The international literary icon opens his eclectic closet and shares photos of his extensive unique personal T-shirt collection, accompanied by essays that reveal a side of the writer rarely seen by the public. Haruki Murakami's books have galvanized millions around the world. Many of his fans know about his 10,000-vinyl-record collection, and his obsession with running, but few have heard about a more intimate, and perhaps more unique, passion: his T-shirt-collecting habit. In Murakami T, the famously reclusive novelist shows us his T-shirts - including gems found in bookshops, charity shops and record stores - from those featuring whisky, animals, cars and superheroes, to souvenirs of marathons and a Beach Boys concert in Honolulu, to the shirt that inspired the beloved short story 'Tony Takitani'. Accompanied by short, frank essays that have been translated into English for the first time, these photographs reveal much about Murakami's multifaceted and wonderfully eccentric persona. 'The world's most popular cult novelist' Guardian

Chinese textiles go back thousands of years. The Silk Road was named for the extensive trade in these fine materials. Due to China's size and history of successive wealthy dynasties, a vast amount of textile art is available for study today. Great tombs have yielded beautiful and dateable pieces worn and used by elite members of Chinese society. These and other fragile examples reside in museums and a few private collections. Other examples of antique Chinese textiles are found still to be in the marketplace. While it is impossible to look at these beautiful examples and not admire the skill of the weaver and embroiderer, until now there has been little information about their history or value. This comprehensive guide to collectible Chinese textiles with an extensive number of examples and with an understandable grading system that relates to what constitutes value. This book is beautifully illustrated with over 500 detailed photos of ceremonial court robes, badges, and decorative textiles dating from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) through the Ching dynasty, (1644-1911). It is designed for historians, Asian studies sholars, and textile collectors, from beginning to advanced, as a real-world representation of available pieces and an indepth study. It is a must for appraisers and connoisseurs alike.

Art takes many forms. In this selection of Asian court attire, dating from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the phrase "you are what you wear" resonates. Vollmer journeys back to the thirteenth-century Chinese Empire, where ancestors of the ruling Manchu conquerors dressed fittingly. These exquisite costumes remind us that royalty once set fashion standards the way that celebrities do today, but that these garments also promoted distinct national and political messages that helped keep a ruling minority in power for nearly three centuries. Dressed to Rule is a guide to the exhibit, of the same name, that appeared at the University of Alberta in 2007.

Presents a selection of more than 100 furnishing textiles and designs that range from a spectacular printed hanging designed by the Wiener Werkstatte artist, Dagobert Peche, between 1911 and 1918, to a series of dramatic woven, silk and metal wall coverings Les Colombes designed by Henri Stephany for the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The Art Deco period is well represented by the works of Raoul Dufy, Alberto Lorenzi, Robert Bonfils, Alfred Latour, Emile Alain Seguy and Paul Dumas. Although the majority of pre-Second World War textiles are of French origin, the exhibition also includes some rare British furnishing fabrics from the 1930s, in particular the iconic and very elegant Magnolia Leaf by Marion Dorn, woven in off-white and silver viscut by Warner & Sons in 1936. During this period, Britain attracted talented European designers, such as Jacqueline Groag and Marian Mahler who had trained with Josef Hoffmann at the Vienna Kunstgewerbeschule. They became highly influential in creating a 'New Look' that took hold of Britain after the austerities of the Second World War. 'The Festival of Britain,' held in 1951, was epitomised by Calyx which launched the career of its designer, Lucienne Day and is now considered to be a landmark of post-War design. So great was its success that several versions were produced as well as contemporary copies, all of which are reproduced here in spectacular colour. Two great textiles from the 1950s - Seaweed designed by Ashley Havinden in 1954 for Arthur Sanderson and Grecian by Alec Hunter in 1956 for Warner & Sons - bridge the gap between the spirit and elegance of the inter-War period and the new 'contemporary' look of the 1950s. Britain maintained its pre-eminent position in textile design throughout the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. This was because firms like Edinburgh Weavers, Heal & Sons and Hull Traders and museums such as the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester (the centre of the British textile industry) worked hard at integrating and promoting great design, often by well-known artists within the industry. Among the artists who worked with Edinburgh Weavers were Marino Marini, Victor Vasarely and Alan Reynolds. Britain was not alone in applying art to industry. An elegant example of Op Art is the work of the German artist, Wolf Bauer, whose 1969/70 designs for one of the leading American manufacturers, Knoll Textiles, is a highlight of this book.

Quilts are bold and beautiful, treasured by family members, valued by museums and collectors, and exciting to view. Exceptional quilts were produced by the innovative quilt makers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This book features a spectacular array of quilts made by Amish, Mennonite, and other Pennsylvania German groups, but also spotlights significant contributions from the Scots-Irish Presbyterians and the English Quakers. The quilts are presented in 225 gorgeous color photographs, enhanced by close-up details, tools, accessories, and the people surrounding their creation. Carefully researched text breathes life into these individual works of art, and includes accounts of quilt makers that are as vibrant, intricate, and rich as the quilts themselves. For students of the distinct heritage of Lancaster County, this special book is a fascinating perspective of families and folk art. For students of the art of quilting, it is a colorful treasury of timeless and elegant designs. This is the second in a series of four books being produced by the Heritage Center Museum of Lancaster County and Schiffer Publishing to provide extensively illustrated works on the arts of the Pennsylvania Germans to a broad audience.

