Description
New York: Columbia University, 1960. Paper covers, 23 pp. 27 cm. Published in a limited edition of 1,500 copies; this copy is unnumbered. NO illustrations. Catalog published in connection with an exhibition at the Rotunda - The Low Memorial Library, November 1960.
Condition & notes
In very good condition with light bumping to edges of covers and light overall scuffing, aging and soiling. Binding tight (staple bound). Pages lightly aged but otherwise unmarked. The exhibition marked the inauguration at Columbia of expanded activities in the fields of Chinese and Eurasian Art, Archaeology, History and Linguistics. Contents include: Foreword by A.M.S. [Arthur M. Sackler]; Archaic Chinese Jades; Chinese Ritual Vessels; Chinese Bronze Weapons; Chinese Bronze Implements, Fittings and Buckles; Eurasian Animal Style Bronze Art; Eurasian Animal Style Bronze Plaques; Eurasian Animal Style Appliques, Pendants, Hooks and Fastenings; Eurasian Animal Style Bronze Sculpture, Implements and Fittings; Chronology. [From Foreword] The fundamental approach to the scientific reconstruction of man's early history is that of controlled excavation. Nevertheless, a great deal of material has come down from the past with little or no indication of place of origin or circumstance of discovery. With respect to these objects, an accumulation of a sufficiently large corpus of artifacts and the development of suitable techniques may cast additional light on the technological practices, the locales at which the objects were made and the approximate dating of these early works of art and artisanship. The objects in this exhibition represent typical selections from each category in the Columbia Study Collections. Their numbers are such as to permit the application of physical techniques which in turn should help to lay the basis of new scientific studies of the achievements of ancient man. Archaeological field work in these areas is, in the main, restricted for the time being to Chinese and Soviet investigators. We have to do our "digging" by the employment of other techniques such as metallurgical analysis, x-ray spectography and crystallography. The correlation of the results of these techniques with those obtained from stylistic analysis and interpretation will lead to the benefit of both the Collections and the establishment of "The Funds for Eurasian Studies." They should serve to integrate studies in Chinese and Soviet fields at Columbia University: to fuse a modern interdisciplinary spirit with the efforts of specialists in many different departments. We should all learn from these associates and joint efforts.