A archive of immense value to fashion historians and students of costume design.
Clothing was hardly a practical necessity in North Africa and what is today the Middle East. Often a luxury item in these warm, humid climates, it became more essential as people's lives improved socially and economically. But even then, the drapery was light and tended to accent the body's shape rather than conceal it. The first part of this profusely illustrated and scrupulously researched text examines the evolution in apparel worn by Egyptian royalty, priests, musicians, manual workers, the military, and foreigners (as depicted by Egyptian artists). Two additional sections consider clothing worn in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia, focusing largely on Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian styles. Over 250 illustrations, drawn in the artistic style of the period, are accompanied by flat patterns showing the cut of the garment, thus enabling today's costumers to accurately reconstruct this apparel. A comprehensive archive that will not only be of immense value to fashion historians and students of costume design, this volume will also fascinate anyone interested in the development of artistic representation.
SECTION I ANCIENT EGYPTIAN COSTUME INTRODUCTION I. COSTUMES OF THE OLD KINGDOM II. THE MIDDLE KINGDOM III. "COSTUMES IN THE NEW EMPIRE, COMMENCING WITH THOSE OF THE 18TH DYNASTY (1576 B.C.)" IV. "MILITARY COSTUME, CHIEFLY THAT OF THE NEW EMPIRE" V. "PRIESTS, MUSICIANS AND MANUAL WORKERS" VI. FOREIGNERS AS DEPICTED BY EGYPTIAN ARTISTS VII. THE CONSTRUCTION OR SHAPING OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN COSTUME VIII. EGYPTIAN ORNAMENT SECTION II ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN COSTUME INTRODUCTION IX. SUMERIAN STYLE IN COSTUME X. BABYLONIAN STYLE IN COSTUME XI. ASSYRIAN STYLE IN COSTUME SECTION III ANCIENT PERSIAN COSTUME INTRODUCTION XII. "ACHAEMENID, SELEUCID, ARSACID AND SASSANID PERSIAN COSTUME" BIBLIOGRAPHY
Over 250 illustrations, drawn in the artistic style of the period, depict apparel worn by Egyptian royalty, manual workers, and military, as well as by ancient Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Flat patterns show cut of the garments, enabling today's costumers to accurately reconstruct this apparel. A comprehensive archive.