Kyrgyzstan

Published in an oversized format (8.5x12.75") this volume presents a detailed survey of the traditional clothing worn in Kyrgyzstan that was compiled but never published by Klavdiya Antipina, the primary scholar of Kyrgyz costume and material culture (and derived from interviews with her before her death in 1996). Skilled color drawings of the costumes (by Temirbek Musakeev) and superb contemporary b&w and color photograph portraits of Kyrgyz wearing traditional clothing or hats (by Paiva) accompany the text. The full-page color plates are of the highest quality (though there are captions for the drawings only, not for the photos). There is a glossary of clothing terms and a bibliography of ethnography and textiles, but no index. Distributed by Rizzoli. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Claudia Antipina was an eminent Russian anthropologist who worked most of her life in Kyrgyzstan studying the nomadic Kyrgyz. Rolando Paiva, is a French/Argentinean painter and photographer. He is the author of several books, including L'Art Batak, Afgahn Embroideries, El Parana and Interieurs Exterieurs. Temirbek Musakeev is a Kyrgyz artist specializing in set design. His featured watercolors illustrate Claudia Antipina's scientific work and research.