KERR (Michael D. Coe) & KERR (Justine), Mayan Art and Ca - Lot 194

KERR (Michael D. Coe) & KERR (Justine), Mayan Art and Calligraphy Paris, Éditions de La Martinière, [circa 1997–2000]. Large quarto, paperback, illustrated cover. A major study devoted to the art and writing of the Maya, a civilization that developed one of the most complex writing systems in the pre-Columbian world. The authors, world-renowned specialists in Mesoamerican archaeology, present here the decisive advances made in deciphering Maya hieroglyphs during the second half of the 20th century. Richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, epigraphic transcriptions, and reproductions of archaeological objects, the book highlights the close ties between writing, religion, political power, and artistic creation in the Maya world. Monumental stelae, codices, painted ceramics, and sculptures are examined as expressions of a graphic tradition of exceptional sophistication. With its abundant iconography and rigorous scholarly approach, this volume serves as an accessible reference for the study of pre-Columbian art and Maya epigraphy.