KÜHNEL, Tanja (2016). Stickereien/Needlework, Saltzburg, Verlag Anton Pustet, ISBN: 978-3-7925-0828-9. Black/white and colour illustrations, 299 pp., glossary, bibliography. Price: c. €35.
This is the third volume presenting different aspects of the Aichhorn Collection in Austria. The collection was made by Ferdinand Aichhorn and reflects his driving interest in Asian textiles, which apparently started following a visit to Jakarta (Indonesia) in 1977. Aichhorn is the owner of the Textil Kunst Galerie in Saltzburg, Austria.
Example of a textile illustrated in 'Stickereien'.The first Aichhorn Textile volume looked at ikat, while the second dealt with resist dyed textiles. This volume looks at embroidered and appliqué, as well as felt rugs and woven, Kashmir shawls. The latter two groups are presumably there because there were not enough items for a separate volume. It includes a wide range of colour photographs of complete and detail illustrations, as well as extended captions (rather than introductory chapters).
The embroideries come mainly from Asia, including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, Uzbekistan, the Golden Triangle (Laos, northern Thailand, southwest China), China and Mongolia, while the appliqués come from India, Panama, Indonesia and Northern Thailand.
Recommendation: The book is copiously illustrated, and there are many details about designs and symbolism, but it is noticeable how little information there is about technique (except, perhaps about cross stitch, see page 144), and it is clear that this is an inspiration book rather than a how-to book. A few more details about materials and stitches, however, would have been useful.
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1 January 2023
