Textiles are the most ubiquitous, diverse and consistently creative art form on earth. This book celebrates like no other on the subject their spectacular and enduring appeal. Mary Schoeser marshals knowledge gleaned from a lifetime's immersion in the textile arts to present a sweeping survey of the role textiles have played throughout all of human civilization. Over a thousand historical and contemporary images and highly informed texts illustrate the huge variety of materials, as well as their possible manipulations and surface treatments. Detailed descriptions include histories of private collections and underscore the importance of context for appreciating the exquisite detail of fabric and cloth, with emphasis on geometric, abstract, natural and pictorial imagery. An extensive resource section provides information about museum and textile associations around the world, making this sumptuous publication the one book that all lovers of textiles will covet.