The Smithsonian Institution Libraries have established their Research Guide Series to introduce scholars and the public to the subject collections of this great research library. Professionals will recognize this collection as a discriminating reference guide to seminal works in the growing bibliography of African art, craft, and architecture, as well as the state of the art market and collecting. This bibliography is an introductory guide to the literature on African art and is intended to be a critical "best books" list.
It is aimed both at the newcomer as an initial reading list and at the specialist as a bibliographic aid to some of the standard books of the field. While necessarily subjective, quality of scholarship, accuracy of information, and presentation were decided upon as the primary criteria for title selection. A number of titles have been selected for inclusion primarily because of the quality or uniqueness of their illustrations: indeed, some books are primarily illustrations.
The long section of regional studies (Part IV) follows the conventional geographical presentation, starting from the coast of Guinea and moving counterclockwise around the continent.
Periodicals
Bibliographies and Reference Books
A promising new bibliography of current literature on the arts of Africa, Oceania, and North America with scope notes or short annotations for most entries and an index of keywords and authors. As one of the most important collections of primitive art, the Robert Goldwater Library catalog provides an important bibliographic resource for students and scholars of African art history, representing 25 years of collection development. Very useful compilation for a part of Africa traditionally dismissed as lacking serious art.
African American Folk Culture: An Annotated Bibliography of Materials from North, Central, and South America and the West Indies. A general introduction to the physical and cultural background of Africa and a country-by-country survey of the continent. Adu Boahen, Jan Vansina, this work provides a large comprehensive and exceptionally well illustrated history of Africa.
A volume like this offers the historical background against which African art can be seen more fully and meaningfully from Stone Age artists to contemporary visions of Africa.
General Surveys of African Art
Arguably one of the best general studies of African art, this is a thematic approach that takes into account the history of African art, architecture, form, style and aesthetics in African sculpture, art in society and contemporary expressions of African art. African art in cultural perspective. All in all, probably the most thorough yet concise exhibition of traditional African art, and widely accessible too. A long, wide-ranging overview of African art forms -- masks, fetishes, relics, antiques, and decorative arts -- with more emphasis on illustration than text.
For spirits and kings : African art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman collection / edited by Susan Vogel. The Tishman Collection of African Art is one of the finest private collections of its kind in the country, reflecting the eclecticism of the connoisseur. Valuable for excellent color photographs of African art in context -- masks during dance, rituals and ceremonies.
Fourteen substantive studies of African art whose unifying theme is art as an embodiment of authority and power used for political or social ends.
Regional Studies of African Art
One of the earlier studies of sculpture from the Western Sudanese peoples: Dogon, Mossi, Bobo, Bambara and Senufo. The definitive study on the chi-wara, or antelope headdress of the Bambara masking society, associated with agricultural rituals. Reviews the work of the famous families of Ekiti carvers, Areogun, Bandele, Lamidi and Ketu carvers, Otooro.
An excellent, clear and well-illustrated exposition of the art of Benin in its historical, religious and social context. Discusses the integral role these shrines play in the social and religious life of the community. Three Rivers of Nigeria: Art of the Lower Niger, Cross and Benue from the Collection of William and Robert Arnett.
Explores the sculptural tradition of the Lower Niger (Ibo, Igala, Bini, Ijo, Abua, Urhobo, Ogoni), Cross River (Ibibio, Oron, Ejagham, Boki) and Benue River (Wurkun, Mumuye, Chamba, Montol, Tiv). , Jukun, Afo, Idoma). An attempt at the stylistic classification of the Kota funerary statue, a typical French approach to the study of art history. The aim is to offer a broad overview of Zare's art, discussing representative works and the cultural milieu that inspires them.
Although broad in scope, the author sees his work as an introductory exploration of art in its historical context. A comprehensive exhibition of Orthodox Christian art of Ethiopia, including mainly paintings and illuminated manuscripts, crosses (processional, hand and neck) and other icons (bells, censers, lamps, hearths). One of the standard World of Art series, this book presents Egyptian art of the Pharaonic period.
Attempts to recreate in accurate detail and true color some of the representative rock paintings of southern Africa. Fagg discusses the discovery of terracottas, their age and manufacture, their forms and functions. The African artist has long created satirical and approving images of whiteness.
