Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico: The Andrall E. Pearson Family Collection (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) [Paperback]

Kristi Butterwick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2004 | Series: Metropolitan Museum of Art Series

During the years between 300 B.C.E. and 400 C.E., peoples in a western region of Mexico lived in small, economically successful communities in a land of abundant natural resources. In these communities—now the modern Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit—family lineage was important and burial sites were often conjoined to hold numerous relatives. Ceramic objects were also buried to testify to the family’s wealth; some of these were large three-dimensional human figures. These compelling figural sculptures are the focus of this book.
Heritage of Power features forty sculptures from the three major stylistic areas of West Mexican ceramic sculpture, each named for one of the modern Mexican states. While there are similarities among them (all areas produced Ancestor Pairs, for example), there are also interesting differences: representations of ballplayers and warriors were more common in Jalisco, and depictions of animals and birds were chiefly made in Colima. This, and much more, is explored in this beautifully illustrated volume.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Forty compelling sculptures made during the years between 300 B.C.E. and 400 C.E. in three major stylistic areas of West Mexico are the focus of this fascinating book, which discusses the works and explores their connections and distinctions.

About the Author

Kristi Butterwick, an archaeologist who has long worked in West Mexico, is curator at the Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art (October 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030010488X
• ISBN-13: 978-0300104882
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #903,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights into West Mexican Art, February 24, 2005

By 

Mexican Traveler "Steve" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico: The Andrall E. Pearson Family Collection (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series) (Paperback)

An important aspect to this catalog is the excellent photography by Justin Kerr. Many of the sculptures have not been previously published - and for those that have - references are provided. Outstanding descriptions of each work include dimensions, construction techniques, etc. "Heritage of Power" is a welcome addition to the few books that focus on the ceramic art of West Mexico, since the Von Winning publications of the 1970s. The author interprets the ceramic sculptures using the latest archaeological findings on kinship and ancestor worship in ancient West Mexico. The combination of insightful text and the Justin Kerr photography makes this book a worthwhile addition to anyone working in Mexican prehistory.