Saturday, May 21, 2016
10 a.m. Refreshments     10:30 a.m.  Program

 “Weavings of Nomads in Iran:
Warp-Faced Bands & Related Textiles”
with
Dr. Fred Mushkat
Independent Researcher & Collector,
St. Petersburg, FL

        Warp-faced weavings made by nomads in Iran are an oft neglected aspect of their weaving culture.  These utility weavings include bands made for decorating horses, camels, and mules and for attaching cargo bags to pack animals.  Bands were used in tents for structural support and decoration.  Other warp-faced textiles include tent and transport containers.  Warp-faced flatweaves were placed over bedding bags in the tent, placed on animals and used as floor coverings.  The use of this technically difficult group of structures declined dramatically beginning about a century ago.  In addition to a talk about these weavings, Dr. Mushkat will be showing examples from the major nomadic pastoralists in Iran, a number of which have not been seen in North America.   
         Fred Mushkat graduated from The Ohio State University in 1972 with a B.S in Computer Science Engineering.  He received an M.D degree at Ohio State in 1976.  After a residency at the University of Cincinnati, he has been a practicing emergency physician since 1979.  His interest in textiles began in 1977 when he began going to yard sales and finding an occasional Oriental rug.  Like many people at that time, he became interested in "ethnographic" textiles and focused on non-commercial weavings made by nomads.  Warp-faced weavings had these qualities and had been largely ignored by the trade.  He began collecting bands in 1986, and published an article on warp-faced bands in HALI 84, in 1996.  In 2001, he curated an exhibition of warp-faced bands from Iran at the American Conference of Oriental Rugs (ACOR).  He is in the final stages of completing a book on these textiles, to be published by HALI publications.  Dr. Mushkat invites TMA/SC members to bring examples of warp-faced weavings for show & tell. 

Luther Hall,  Lower Level   St. Bede’s Episcopal Churc 
 3590 Grand View Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA  90066-1904
Just south of the 10 freeway, and west of the 405, near the intersection of Centinela and Palms.  Free parking.

Admission:    TMA/SC members  Gratis . . . . .  Guests  $10