Ancient Sichuan: Treasures from a Lost Civilization

This extraordinary catalogue accompanies a major traveling exhibition of 128 works of bronze, jade, and clay dating from the thirteenth century B.C. to the second century A.D. The majority of these stunningly sophisticated works of art--among the most unusual and spectacular produced anywhere in the ancient world--all come from a startling archaeological discovery made just fourteen years ago at the previously unknown site of Sanxingdui in Sichuan province. The discovery of this Bronze Age civilization fundamentally changes our understanding of Chinese history. Representing fifteen hundred years of cultural production, these striking objects are extraordinarily varied, ranging from a monumental standing figure and an almost life-size bronze horse to ritual vessels, masks, and bronze heads of fantastic-looking supernatural beings, finely honed jade knives and ritual blades, and marvelous clay statuettes. Most have never before been seen in the United States. The exhibition and catalogue represent a unique international effort to continue the study of ancient Sichuan. Under the leadership of Robert Bagley, an international team of scholars contributes eight essays on the archaeological discoveries at Sanxingdui, the art historical importance of these objects, and the new history of ancient China they tell. Contributors are Mich le Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens, Jessica Rawson, Lothar von Falkenhausen, Alain Thote, Jenny F. So, Michael Nylan, and the Seattle Art Museum's Curator of Chinese Art, Jay Xu. In addition to the essays, there are individual entries for each object, nearly all of which have been newly photographed for this publication. Ancient Sichuan contributes to a revolutionary change in perceptions of ancient Chinese civilization, providing an unprecedented opportunity to explore the art, material culture, and spiritual life of ancient China. EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: Seattle Art Museum, Seattle May-August 2001 Kimbell Museum of Art, Fort Worth September 2001-January 2002 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York March-June 2002 Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto August-November 2002

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691088519
• ISBN13: 9780691088518
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 4.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 12.5" x 1.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Ancient Sichuan : Treasures from a Lost Civilization

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.