Sailing the monsoon winds in miniature : model boats as evidence for boat building technologies, cultures and collecting
Models of non-European boats are commonly found in museum collections in the UK and throughout the world. These objects are considerably understudied, rarely used in museum displays and at risk of disposal. In addition, there are several gaps in current understanding of traditional watercraft from the Indian Ocean, the region spanning from East Africa through to Western Australia. Using models of a range of boats from thirteen museum collections throughout the UK, this Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD research considers the value of these objects for both researchers and museums. This thesis explores the potential of models to help us to understand traditional boats and boat building practices; some of which no longer exist. It achieves this through the production of a catalogue and analysis of a wide range of models. Then, through the presentation of two case studies it starts to explore a number of ideas about the physical attributes of these objects and how representative they are of full-size vessels. In addition, the wider cultural processes and contexts of the models are explored. It considers ideas about collecting, miniaturisation and the iconic symbolism of watercraft. It is anticipated the outcome
Dixon, Charlotte
Sailing the monsoon winds in miniature : model boats as evidence for boat building technologies, cultures and collecting. Models of non-European boats are commonly found in museum collections in the UK and throughout the world. These objects are considerably understudied, rarely used in museum displays and at risk of disposal. In addition, there are several gaps in current understanding of traditional watercraft from the Indian Ocean, the region spanning from East Africa through to Western Australia. Using models of a range of boats from thirteen museum collections throughout the UK, this Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD research considers the value of these objects for both researchers and museums. This thesis explores the potential of models to help us to understand traditional boats and boat building practices; some of which no longer exist. It achieves this through the production of a catalogue and analysis of a wide range of models. Then, through the presentation of two case studies it starts to explore a number of ideas about the physical attributes of these objects and how representative they are of full-size vessels. In addition, the wider cultural processes and contexts of the models are explored. It considers ideas about collecting, miniaturisation and the iconic symbolism of watercraft. It is anticipated the outcome
sailing wind miniature model boat evidence boat building technology culture collect models non_european boat commonly_find museum_collection throughout_world object considerably rarely use museum_display risk disposal addition several gap current traditional watercraft indian_ocean region span east africa western australia using model range boat thirteen museum_collection throughout collaborative doctoral award phd consider value object researcher museum explores_potential model help traditional boat boat building practice long exist production catalogue analysis wide_range model presentation two_case study start explore number idea physical attribute object representative full size vessel addition wide cultural process contexts model explore considers idea collect miniaturisation iconic symbolism watercraft anticipate outcome