Author, Lark E. Mason, takes a broad approach to the study of Asian art in this publication. The book is not a work of original scholarship. Rather, Mason has brought together information gathered from researchers, scholars and art historians with the aim of providing an overview of this vast subject. The book will be most useful for those people starting out on their study, or who are looking for the wider picture.
Although the many countries of Asia are ancient and varied, they are linked together by geography, religion and culture. Take Buddhism, for example, which originated in Nepal, was nurtured in India and through contact with Chinese traders and philosophers, spread rapidly across East Asia. Similarly, Islamic travellers brought goods to trade across the central Asian steppes, introducing Islamic religions and culture to the Far East. This cross‐pollination of religions and cultures has led to the creation of many unique, but also similar art forms.
The author intends to clarify the study of the fine and decorative arts of Asia by providing a clear understanding of the history of Asia and the ways in which art forms, religions and cultures have influenced one another. He includes many useful charts and maps to illustrate the text, as well as illustrations of the art objects under discussion.
An introductory chapter provides an overview of the history of Asia. Chapters focusing on specific subjects follow: for example, ceramics, furniture, crafts (including jewellery, masks, dolls and puppets), textiles, painting and prints. Chapters include summaries of the major and minor art forms, along with advice on how to judge artefacts and identifying fakes and over‐restored objects. Lark E. Mason will be well‐known to US readers for his appearance on the PBS series “The Antiques Roadshow”. These comments on the collectability of objects will be particularly useful for people interested in Asian antiques.
The arrangement of the book allows the comparison of artefacts within Asian cultures; for example, the author explains how puppets and puppet theatres are found both in Bali and Java, and also in China. Study can be made of both the similarities and differences between the cultures of Asia.
Asian Art provides an excellent overview of its subject, providing a clear and concise guide to the fine and decorative arts of the continent. Also included are a glossary of terms and generous bibliography. This book is likely to be useful to both those with an interest in the art history of Asia and collectors of Asian art and thereby belongs in any library, especially public collections, serving such users.
