Portland Public Library

Faking ancient Mesoamerica, Nancy L. Kelker, Karen O. Bruhns

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-244) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Faking ancient Mesoamerica

bibliography

424558198

Nancy L. Kelker, Karen O. Bruhns

"Crystal skulls, imaginative codices, dubious Olmec heads and cute Colima dogs. Fakes and forgeries run rampant in the Mesoamerican art collections of international museums and private individuals. Authors Nancy Kelker and Karen Bruhns examine the phenomenon in this eye-opening volume. They discuss the most commonly forged classes and styles of artifacts, many of which were being duplicated centuries ago. More important, they describe the system whereby these objects get made, purchased, authenticated, and placed in major museums as well as the complicity of forgers, dealers, curators, and collectors in this system. Unique to this volume are biographies of several of the forgers, who describe their craft and how they are able to effectively fool connoisseurs and specialists. An important, accessible introduction to pre-Columbian art fraud for archaeologists, art historians, and museum professionals alike"--Back cover

Introduction -- The secret lies of fakes -- Forgery is not new -- The nine lives of fakes -- A rogues' gallery of forgers, fakers, and facilitators -- Escaping de Landa's bonfire of the vanities -- Between a rock and a hard fake -- Feat of clay -- The lapidary's lament -- Skullduggery -- Wooden men, golden gods, and tales on the wall -- Epilogue: A word to the wise