Oceanic Art = Ozeanische Kunst = Art Oceanien (2 vols.)

Köln (Cologne), Germany: Könemann, 1995. Hardcover. 2 vols. Black cloth, gilt letters on spines & front covers, black & illus. dust jackets, black & illus. paper board slipcase, maps on flyleaves, 640 pp. total, many color illus.; weighs 12 lbs. VG (Slipcase slightly scuffed, slight wear to tops of djs; otherwise Like New.). Item #147447
ISBN: 9783895080807

Text is in English, German and French. A two-volume set. "Oceania comprises three great cultural area: Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. The art of the island populations of the South Pacific takes such diverse forms as masks and jewelry, household utensils and weapons, canoe prows and overmodeled skulls, tapa and major representations of the deities. It is spawned from the religious beliefs of people attempting to asnwer the great questions of their very existence. Volume I opens with an introduction to the physical and historical situation of the South Pacific island cultures from the first known migrations, which began some 60,000 years ago, to the period of Europrean discovery and exploration on through to today. This is followed by the first of three sections devoted to each cultural area of Oceania, Melanesia, which begins by docusing on the extraordinary art forms of New Guinea. Volume II continues with the 'expressionistic' art of the rest of Melanesia, the highly classical art forms of Polynesia and the power and pure form of Micronesian works of art. Oceanic Art has long been hidden away in museums devoted to the scientific study of man. 'Rediscovered' in the early years of this century, it is now finally being regarded as a major component of the world's artistic heritage. Most of the works of art illustrated in these two volumes are stored deep int he reserves of museums or held in private collections not accessible to the publis. The majority are shown here for the first time and were photographed specifically for this book." (dj).

Price: $52.00

See all items by