Journal article
Integrating the old world into the new: an ‘idol from the West Indies’
- Abstract:
- The Pigorini cemí is an icon of Caribbean colonial history, reflecting early trans-Atlantic cross-cultural exchanges. Although well documented, the piece has received surprisingly little systematic study. We present the first structural analysis and radiocarbon dating of the sculpture (modelled at AD 1492–1524), and a brief discussion of the materials from which it is comprised. These include indigenous shell and European glass beads, newly identified feather and hair fibres, and the enigmatic rhinoceros-horn mask carved as a human face. We also address the sculpture's hidden internal wooden base, which is shown to be a non-indigenous display mount made of European willow (Salix sp.).
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 398.4KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.15184/aqy.2017.151
Authors
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
- Journal:
- Antiquity More from this journal
- Volume:
- 91
- Issue:
- 359
- Pages:
- 1314-1329
- Publication date:
- 2017-09-20
- Acceptance date:
- 2017-05-08
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1745-1744
- ISSN:
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0003-598X
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Antiquity Publications Ltd
- Copyright date:
- 2017
- Notes:
- Copyright © 2017 Antiquity Publications Ltd. This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Cambridge University Press at: https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2017.151
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