Objects of empire : the ceramic tradition of the imperial Inca state /
"The beautiful polychrome ceramics of the imperial Inca state have long been noted for their uniformity, so much so that it was once said a whole jar could be reconstructed from a single shard. This book is an attempt to move beyond the "seen one, seen 'em all" mentality. There i...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Austin :
University of Texas Press,
2025.
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| Edition: | First edition. |
| Series: | William & Bettye Nowlin series in art, history, and culture of the Western Hemisphere.
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| Subjects: |
| Summary: | "The beautiful polychrome ceramics of the imperial Inca state have long been noted for their uniformity, so much so that it was once said a whole jar could be reconstructed from a single shard. This book is an attempt to move beyond the "seen one, seen 'em all" mentality. There is evidence of mass production, yes, but the widespread distribution of Inca state pottery and the high degree of standardization hint at the importance of this particular category of material culture to the imperial project. Despite that significance, relatively little comparative work has been undertaken. This book shows the variability and rich semiotic content of imperial Inca pots, and in doing so, it advances our understanding of how power and legitimacy are produced and reproduced through the material culture of daily life. Bray takes a comparative, empire-wide approach, making it clear that Inca pottery is not as homogeneous as it is thought to be. Her book works through what constitutes the state style, as well as the parameters and significance of the variability. From there, she takes up the more socially significant questions of where, when, and why deviations from the norm occurred. Focusing on variations in the material assemblages and approaches helps illuminate the strategies of territorial expansion and political control that lay at the heart of the Inca juggernaut, as well as the role of objects in the calculus of would-be rulers and subjects"-- |
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| Physical Description: | xiv, 211 pages : illustrations (some color), color maps ; 29 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-206) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781477330685 1477330682 |