The extraordinary in the ordinary : textiles and objects from the collections of Lloyd Cotsen and the Neutrogena corporation

European embroideries, African weavings, kites and posters, hats and soft sculpture, hand tools, and much more -- this book celebrates the extraordinary originality seen in textiles and objects that people have created to adorn themselves and their homes, for religious purposes, and to express their thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams.These 250 works were sought out and collected by Lloyd Cotsen, former chairman of the Neutrogena Corporation. They are among the highlights of Cotsen's enormous collection, and serve as an introduction to the over 2,500 works that will be on view in the new Neutrogena Wing of the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, starting in August 1998.Organized geographically, this sumptuous volume illustrates the varied and fascinating methods of artistic expression seen around the world and throughout history. Following an introduction by Cotsen, essays and commentaries by a team of international scholars discuss the works, reflecting history, aesthetics, and the major areas of textile and folk art collecting today.