Contents 8

In this issue Issue Spring

Compass Editorial The editor compares attitudes towards—and approaches to showing—the arts of Iran

Dialogue and Calendar New African art galleries at Yale University Art Gallery, HALI Fair Online, the relaunch of ReWoven, the opening of the Humboldt Forum, the V&A collections online and Calendar

Thread of time Ben Evans Monetary value and foreign influence expressed in implicit and explicit ways

Travellers’ tales Cosima Stewart Georgia and the textile traditions that exemplify the country’s unique culture and spirit

P r o fi l e Rachel Meek Lulu Lytle of Soane Britain on design, integrity and her passion for antique textiles

Anatomy of an object Gebhart Blazek The secrets contained within carpets from the high plateaus of Algeria offer surprising information about the rugs’ construction, function and cross-cultural influences

Common thread From treasured heirlooms to cloths marking an important rite of passage or expressing status, textiles have a role to play in many aspects of family life across the world

Features The bigger picture Thomas Wild There are enough surviving early Tibetan court carpets to form a significant group. How might they change our understanding of the region’s weaving traditions?

Speak softly Chris Hall Until comparatively modern times, Chinese cushion covers and pillow ends would not only provide comfort but could also carry cryptic messages of good fortune

Shining example Penny Oakley A lustrous coat appears to invite assumptions about its cultural associations

A steppe back in time Aaron Nejad A notable collection of kilims in the Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art Museum links together an episode of textile history that has rarely been examined in detail