This guide is written in a very dry style and will likely have limited use to all but the most dedicated students of history and textile collection. For people looking at inspiration from photographs to recreate period textiles, this is not the proper tool for the job. The author has also made use of earlier sources and historical analyses and though I didn't find any factual errors in the text, it reads very much as though the author took earlier references for granted instead of providing much credit or direct bibliography. There is a good extended index, but no photo or textual credits to be found.
There are some useful plates in the book (mostly black and white) showing a number of sweet bags (with pomander) as well as beaded miser's purses and sewing accoutrements.
I did not find much to appeal to me personally in this book, however to keen students of textile history (without too much of actual textiles) it might appeal.
Worth noting that the book is available for free download from the Open Library of the Internet Archive. (I recommend them gleefully, unreservedly, passionately, may they ever succeed beyond their wildest desires).
Three stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment