Re-creating the Word: Painted Ceramics of the Prehistoric Southwest

by Barbara L. Moulard

Re-Creating the Painted Ceramics of the Prehistoric Southwest is a survey of prehistoric ceramic art created by anonymous artists of the Southwest. Through an analysis of the ceramic artworks, author Barbara L. Moulard examines the cultural and mythological traditions and worldviews of the Hohokam, Mogollon, and Pueblo (Anasazi) societies. This book introduces fresh discussion and interpretation of prehistoric Southwest ceramics, and new insight and appreciation of the artisans and societies that created them. The 130 artworks presented here have been culled from thousands of examples for more than thirty years. They are some of the most exquisite prehistoric ceramics known to exist, and span a time period of nine hundred years from roughly A.D. 750 to 1680. In Re-Creating the Word, you will see twenty-eight Mimbres bowls, the finest group of Sikyatki Polychromes ever assembled in a private collection, and beautiful and rare Salado, Hohokam, and White Mountain Red Wares.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a labor-of-love by New Mexico artist and collector Bill Schenck, of the best of his prehistoric Southwest pots as of 2006. Color reproduction is about as good as it gets. 134 full-page color plates of the best old pots you are ever likely to see. I saw a good sampling of his collection at a show in Santa Fe, at about the time the book was published, and it was just amazing. Schenck has a good eye and deep pockets. He used to finance his pot-collecting by dealing or trading off the lesser pots for better ones, but he seems to have stopped, and gone back to Southwest-themed paintings. Less hassle, I'd guess. SFAICT, his prehistoric pot collection has been sold & dispersed. He's still painting: http://billyschenck.com/

Regardless, this is simply a splendid book. If you have any interest in Ancestral Pueblo pottery, you need this book. Commentary is by Barbara Moulard, a respected scholar whose writing tends to be eye-glaze material for me (I did better on my last re-read). But the photos are *great*! OOP, but used are available -- & you might check with his gallery.

Here's one of my favorite pots, published in the book and since sold: https://www.flickr.com/photos/2905046...
At least one contemporary Pueblo potter is using the book for inspiration: http://firstpeoplepots.com/2012-26/