Collecting Mesoamerican Art before 1940: A New World of Latin American Antiquities

This book explores the history of ancient Mesoamerican object collecting, from pre-Hispanic antiquities to the modern art market. It analyzes how shifting patterns of collecting and taste have shaped academic disciplines and public attitudes toward Mesoamerican art.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

This captivating book delves into the intricate history of how and why ancient Mesoamerican objects have been collected throughout the ages. It begins with the arrival of pre-Hispanic antiquities in European collections in the sixteenth century, whether through gifts or seizures. It then charts the rise of systematic collecting in Europe and the Americas during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The narrative concludes in 1940, marking the onset of the collapse of the European art market at the outbreak of World War II and the concurrent emergence of a significant art market for pre-Hispanic antiquities in the United States.

Drawing upon extensive archival resources and international museum collections, the contributors meticulously analyze the evolving patterns of collecting and taste, encompassing how pre-Hispanic objects transitioned from being perceived as anthropological and scientific curiosities to coveted collectibles. This exploration sheds light on how these shifts have shaped modern academic disciplines as well as public, private, institutional, and nationalistic attitudes toward Mesoamerican art.

In the context of growing demands from various nations worldwide for the return of their cultural patrimony and ancestral heritage, it becomes crucial to examine the historical processes, events, and actors that initially led to the removal of so many objects from their countries of origin. This book serves as a valuable resource in understanding the complexities and nuances of the collecting and preservation of ancient Mesoamerican artifacts, contributing to a deeper appreciation of their cultural significance and historical importance.

Weight: 990g
Dimension: 181 x 257 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606068724