The creative accomplishments of the Andean people of the highland region of South America are prominent among folk art legacies of the world. This wide-ranging publication, examining over 850 works, is the first to present an overview of the religious, textile, costume, utilitarian, and festival folk arts made in the Andes in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, after the Andeans were free from Spanish colonial rule. The author offers an understanding of the development of folk art during the colonial period and shows how much of the work produced after the independence reflects the interweaving of indigenous craft traditions with European art forms and techniques. With more than 400 color photographs, this monumental book provides a window into the rich spirit and culture of the Andeans. -- from Book Jacket.