African Textiles and Decorative Arts

Artist and Hausa craft collector David Heathcote's signed copy

Author

Roy Seiber

Publisher

The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1972

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback, printed pattern boards. 28.5 × 22cm, 239pp.

This copy belonged to artist David Heathcote with his name to the title page in red ink. Heathcote (1931–2025), after studying at the Slade taught art in northern Nigeria where he started documenting and collecting Hausa craft work. By the late 1960s and 70s, he had collected a large and important collection of African craft including clothing and embroidered dress. It was acquired by the British Museum and featured in the 1976 exhibition The Art of the Hausa, and again in 1995 The Art of African Textiles. He is credited in the bibliography of this book.

This illustrated book was issued in connection to the exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1972/1973. It covers all manner of African textiles and is illustrated in colour and black and white.

Condition

A good reference copy in fair condition. Whilst this isn't a rare title, its provenance makes it an interesting copy. The cloth is rubbed and frayed, there is light scattered foxing throughout, and a bit of a musty odour. However, it remains in strong readable condition.