"This book is the first publication devoted entirely to The Art Institute of Chicago's exceptional holdings of Chinese textiles, and is an essential reference source for all those interested in the design and cultural significance of these brilliant artifacts. Richly illustrated with full color reproductions, this book showcases approximately eighty important objects - including court robes, priestly vestments, and furnishing textiles for imperial palaces - dating from the seventeenth to the early twentieth century. A main essay surveys the entire collection, and is followed by a complete checklist that incorporates full technical data on each piece, and offers brief, engaging entries on individual works. Also included is an essay exploring the fascinating history of Chinese-textile collecting in Chicago. The contributors to this publication include renowned Chinese-textiles expert John E. Vollmer, and Art Institute of Chicago curators Elinor Pearlstein and Christa C. Mayer Thurman."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved