"One of the most useful books to cover the whole of the field...Mr. Ford is to be congratulated on having produced a work that should stand the test of time." Carpet Review Weekly

The richness of Near Eastern art is epitomized by sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Persian carpets. Among the finest ever produced, the two Ardabil carpets are believed to have been made as offerings for the Shrine of Sheikh Safi at Ardabil during the Safavid dynasty in sixteenth-century Persia. In this text Rexford Stead, deputy director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, explores the intricacies of the Ardabil carpets—one formerly in the Getty Museum and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the other in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. A bibliography and exhibition history are included.

Advances in Carpet Manufacture, Second Edition, discusses the manufacture of carpets, an industry that has evolved over hundreds of years, also exploring the new changes and developments in textile science and manufacturing technology that occur every day. This updated edition provides revised, expanded and updated coverage of carpet manufacturing processes and applications. The book begins by reviewing the different types of carpets and their applications, also exploring the structure and properties of carpet materials. Carpet manufacturing techniques are then reviewed, including a new chapter on tufting and yarn manufacturing techniques, and design and manufacture for handmade carpets. Subsequent chapters review the development of carpets with important properties, including new chapters on carpets for acoustics and sound absorption, carpets with increased fire retardancy and those with antimicrobial and soil-resist finishes. With the variety of topics covered and its international team of contributors, the book offers a valuable and informative reference for technologists in the carpet and associated industries. However, it is also a great resource for researchers and students working in applied textile sciences. - Presented by an expert editor with many years of experience in both academic textile research and industry - Provides new research, technologies and other developments in carpet manufacture for academics and developers seeking to update their knowledge - Includes a strong focus on industry needs and developing areas with market potential

Until 1970, Tibet was an enigma to the western world. But with the opening of the Chinese borders there has been an upsurge of interest in the arts and crafts of the Land of Snows.