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Editors’ Note to the Reader
Pat Kirkham (Editor), Susan Weber (Editor)
Description: History of Design: Decorative Arts and Material Culture 1400–2000
History of Design: Decorative Arts and Material Culture 1400–2000
As the project took shape, it became clear that it would be beyond the scope of a single volume to explore every period, from antiquity to the present, while still preserving the desired level of detail and interpretive complexity. We therefore decided to begin our coverage in 1400. The six centuries this book addresses are divided into four chronological sections-1400–1600, 1600–1750,...
Author
Pat Kirkham (Editor), Susan Weber (Editor)
PublisherBard Graduate Center
PublisherYale University Press
Copyright© 2013 Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture
Stable URL: https://aaeportal.com/?id=-20618
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Editors’ Note to the Reader
As the project took shape, it became clear that it would be beyond the scope of a single volume to explore every period, from antiquity to the present, while still preserving the desired level of detail and interpretive complexity. We therefore decided to begin our coverage in 1400. The six centuries this book addresses are divided into four chronological sections—1400–1600, 1600–1750, 1750–1900, and 1900–2000—and six geo-cultural areas, namely East Asia, India, the Islamic World (including North Africa), Africa (primarily sub-Saharan Africa), Europe, and the Americas. In future editions, we plan to include Australia/Oceania.
The area chapters build on each other from section to section, with numerous cross-currents within and across the sections. Rather than burden the printed text with a plethora of cross-references, the index serves as a means of identifying thematic and historical connections. Wherever possible, we have included references to images in other chapters which help to reinforce these cross-cultural connections. The figure numbers begin with the chapter number; “fig. 20.3,” for example, is the third illustration in chapter 20 (India 1900–2000).
Primarily for reasons of accessibility and ease of reading, we also decided not to encumber the texts with extensive notes or citations of the specific sources used in researching the texts. Only sources for direct quotations are given in endnotes. Instead, further reading lists are provided for those seeking more information; many of these entries were consulted by the authors. Decorative arts terms and techniques are often explained in a general way when they are first mentioned, but readers in search of more detailed information will discover excellent resources online, such as the databases on the Getty Research Institute website, and again, our index will serve as a guide.
In the captions, the reader will find enough information to enhance their understanding of the object, particularly within the framework of this book. In general, we identify the designer(s) or maker(s) responsible for originating the object, give the title or a description of the piece illustrated, and state where and when it was made. We are sometimes able to identify others who contributed to the piece, such as craftspeople or manufacturers, and in a few places we have included inscriptions or other relevant information. Dimensions are arranged with height preceding width preceding depth. Occasionally a single dimension is used, with an abbreviation: L. (length), Diam. (diameter), and H. (height). The repository that owns an object is identified in the caption, but all photographic credits are listed separately at the end of the book.
Maps for each geographical area are intended to complement the text rather than provide the level of information available in a comprehensive historical atlas.
Editors’ Note to the Reader
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