Bringing together the most significant papers on the interpretation of objects and collections, this volume examines how people relate to material culture and w

'Useful Objects' examines the cultural history of nineteenth-century American museums through the eyes of writers, visitors, and collectors. Throughout this per

This book examines the historical context of museums, their collections, and the objects that form them. Susan M. Pearce probes the psychological and social rea

On Collecting examines the nature of collecting both in Europe and among people living within the European tradition elsewhere. Susan Pearce looks at the way we

This volume brings together for the first time the most significant papers on the interpretation of objects and collections and examines how people relate to ma