- Hardcover: 360 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press (23 April 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0691088519
- ISBN-13: 978-0691088518
- Product Dimensions: 31.2 x 25.7 x 3.1 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,264,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Review
This book's fine design and gorgeous photography will interest readers. -- "Library Journal
This well-made . . . book . . . documents the principal excavations and offers full-color photographs of some of the most spectacular finds. . . . Students and collectors of Asian art will enjoy browsing through this richly illustrated catalog. -- Gregory McNamee, Bloomsbury Review
Beautifully and profusely illustrated in color with many black-and-white photographs and diagrams, this volume documents a need for the reassessment of China's ancient art history. . . . A splendid book. -- "Choice
This well-made . . . book . . . documents the principal excavations and offers full-color photographs of some of the most spectacular finds. . . . Students and collectors of Asian art will enjoy browsing through this richly illustrated catalog. -- Gregory McNamee, Bloomsbury Review
Beautifully and profusely illustrated in color with many black-and-white photographs and diagrams, this volume documents a need for the reassessment of China's ancient art history. . . . A splendid book. -- "Choice
Library Journal
This book's fine design and gorgeous photography will interest readers.
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2 reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Ancient Sichuan : Treasures from a Lost Civilization
5 Jan 2002
Format:Hardcover
A fabulous book! I'd give it 10 stars!
For the record, I am educated, very interested in archaeology, but not a professional archaeologist. I found this book to be clearly written and informative, but not overwhelming with abstruse detail.
Content-wise, these bronze heads and masks are weird and wonderful, alien, unlike typical Chinese bronze finds--unlike anything else in the world really. Somewhat reminiscent of Aztec or Olmec heads. The composite bird-human figures are intriguing, the google-eyed-trunk-antenna human(?) masks totally awesome.
I would have liked more definite identification of "core-materials," types of stone, and black paint (on eyebrows and eyes of masks and heads) more maps to show where the gold, lead and casting materials came from. It would be really interesting to see a map showing possible related art styles/influences to the Sanxingdui site (text p. 32).
The photography is brilliant, and the adjacent, clearly drawn illustrations of different views and details of the objects are terrific. The layout of the text and illustrations: with notes in the second column, diagrams, and photos all together on the same spread makes it easy to get all the information. (No flipping back and forth to the back of a book for details and asides.)
I would love to see a publication relating what was happining in adjacent contemporary culures to the Sanxingdui bronze head culture. For instance, did any army have headgear similar to the bronze head on p. 95? Is there nothing left of the material that was slotted through the back of this and other heads (dna analysis?)?
All in all a great book.
For the record, I am educated, very interested in archaeology, but not a professional archaeologist. I found this book to be clearly written and informative, but not overwhelming with abstruse detail.
Content-wise, these bronze heads and masks are weird and wonderful, alien, unlike typical Chinese bronze finds--unlike anything else in the world really. Somewhat reminiscent of Aztec or Olmec heads. The composite bird-human figures are intriguing, the google-eyed-trunk-antenna human(?) masks totally awesome.
I would have liked more definite identification of "core-materials," types of stone, and black paint (on eyebrows and eyes of masks and heads) more maps to show where the gold, lead and casting materials came from. It would be really interesting to see a map showing possible related art styles/influences to the Sanxingdui site (text p. 32).
The photography is brilliant, and the adjacent, clearly drawn illustrations of different views and details of the objects are terrific. The layout of the text and illustrations: with notes in the second column, diagrams, and photos all together on the same spread makes it easy to get all the information. (No flipping back and forth to the back of a book for details and asides.)
I would love to see a publication relating what was happining in adjacent contemporary culures to the Sanxingdui bronze head culture. For instance, did any army have headgear similar to the bronze head on p. 95? Is there nothing left of the material that was slotted through the back of this and other heads (dna analysis?)?
All in all a great book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Seminal Sanxingdui exhibition guide
12 July 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This volume was the accompaniment to one of the most fascinating exhibitions of Chinese archaeology in recent years. As such, it represents the show in a gorgeous and informative manner. The objects are stunningly photographed, the printing is beautifully done (which is critical in any art book, as poor color reproduction or a sloppy print run can destroy the sense of the artworks), and the text is edited by Robert Bagley of Princeton, who is not only one of the premiere scholars of early Chinese art and archaeology but a tremendous author in every respect--extremely readable as well as erudite.
The exhibition brought us many objects that are more readily identifiable as early Chinese, but its stars were the bizarre metal masks (mostly of bronze) that COULD lead certain gullible souls to believe in extraterrestrial visitation to Sichuan. All of the artifacts are interesting; some are beautiful; others are entertaining; one is even erotic; many are quite puzzling. There is much to be discovered and interpreted regarding the culture that produced the Sanxingdui artifacts, but for anyone with an interest in early Chinese art and cultures, this book can give a tantalizing glimpse of a past that has only begun to reveal its secrets.
The exhibition brought us many objects that are more readily identifiable as early Chinese, but its stars were the bizarre metal masks (mostly of bronze) that COULD lead certain gullible souls to believe in extraterrestrial visitation to Sichuan. All of the artifacts are interesting; some are beautiful; others are entertaining; one is even erotic; many are quite puzzling. There is much to be discovered and interpreted regarding the culture that produced the Sanxingdui artifacts, but for anyone with an interest in early Chinese art and cultures, this book can give a tantalizing glimpse of a past that has only begun to reveal its secrets.
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