Arabesque: Decorative needlework from the Holy Land

By Ziva Amir

Decorative Needlework from the Holy Land. Original red cloth binding with dustjacket. Full colour illustrations. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0442202903
• ISBN13: 9780442202903
• Release Date: January 1978
• Publisher: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.7" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Arabesque: Decorative Needlework of the Holy Land

When I came to Israel in 1980, I often encountered Palestinian women in the traditional long black dresses with rich panels of embroidery down the sides of the skirt, on the sleeves, on a panel above the hem on the back, and on the bodice. Ziva Amir has put together a collection of traditional patterns and clear instructions. This book makes a nice companion to another book -- Palestinian Costume. In addition to the counted cross stitch patterns, the book has many fine photographs of dresses and other items.The precise designs are worked on a piece of "waste canvas" basted onto the fabric, and afterwards removed with tweezers. Most of the patterns are of natural things: grapes, leaves, feathers, flowers, cedars, palm leaves. There are also patterns of crosses popular in Christian areas.It seems that few Palestinian women have time these days to work these patterns, and many have opted for more modern and convenient Islamic dress. However, the patterns can be used on many household items -- pillows, placemats, bags, etc.It would be a great pity if this lovely art were to become lost. Ziva Amir's book is an important contribution to the preservation of a wonderful part of Palestinian culture.