witty.” – ART in AMERICA Magazine To purchase this book for $95 plus shipping (with or without autograph), please contact Susan Meller.
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