The exhibition Kaitag : Art for life presents 65 specimens of kaitag, datable between the 17th and 19th centuries, many of which are on display for the first time ever.
The term “kaitag” refers to embroidered silk fabric produced in Daghestan (North-Eastern Caucasus) by village women. These embroideries were used by families on special occasions such as the birth, marriage or death of one of their own members and were thus passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms. The respect and great sentimental value attached to these artefacts explain their endurance over the centuries. Today only a few hundred of the antique specimens can still be found.
It was Robert Chenciner, an English traveller and researcher, who spread knowledge about the historical, cultural and artistic importance of kaitags in the western world by publishing the book Kaitag: Textile Art from Daghestan in 1993. Since then, certain enlightened collectors have started to acquire these rare and precious embroideries.
The exhibition in Pordenone, curated by Dr. Carlo Scaramuzza, a scholar of eastern textile art, in collaboration with the “Cintamani” Association, was organized to give the public an opportunity to see these fascinating and unique works. Twenty six of the sixty five specimens on display come from the collections of the future MATAM (Museum of Antique Textile Art Milan) and Gallery Moshe Tabibnia.
The results of this research are published on the exhibition catalogue by Silvana Editoriale.
Analysis authors:
Gianluca Poldi (Physician, Università degli Studi di Bergamo)
Silvia Bruni (Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano)
Vittoria Guglielmi (Researcher of Analytical Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano)
Federica Pozzi (Reasearcher fo Analytical Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano)
Kaitag : Art for life
EXTERNAL EVENT
Kaitag. Arte per la vita
Silvana Editoriale, Milano
152 pages; 24 x 27 cm; 100 color illustrations; hardcover; language: Italian and English
Textiles as vehicles of history, art and culture, between East and West
EVENT
Friday, 14 January, 2010, 8:30 p.m.
Biblioteca Civica di Pordenone, Piazza XX Settembre, Pordenone
Biblioteca Civica di Pordenone, Piazza XX Settembre, Pordenone
Lecturers: Dr. Maria Beatrice Bertone, Director of Museo del Duomo di Udine; Arch. Alberto Boralevi, Florence
Science at the service of textile art
EVENT
Friday, 19 November, 2010, 8:30 p.m.
Biblioteca Civica di Pordenone, Piazza XX Settembre, Pordenone
Biblioteca Civica di Pordenone, Piazza XX Settembre, Pordenone
Lecturers: Prof. Silvia Bruni, Università degli Studi di Milano; Dott. Gianluca Poldi, Università degli Studi di Bergamo.