Kwakiutl String Figures

By Julia Averkieva and Mark A. Sherman

Julia Averkieva's study represents the most comprehensive Native American string collection ever assembled from a single tribe. In addition to characterizing the social conditions that prompted string figure making among the Kwakiutl during the time of her field study, Averkieva noted step-by-step instructions for each figure and transcribed traditional accompanying chants. In editing and expanding Averkieva's manuscript, Mark Sherman addresses string figure enthusiasts as well as cultural anthropologists. Sherman includes in his introduction a complete description of basic openings and string figure moves. For each Kwakiutl figure he has prepared clear illustrations based on Averkievazs original photographs and pencil sketches. In addition he has tested each figure for workability, clarifying instructions where necessary and recasting them in Rivers and Haddon's standard terminology.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0774804327
• ISBN13: 9780774804325
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: University of British Columbia Press
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Age Range: 22 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Fun, challenging, enlightening

If you're an intermediate to advanced string figurist, you really ought to check out this book. Mark Sherman's instructions and illustrations for the figures are precise and well-tested, but the figures themselves are (for the most part) very challenging! It's like solving puzzles, and each figure you complete successfully is a small victory. Completing the entire book is very rewarding! The cultural analyses at the back of the book are fascinating, as are the analyses of the individual figures, which are given throughout the book.

5 étoiles ce n'est pas assez!

Vous passerez des heures à ficeler les figures proposées. Ce gros livre est le "must" des jeux de ficelle. Ce livre a environ 110 jeux de ficelle et 10 tours de ficelle. Les explications et les illustrations sont très claires. C'est un livre pour intermédiaires et avancés.

A wonderful book!

You'll spend hours to make the figures offered.This big book is a must for all string figures's lovers.This book have about 110 string games and 10 tricks.The explanations and illustrations are clears.The book is for intermediates and advanced.Enjoy!