Customer Reviews

Arts of Africa: 7000 Years of African Art

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The book is essentially an exhibition catalogue, but beautifully bound and presented. The book is broken up into a number of sections. Roughly 200 pages are devoted to ancient African art - things you may find only in museums or at high-end auctions, 50 pages are devoted to African ivories, and 100 pages are devoted to traditional African art - the types of art such as statues & masks most commonly associated with African art and collected in the last 150 years or so. There are also about 20 pages that describe the re-discovery of African art in Europe at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.

The quality of the pictures in this book is excellent. They are mostly full-page photographic quality pictures that give a fine appreciation of the works discussed.

I'd recommend this book to serious African art enthusiasts looking to extend their reference book collection. This is a great catalogue of really high-grade African art with an expert commentary to accompany it. It could also be a nice coffee table book. Although it does serve as a survey of African art over 7000 years the book isn't set up as a narrative of African art. I think it would be less appropriate for those just starting out in African art - or looking for an overview.

The special feature of this catalog is the quality of the photography and reproduction. Many of the pieces are familiar, but these are the best pictures you will see of them. The volumes and surfaces are rendered as if you are holding the pieces in your hands, feeling their materials. Maybe it's not virtual reality, but it's as close as close as the printed page can get. There are also pieces from European private collections that aren't so familiar, at least not to me. As with most exhibitions, the works are chosen for their visual power rather than how well they represent the overall production of a region. For purposes of connoisseurship, they are extremely well chosen.

409 Pages, 11.25" x 8.75", Hardback, very nicely bound and published without a dustjacket. From the Grimaldi Forum Exhibition, Monaco, July 16th - September 4th 2005, Translated from Italian into English. Curator : Ezio Bassani. Published by Skira. Featuring the following chapters in the Ancient Art Section : Nubia, Nigeria, Nok, Igbo Ukwu, Ife, Tsode, Owo, Benin, Esie, Calabar, Bura, Sapi. Hundreds of superior items in full color covering ancient Nigerian sculpture, Dogon sculpture, African ivories and traditional African art, Figures, masks, bronzes and terracotta pieces. Well photographed, good quality paper and production. Highly Recommended.