African Elegance

182 Pages·1999·25.487 MB·English

by  Ettagale Blauer, Alan Donovan

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ELEGANCE
fricanElegancecapturestheessence
gftraditionalstyleasitisreflected
;mthearts and craftsoftheconti-
nent. From elaborate beaded jewelry to
beautifullycarvedwoodenvessels,author
Ettagale Blauer provides a superb visual
record of the ways in which African
peoplecontinuetomakepowerfulstate-
ments about their cultures, their values,
andtheirplaceintheworld.
Drawing upon manyyears ofexperience
andtravel inAfrica,theauthordescribes
howobjects are used in traditional cere-
moniesandrituals,thebeadedornaments
thatmarkanindividual'sprogressthrough
life, andthe intricatewoven fabricsthat
chroniclethedeedsofwarriorsandkings.
Fromthevibrant,carvedcoffinsofGhana
and the treasures made by sixteenth
century Benin metalsmithsto sleek stud-
ies in serpentine crafted by Shona sculp-
torsofZimbabwe,AfricanElegancereveals
how people display themselves, commu-
nicate with each other, and tell stories
basedontime-honoredideasaboutbeau-
tyand design. Mostofall, it is a beauti-
fullyphotographedchronicleofart,craft,
andpersonaladornmentinAfricatoday.
A
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ELEGANCE
ETTAGALE BLAUER
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FirstpublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericain 1999by
RIZZOLIINTERNATIONALPUBLICATIONS,INC,
300ParkAvenueSouth,NewYork,NY 10010
FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin 1999by
NewHollandPublishers(UK)Ltd
London • CapeTown • Sydney • Auckland
Managingeditor:AnnlerievanRooyen
Editors:AlfredLeMaitreandLesleyHay-Whitton
Designer:JaniceEvans
Copyright©1999NewHollandPublishers(UK)Ltd Designassistant:LeilynCreamer
Copyright©1999intext:EttagaleBlauer Pictureresearcher:CarmenWatts
Copyright©1999inphotographs;ascreditedonpage176 Consultant:AlanDonovan
Copyright© 1999inmap: NewHollandPublishers(UK)Ltd Mapillustrator:AnnetteBusse
Proofreader:LesleyHay-Whitton
Indexer:ClaudiaDosSantos
ReproductionbyHirt&CarterCape(Pty)Ltd
PrintedandboundinSingaporebyTienWahPress(Pte)Ltd
Frontcover:Karapaintedbodydecoration.Ethiopia,
Backcover:Hamarman,Ethiopia;Spine:Turkanavessel,Kenya;
Frontflap:Kubacloth,DemocraticRepublicofCongo;
Endpapers:Mudclothpattcin.Mali;Half-titlepage:Turkana
warrior,Kenya;Titlepage:Maosaiwomen,Kenya;
Thispage(clockwisefromabove):Woven/abrics,Ghana;detail
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybe ofXhosahcadwork.SouthAJnca;detailofNdebelcwallpamtmg.
reproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithoutpermissionin SouthAjnca;Oppositepage:Beadedcowhide,Kenya.
writingfromRizzoliInternationalPublications,Inc.
ISBN0-8478-2224-9
LC99-70301
CONTENTS
Introduction 6
Wood 20
Stonework 48
Beadwork 60
Paint & Body Decoration 100
Metalwork 122
Weaving 138
Leather 160
Index 174
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