The fabrics of Indonesia have long held an allure. They have now won universal popularity, so much so that local names for techniques of dying and weaving - batik, ikat, tritik - have been adopted internationally as generic terms. The reverence accorded to textile art on the islands is reflected in precision of weave and exquisite patterning. The rich array of design in reflected in this book. Over 200 photographs illustrate the cloud shapes, geometric forms, human and animal figures, Indian symbols and even Dutch Art Deco designs that have been rendered as textile motifs. Based on first-hand research, often conducted in remote areas, John Gillow's account comprises a history of textile production in the Indonesian archipelago, from Balinese double-ikats and Javanese silks to the gold-thread brocades of Sumatra.