Objects of Empire : The Ceramic Tradition of the Imperial Inca State

A comparative, empire-wide study of the ceramics associated with the imperial Inca state, theorizing the role of these highly recognizable vessel forms in legitimizing Inca rule and establishing imperial identities. The beautiful polychrome ceramics of the imperial Inca state have long been noted for their seemingly repetitive nature but little considered beyond this basic observation.The widespread distribution and general uniformity of the Inca pottery, however, hints at its larger importance to the imperial project.Moving beyond the pervasive "seen one, seen 'em all" mentality, Objects of Empire brings to light the variability and rich semiotic content of imperial Inca vessels.Taking a comparative, empire-wide approach, Tamara Bray identifies the parameters and significance of this variability, and defines the core elements of the imperial state style.She then investigates where, when, and why differences and deviations from the perceived norm occur. This study illuminates the strat