Global Clay: Themes in World Ceramic Traditions

Description

For over 25,000 years, humans across the globe have shaped, decorated, and fired clay. Despite great differences in location and time, universal themes appear in the world’s ceramic traditions, including religious influences, human and animal representations, and mortuary pottery. In Global Clay: Themes in World Ceramic Traditions, noted pottery scholar John A. Burrison explores the recurring artistic themes that tie humanity together, explaining how and why those themes appear again and again in worldwide ceramic traditions. The book is richly illustrated with over 200 full-color, cross-cultural illustrations of ceramics from prehistory to the present. Providing an introduction to different styles of folk pottery, extensive suggestions for further reading, and reflections on the future of traditional pottery around the world, Global Clay is sure to become a classic for all who love art and pottery and all who are intrigued by the human commonalities revealed through art. Cover GLOBAL CLAY Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction 1 | International Folk Pottery A Brief Primer 2 | Monuments to Clay Public Markers of Craft Identity 3 | The Sincerest Form of Flattery Cross-Cultural Imitations 4 | The Human Image Face Jugs and Other People Pots 5 | A Clay Menagerie The Animal World in Ceramics 6 | Idols with Feet of Clay Ceramics and World Religions 7 | Returning to Clay Death and the Afterlife 8 | Living Traditions Today Continuity, Change, Revival Suggested Reading Index