'Life-affirming, emotional and fun! A fabulous roller coaster of a read. I loved it!' Heidi Swain 'A fabulous, fun and flirty summer read!' Jenni Keer A wedding dress. A love letter. A secret that will change everything... When Maggie Burnett discovers her mother's beautiful wedding dress just days after she passes away, she wonders why she'd been told it was missing... Pinned to the waistband is a note that reads: 'E, je t'aime. LS x' . 'E' must be Elizabeth, her mother, but who is 'LS'? Could he be the father she's never known? As Maggie's seemingly happy life in London unravels, she decides it's time to go home to Norfolk and figure out the truth once and for all. Even if it means running into Nick Forster, her secret childhood crush. What if this journey to the past is the key to a new beginning? Warm and uplifting, The Love Note is perfect for fans of Lia Louis and Olivia Beirne. See what readers are saying: 'Sweet, special and very relatable with the various events that occur throughout this book. This has all the best ingredients for a perfect romance novel. Loved it' 'I absolutely adored this book! Stunning, a page-turner which stays long in the memory!' 'Perfect for a sunny day beach read' 'This story moves quickly and is an easy read. I really enjoyed it' 'The character development was fantastic and the between the two main characters was amazing. I could not put this book down.. I cannot wait for the next book!'

Quilts bear witness to the American experience. With a history that spans the early republic to the present day, this form of textile art can illuminate many areas of American life, such as immigration and settlement, the development of our nation's textile industry, and the growth of mass media and marketing. In short, each quilt tells a story that is integral to America's history. Comfort and Glory introduces an outstanding collection of American quilts and quilt history documentation, the Winedale Quilt Collection at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. This volume showcases 115 quilts-nearly one-quarter of the Winedale Collection-through stunning color photographs (including details) and essays about each quilt's history and construction. The selections span more than two hundred years of American quiltmaking and represent a broad range of traditional styles and functions. Utility quilts, some worn or faded, join show quilts, needlework masterpieces, and "best" quilts saved for special occasions. Texas quilts, including those made in or brought to Texas during the nineteenth century, constitute a significant number of the selections. Color photographs of related documents and material culture objects from the Briscoe Center's collections-quilting templates, a painted bride's box, sheet music, a homespun dress, a brass sewing bird, and political ephemera, among them-enrich the stories of many of the quilts.

The motifs and design elements of lighting, furnishings, and everyday household implements have long served as teachers, offering clues and insight into the lives of the people who created and owned them. Here is a comprehensive tour of figured coverlets made between 1817 and 1869. These antique woven bedcovers, with their graphic and colorful images of trains, animals, buildings, heroes and patriotic symbols, provide a wonderful and perhaps unique snapshot of the bright optimism that was the 19th-century spirit of America. Over 100 coverlets are shown in full, in color, and on both sides. They include many early and rare pieces, offering an unprecedented reference on the subject. Nearly all are dated and/or identified, and represent all the major coverlet producing states.

Rare and authentic, this vintage guide to the intricacies of Victorian needlecraft features step-by-step instructions for mastering an array of techniques and patterns. Scores of diagrams and photos illustrate a rich and varied repertoire of needlework projects and related crafts. Aspiring or accomplished, needleworkers at every level of expertise will find many projects here to love, all abounding in old-fashioned charm. Featured projects include Bulgarian, Catalan, Hungarian, and Baro embroidery; a lesson in netting; hemstitching; making fringes; Berlin wool-work; Rhodes embroidery and punched work; Bohemian, Carrickmacross, Innishmacsaint; and reticella lace; and beads and beadwork. Approx. 87 b/w illustrations.

Housed in the former sixteenth-century convent of Santo Domingo Church, now the Regional Museum of Oaxaco, Mexico, is an important collection of textiles representing the area's indigenous cultures. The collection includes a wealth of exquisitely made traditional weavings, many now considered rare. This book details a joint project of the Getty Conservation Institute and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico to conserve the collection. The book contains 145 color photographs as well as a wealth of information on weaving, cultural contexts, and conservation issues.

The Toms collections boasts one of the most important groupings of tapestries privately assembled during the second half of the 20th century. It's more than 100 examples, woven between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries in workshops of Flanders, France, Italy and England, are noteworthy not only for their geographic, historical and thematic diversity but also for the remarkable condition. Mary Toms, widow of Reginald Toms, bequeathed this legacy in 1993 to the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland). This catalogue documents all of the woven works in the Toms collection, providing historical and artistic analysis. This richly illustrated volume is intended for novice readers, veteran tapestry lovers, and specialists alike.

From fleece, yarn, and dyeing to looms and weaves, the visual language, tribal weavers, and meaning, origins, and aesthetics of the kilim, this book provides an ideal and up-to-date summary of the subject. It is illustrated with over 80 colorful examples, fine ethnographic photographs, and drawings that explain structural features and designs.

Advance Acclaim

"A welcome addition to the inquiring collector's shelf…offers important new insights…"