The British Museums uniquely important Melanesian collection is pre-eminent among early collections, and the 20,000 items it comprises are core to understanding the cultures of the western Pacific. The extraordinary art styles represented, from groups such as New Guinea, New Ireland and the Solomon Islands and relating to ancestors, family and clan, houses, feasting and festivals, are of interest not only in themselves but also for how they have influenced European artists since the nineteenth century.
With contributions from a wide range of international scholars, anthropologists, indigenous peoples and artists, and illustrated with over 300 colour images of Museum objects and contextual photographs, the book will survey and respond to the collection from the point of view of anthropologists and the people responsible for its creation.
Melanesia is a visual and key reference work, providing illuminating encounters with the historical and contemporary cultures of the western Pacific, documenting the most culturally diverse and artistically fertile region in the world for the first time.
By:
Nicholas Thomas, Elizabeth Bonshek, Julie Adams Edited by:
Lissant Bolton, Ben Burt Imprint: British Museum Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 279mm,
Width: 229mm,
Spine: 31mm
Weight: 1.830kg ISBN:9780714125961 ISBN 10: 0714125962 Pages: 384 Publication Date:01 February 2014 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active