Anne Gerritsen demonstrates the key role Chinese porcelain played in the creation of early modern global connections. Through its manufacture and global consumption, China participated in the early modern world. Drawing on research in multiple languages, this beautifully illustrated book situates porcelain in both a local and global context.
The Material Culture of Connections in the Early Modern World
Exploring the role of objects in shaping early modern globalization, this volume examines commodities, art, and precious materials through European encounters with the Americas and Australia. It traces the movement of these items within networks of commerce, colonialism, and curiosity. Organized into four sections, it delves into global encounters, the relationship between matter and knowledge, evolving consumption habits, and the construction of global spaces, highlighting the interconnectedness of objects and historical contexts.
Writing Material Culture History examines the methodologies currently used in the historical study of material culture. Touching on archaeology, art history, literary studies and anthropology, the book provides history students with a fundamental understanding of the relationship between artefacts and historical narratives. The role of museums, the impact of the digital age and the representations of objects in public history are just some of the issues addressed in a book that brings together key scholars from around the world. A range of artefacts, including a 16th-century Peruvian crown and a 19th-century Alaskan Sea Lion overcoat, are considered, illustrating the myriad ways in which objects and history relate to one another. Bringing together scholars working in a variety of disciplines, this book provides a critical introduction for students interested in material culture, history and historical methodologies.