Peruvian Pottery (Shire ethnography)

Before its conquest by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century Peru had a long tradition of pottery making which has been traced back to about 3000 BC in the Upper Amazon. Some of the decorated styles have become recognised as being among the major artistic achievements of the American Indians. This book traces the development of the main styles of Peruvian pottery from earliest times up to the Spanish conquest and sets these within their cultural context. It looks at the technology employed, using a combination of the examination of finished pieces, modern experiments in manufacturing reproductions of ancient pots, and studies of modern potters working with pre-Hispanic technology. Next the iconography of the principal ancient styles is studied, showing its content and overall themes, with a section on fakes and reproductions. The last section of the book looks at Peruvian pottery today to see how it has been influenced by European technology and artistry, with special attention to areas where ancient technology and