Some personal musings and reflections on the current state of affairs in the African art market by a French art dealer.
Guinea Coast
African Architecture
One of the most useful, comprehensive overviews of traditional African architecture to date, bringing together hundreds of examples of architectural and architectural styles. A recommended introductory read on African architecture highlighting house forms, Sudanese mosques, impluvial buildings in Nigeria and stone ruins of Zimbabwe. A comprehensive treatise on primitive architecture that looks at the structural and aesthetic features of traditional buildings around the world.
It begins with a review of stone ruins in Africa (as evidence of pre-colonial achievements) and goes on to exemplify the various building methods and materials, house forms, decorative elements and facades found in traditional African architecture. Contains sixteen contributed papers on aspects of house construction, layout and design, architectural ornamentation and urban planning from several parts of the continent, including Ashanti houses, Zulu dome dwellings, Zanji mosques, Kosi round houses in Cameroon, tents in Morocco and shacks in Ganvie, Dahomey (Benin) among others. Some symbolic aspects of African architecture are treated in another collection of papers edited by Oliver (Shelter, Sign and Symbol, Woodstock, NY: . Overlook Press, 1975).
Whether or not there is a distinctly modern African architecture is a question that has not yet been settled, and the present volume stands as a solid contribution to that debate. Review some of the growing number of new, essentially modern buildings found on the continent, both functional to the needs of 20th century Africa and adapted to the climate of the tropics. Considers especially the profession of architecture in Africa as practiced by both Africans and Europeans.
Rock Art, Stone Sculptures and Ancient
The first major state-of-the-art survey of African rock art, Willcox consolidates our admittedly deficient knowledge with an encyclopedic overview of the literature. A specialized but not particularly scholarly study of rock art in the Sahara and Southern Africa that considers the "discovery", style and form, subject matter, archaeological value and techniques of the artists. San rock art is an enduring tradition of great antiquity and forms the primary focus of this study in which the author deals in detail with themes found in the paintings.
The present volume attempts a first synthesis of what is known about the ancient terracotta traditions of Mali, Akan, Nok, Benin and Sao. A good early survey of contemporary African art focusing on new artists, that is, those working in non-traditional ways and settings. Updates Beier's study of the new schools of African art (although it now needs updating itself).
An interesting overview of the divergent expressions of artistic creativity in Africa today, from Ghanaian truck art to Bobo masking innovations, to African artists working exclusively in European traditions. The changing nature of traditional African arts is examined in William Bascom's essay, "The Changing of African Art", (p and the impact of these influences on the Benin Negro carvers, Lega sculptural art and tourist art along the Okavango River is explored in separate essays The current volume looks at those of the so-called shatani (spirit or devil) style, which are very surreal and.
A renowned dealer and collector of African art discusses five basic criteria by which the value of African art objects can be determined: (1) Rarity; (2) Age; (3) Condition, Use; (4) Origin; and (5) Aesthetics. Continuing his soliloquy on the African art market, Lehurd moves in this article to Africa, considering the twin issues of colonial exploitation and the repatriation of African art. A lively and enlightening forum on the labyrinthine topic of forgeries and authenticity in African art with contributions from art dealers, collectors, art historians and curators.
Fascinating and thoughtful discussion on the often clouded and confused issue of authenticity in African art, examining both the fine line between 'real' and 'fake' and the differing perceptions of collectors and curators on the one hand, and art historians. Cites diverse examples of traditional art becoming 'fake' (e.g. Kuba Ndop figures), non-traditional African art acquiring 'authenticity' (e.g. Afro-Portuguese ivories or Congo crucifixes), and calculated adaptations of traditional objects (e.g. Songye kifwebe masks). Arrives at a workable, but not immutable, definition of authenticity: “Authentic African art is that which is produced by a traditional artist for a traditional purpose and conforms to traditional forms” (p. 55).
An article in a growing literature on the legal and ethical dimensions of the art repatriation dilemma -- a complex international concern in which UNESCO has taken a central and leading role.
Contemporary Art and Tourist Art
African Art Market and Collecting African
