Description
This pioneering publication explores in unprecedented depth the lost textile traditions of Bengal from the 16th to the 20th century, tracing its profound impact on the historical and cultural aspects of the region. Conceived as a dynamic dialogue between historians, anthropologists, art historians, textile practitioners, and scholars, the book brings together diverse perspectives on the fundamental catalysts of change in Bengal’s textile tradition. Serving as a rich public history, its engaging chapters are supported by superb illustrations of textiles, maps, and trade documents from the past—most of which have never been published before. This volume will inspire readers, reorient scholarly attention, and provoke a rethinking of the nature and history of Bengal textiles.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Rosemary Crill
Introduction to the Project by Darshan Shah
INTRODUCTION
BENGAL AND BEYOND
RAW MATERIALS
THE WORLD OF THE BENGALI TEXTILE WORKER
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
TRADE
CONSUMPTION
Glossary / Index / Acknowledgements
About the Editors:
Sonia Ashmore: A London-based design historian and former Research Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). She is the author of Muslin (V&A, 2012).
Tirthankar Roy: Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics (LSE), specialising in the history of South Asia, global history, and empires. Author of Crafts and Capitalism and Monsoon Economies.
Niaz Zaman: Former Professor at the University of Dhaka and retired Advisor at the Independent University, Bangladesh. Author of the seminal work The Art of Kantha Embroidery.
Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy
Edited by Sonia Ashmore, Tirthankar Roy, and Niaz Zaman
Foreword by Rosemary Crill | Contributions by Hameeda Hossain, Ghulam Nadri, Barbara Karl, Ritu Sethi, Paola Manfredi, Susan Bean, Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, et al.
Book Specifications:
Category: History / Textiles & Handicrafts
Pages: 360 pages
Illustrations: 295 illustrations
Dimensions: 10 x 11” (254 x 279 mm), Hardcover
ISBN: 978-93-94501-26-3
Date of Publishing: February 2025
Language: English
The famed Bengal textiles which once ‘clothed the world’ have surprisingly received very little scholarly attention. With the systemic destruction of Bengal’s textile industry, prompted by the Industrial Revolution in Europe, the legendary muslins and Balucharis of Bengal were lost in obscurity. Furthermore, the partition of the Indian subcontinent and the consequent varieties of cultural and social identity in present-day India and Bangladesh have contributed to this historical neglect.
