Date of Award

1-1979

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Art

First Advisor

Jay D. Frierman

Abstract

After a brief review of Tunisian geography and history, the differences between urban and rural arts and crafts are discussed. Chapters II and III deal with the various raw materials that are used in textile arts, their transformation into a spun and dyed thread and the archaic methods and tools employed. The looms and weaving techniques are described in detail to illustrate the extraordinary skill of the weavers and the many weeks or months of patient work that the women spend to complete one textile. The traditional textiles, their motifs and coloration and possible external influences are illustrated and presented in Chapters V to VII. Some of the numerous beliefs and magic practices, once an inseparable and essential component of all work of the wool, are described. Chapters IX and X are reserved for the most important decorated flat~woven textiles and knotted carpets of Algeria and Morocco and to point out their similarities or differences with those of Tunisia. Because an extensive literature does not exist, Libyan textiles are not described in detail but there are indications of similarities with Tunisia and possibly with Algeria and Morocco as well.

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