Etruscans Now
Ceramics, Techhnology and workshop production
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Ili Nagy - University of ????
Three West Coast mirrors
The conference held in Rome in 1997, "Aspetti e problemi della produzione degli specchi etruschi figurati," reflects recent scholarly concern with the production and attribution of mirrors. This paper discusses three incised mirrors in West Coast USA collections (Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Seattle) in the context of workshop practices and diffusion. It analyzes the distinctive signs that make up the visual language of each mirror and how these function in the broader context of imagery. The attribution of units of visual signifiers to distinct workshops yields insight into Etruscan production practices and helps to define lines of diffusion and exchange. The mirrors under scrutiny provide fruitful material for interpreting the visual vocabulary of Etruscan artisans.