ONTENTSIssue 55 Volume 13, Number 1 February 1991

H A L I

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81 EDITORIAL 83 LETTERS

For the first time in many years, archaeologist James Mellaart replies directly tohis critics; a spirited defence of Kum Kapi weavings by collector George Farrow. 89 FRAGMENTS

The refurbished Indian Gallery opens at London's V&Amuseum; The Textile Society of America meets in Washington, aconservators ’conference infree Dresden, and the directors of the world's great museums air some fundamental disagreements in London. 96 FORUM

I an Bennett pieces together anumber of Safavid silk kilim fragments and finds that twoand three probably add up toat least two. 98 DESIGN AND ILLUSION

James C. Allen The author, Brooklyn-out-of- Tennessee rug collector, James Allen, believes that the abstract formality of Turkoman tribal gills can represent a sophisticated, idiosyncratic woven language. 100 AHIMALAYAN TANTRIC BANNER

Tamara W. Hill The mysterious and often macabre objects appliqued on this shrine banner are replete with Tantric symbolism, designed toplacate the wrathful forms of powerful Buddhist deities. 110 THE PEREPEDIL ENIGMA

Christine Klose Looking at early and great examples oj the Perepedil design, the author traces a sadly degenerate tradition back towhat she believes were its roots infloral design. 118 COUNT WRANGEL S LEGACY

Anki Dahlin Three hundred years after the death of Swedish soldier-statesman GustafU range/, Skokloster castle is still filled with his personal possessions, including Turkish and Persian carpets of the types brought toEurope in the 17th century. Now amuseum, it represents aprecious time capsule of Swedish aristocratic life. 124 EXHIBITIONS

The history of British power in India atLondon 's National Portrait Gallery'; a composite picture of Indonesian court life at The Asia Society; Indonesian textiles at the L.A. County Museum of Art.

HALI .55