Overview

"This text explores the complex, shifting relationships among the relationships of Mande craftspeople, the objects they create and the technologies they use. The author examines the roles of Mande leatherworkers and potters in the rise and fall of empires, the development of trans-Saharan trade networks and the spread of Islam, questioning the ""one tribe, one style"" interpretations that have dominated studies of West African art. Drawing on archaeological and historical evidence, as well as field research in Mali, Frank shows how tools and practices, such as potters' use of convex moulds and leatherworkers' adherence to specific blade shapes, serve to distinguish the goods made by Mande artists from those of neighbouring groups. She also discusses the pride that potters take in their healing and spiritual knowledge and the sense of difference between the craftsmen who specialize exclusively in leatherworking and those who double as bards and musicians."

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9781560989509

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A concise, clear, beautifully illustrated study ... An important book. CHOICE A significant contribution to art historical practice. African Arts Magazine

Excellent reading. African Arts

"""Excellent reading."" African Arts"

Author Information

Barbara E. Frank is an associate professor of art history at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is the coeditor of Status and Identity in West Africa: Nyamaka-law of Mande (1995).

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