FAKING ANCIENT MESOAMERICA [Paperback]

Nancy L Kelker (Author), Karen O Bruhns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1598741497 | ISBN-13: 978-1598741490

Crystal skulls, imaginative codices, dubious Olmec heads and cute Colima dogs. Fakes and forgeries run rampant in the Mesoamerican art collections of international museums and private individuals. Authors Nancy Kelker and Karen Bruhns examine the phenomenon in this eye-opening volume. They discuss the most commonly forged classes and styles of artifacts, many of which were being duplicated as early as the 19th century. More important, they describe the system whereby these objects get made, purchased, authenticated, and placed in major museums as well as the complicity of forgers, dealers, curators, and collectors in this system. Unique to this volume are biographies of several of the forgers, who describe their craft and how they are able to effectively fool connoisseurs and specialists. An important, accessible introduction to pre-Columbian art fraud for archaeologists, art historians, and museum professionals alike. A parallel volume by the same authors discusses fakes in Andean archaeology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Enlightening but frightening, entertaining yet scholarly, this book will give collectors and curators of unprovenienced Mesoamerican art pause for thought. Kelker and Bruhns have done Pre-Columbian art history and archaeology a salutary service in identifying dupes and duplicities that have perverted our understanding of the true achievements of prehispanic artists."

 

-Norman Hammond, Boston University

(Reviewed with Faking the Ancient Andes)

"Both books make an interesting case for how the influx of forged and unprovenanced artifacts into the public and academic world can affect one's understanding of the past. The tone of the books can at times be distracting, but the issues addressed and their complexities are explored effectively. Summing Up: Recommended."

-J. J. Borowicz, CHOICE

From the Inside Flap

This is an important accessible introduction to pre-Columbian art fraud of Central Americafor archaeologists, art historians, and museum professionals alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Left Coast Press (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598741497
• ISBN-13: 978-1598741490
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars fakes, October 1, 2011

By 

Sebastian Carranza-Lira - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: FAKING ANCIENT MESOAMERICA (Paperback)

I read with interest this book. But I think that author arrives to no compleate believable conclusions, that almost all museum artifacts are fakes. The conclusions after reading this book is that one must be more careful when apreciating antiques.