Making time material : domestic dated objects in seventeenth-century England
This thesis examines ideas of time and temporality in seventeenth-century England and their expression in the material culture of the home. It identifies and analyses a body of domestic objects inscribed with dates and establishes how they were used to record and reflect upon the passage of time. These objects survive in large numbers from the latter part of the sixteenth century through the seventeenth century but have thus far received insufficient attention in humanities scholarship. This thesis therefore provides the first sustained analysis of material dating practices and establishes a critical framework for interpreting these objects. It identifies and considers three categories of dated object in particular, which were highly symbolic of the very notion of 'household': wooden furniture, hearth equipment and decoration, and tablewares. It contextualises these objects within an understanding of the multitemporality of the domestic sphere, arguing for the need to move past seeing dated objects as merely commemorative of a single, specific event. Their dates might attest to a single moment in time, but through their use and subsequent circulation these objects reflect multiple temporalities at once; with
Cope, Sophie
DA Great Britain
Making time material : domestic dated objects in seventeenth-century England. This thesis examines ideas of time and temporality in seventeenth-century England and their expression in the material culture of the home. It identifies and analyses a body of domestic objects inscribed with dates and establishes how they were used to record and reflect upon the passage of time. These objects survive in large numbers from the latter part of the sixteenth century through the seventeenth century but have thus far received insufficient attention in humanities scholarship. This thesis therefore provides the first sustained analysis of material dating practices and establishes a critical framework for interpreting these objects. It identifies and considers three categories of dated object in particular, which were highly symbolic of the very notion of 'household': wooden furniture, hearth equipment and decoration, and tablewares. It contextualises these objects within an understanding of the multitemporality of the domestic sphere, arguing for the need to move past seeing dated objects as merely commemorative of a single, specific event. Their dates might attest to a single moment in time, but through their use and subsequent circulation these objects reflect multiple temporalities at once; with
making time material domestic dated object seventeenth_century_england examines idea time temporality seventeenth_century_england expression material_culture home identifies analyse body domestic object inscribe date establishes use record reflect_upon passage time object survive large_number latter_part thus_far received insufficient attention humanity scholarship therefore_provide first sustain analysis material_date practice establishes critical framework interpret object identifies considers three_category date object particular highly symbolic notion household wooden furniture hearth equipment decoration tableware contextualises object within domestic_sphere argue need move past see dated object merely commemorative single specific event date might attest single moment time use subsequent circulation object reflect multiple temporality