Magie van de vrouw: weefsels en sieraden uit de gordel van smaragd(Magic of Women. Textiles and Jewelry from Indonesia)

The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam is renowned for its large, historical collection of textiles from Indonesia. Curator Anne van Cutsem-Vanderstraete has made a selection of the very best pieces and complemented it with textiles and stunning gold and silver jewellery from private collections in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States. The result is an enthralling exhibition. Van Cutsem-Vanderstraete shows us how fabrics and ornaments play a protective role at major junctures in a person's life: birth, initiation, marriage and death. Cloths loaded with magic are used in temples for communication with the ancestor spirits. Patterns reflect the order and harmony of the universe: the balance between male and female, above and below. With their variety of motifs and their refinement, the fabrics and jewellery possess an enchanting beauty. Their appearance and number also convey information about the wealth, status and power of the people who used them. The exhibition and catalogue pay tribute to the magic of women: to their beauty, their skills, and their knowledge. Women not only beget the next generation; they also protect it during all phases of life through their language of magic symbols.

Hardcover

Book condition: Near fine. Minimal wear to covers. Internally clean

Jacket condition: No Jacket as issued

Authors: Anne Vanderstraete, Stanley Bremer

Dimensions: 24 x 28 cm

Print length: 551 Pages

Language: English, Dutch

Publication date: 2012

Publisher: Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam

ISBN: ‎ 9789081816410