Burnished

Elizabeth Perrill is Professor of Art History at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her scholarly and curatorial work with isiZulu-speaking artists began in 2004, and her research engages global histories of ceramics and ceramic economies in the modern and contemporary eras, South African contemporary art, and materiality. Perrill's publications include Zulu Pottery and Ukucwebezela: To Shine, as well as numerous articles and exhibition essays. In 2018, her curation of the African Galleries at the North Carolina Museum of Art won an AAM Excellence in Exhibitions Award.

"The ways of clay exemplify, if not require, deep acknowledgment of the ancient womb of earth. It is a great honor to be a part of acknowledging, celebrating the legacy of women . . . as elevated within Burnished."—Andile Dyalvane, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Imiso Ceramics, South Africa"Burnished is a tour-de-force reassessment of the history of Zulu ceramics over the past two centuries. Among its many insights and revelations are the rich and detailed biographies of individual women artists—from the famous to the forgotten—and vivid descriptions of the distinctive creativity and innovation embodied in their acclaimed beer vessels, which have helped define and sustain 'Zuluness' for generations. This book restores the voices of these artists to the art historical record and significantly adds to a growing body of impressive regional studies on ceramic arts of Africa."—Marla C. Berns, Shirley and Ralph Shapiro Director Emerita, Fowler Museum at UCLA"Burnished is yet another fine body of research developed by a scholar who continues to push the boundaries of Zulu ceramic exploration. The book contributes to ongoing discussions of Zulu ceramic arts while also offering new and original perspectives on the role of women artists and their participation (or lack thereof) in defining Zuluness through both object and self."—David Riep, Colorado State University, H-Net