Have just returned from Taipei where the National Museum of History has an exhibition on local Taiwanese embroidery: T
he Beauty of Traditional Taiwanese Embroidery, curated by Pauline Kao. There is a bilingual (Chinese and English) book accompanying the exhibition with the same title. Details as follows:
Publisher: Huang Yung-Chun
Editor:
Jeff Ge
Publication date: October, 2006
ISBN-10: 986-00-69972
ISBN-13: 978-00-6997-2
The book includes essays on the following topics:
General Overview of Taiwanese embroidery (Lin Shu-Hsin)
Taiwanese Costume: The Taiwanese Literati Perspective (Zhan, Bi-Hua)
From the end of the 19th to the Early 20th Century: The style and characteristics of Taiwanese Emroidery (Kao, Pen-Li)
Miaoli Kanhua: Classical Hakka Embroidery (Chen, Sheng-Tseng)
Aesthetic locus of Taiwanese Traditional Embroidery (Huang, Chun-Hsiu)
Then there are 107 plates which, in the main, are well reproduced.
The book covers more than the pieces exhibited - drawing upon the Museums and other collections here in Taiwan. Of particular interest are the womens detachable collars and camisoles - particularly as I had part of one and was uncertain of its purpose.
The drama costumes - so integral to traditional Taiwanese life are also fascinating
Another great book published by the National Museum of History, Taiwan at the time of an exhibtion of Miao textiles from the Fu Jen University Collection in Taipei (directed by Maryta Laumann S. Sp. S.), is entitled
Costumes of the Miao from South East Guizhou. It gets a little confusing intially as there are a number of books there with similar titles.
Never fear the ISBN to assist you is: 957-02-4908-0.
An incredible book illustrated with over 110 full plates with fantastic information on each piece. Perhaps the only draw back for some may be that the detailed collection information is available only in Chinese. However, it is not too difficult to get to grips with this using a variety of the maps found inside and access to a basic Hmong dictionary.
A third book also published by the National Museum of History, Taiwan:
Aboriginal Arts in Taiwan: The Collection of Chen Cheng-Ching (1997). ISBN: 957-00-8423-5.
Words fail me at the beauty of this publication - I almost weep! Covering all the aboriginal tribes officially recognised in Taiwan at the time (at the beginning of 2007 a further tribe was recognised). The information accompanying the folio plates (168+) is both in Chinese and English. The extent of the collection is phenomenal and of great interest to be able to compare. As with all exhibition books obtaining them so long post-exhibition is a rarity. This one was literally dug out of the dust on a back shelf! I have seen another copy here in Taipei for those who may be interested.
Finally a fourth book:
The Folk clothing in Early Taiwan 1796-1932.
This book was published in conjunction with an exhibition held in Taipei, 1995.
(If I recall correctly this exhibition travelled to the USA in 1996/1997?). The book covers about a third of the museums collection of silk clothing. There are some 186 plates exquisite in detail with information in detailed Chinese and basic English.
Items are separated into the following categories:
Children's hats (30)
Coats (60)
Vests (9)
Camisoles (19)
Skirt and Trousers (27)
Shoes (15)
Woman's Collars (8)
Girdles (6)
Accessories (10)
Again, this book was located in the storeroom and there are a few copies still there. If any one is interested drop me a line!
OK, all for now.
Regards Iain
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