The Lives of Colonial Objects

Discover the rich narratives that shape New Zealand's colonial history with 'The Lives of Colonial Objects.' This beautifully illustrated paperback showcases a collection of 50 essays, each authored by experts such as historians, archivists, curators, and M?ori scholars. Unearth the stories behind significant artifacts ranging from cherished family heirlooms like kahu kiwi and travel diaries, to museum treasures such as the tauihu of a M?ori waka and rare Samoan kilikiti bats. Each object serves as a portal into unique experiences and historical contexts, revealing unexpected connections and legacies. With dimensions of 255 x 225 mm and a total of 376 pages, this book invites readers to engage deeply with New Zealand’s past. Gain insights into everyday items, public spaces like cannons, cottages, and country roads, all of which embody the fascinating narratives of Aotearoa's history. Ideal for history buffs and cultural enthusiasts alike, 'The Lives of Colonial Objects' provides an accessible yet profound exploration of colonialism through the lens of tangible objects. Immerse yourself in this captivating collection and discover how these items have shaped New Zealand's identity and memory.

Author: Annabel Cooper Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 255 x 225 mm
Pages: 376
Publication Date: 20-07-2015

The Lives of Colonial Objects is a sumptuously illustrated and highly readable book about things, and the stories that unfold when we start to investigate them. In this collection of 50 essays the authors, including historians, archivists, curators and M?ori scholars, have each chosen an object from New Zealand’s colonial past, and their examinations open up our history in astonishingly varied ways. Some are treasured family possessions such as a kahu kiwi, a music album or a grandmother’s travel diary, and their stories have come down through families. Some, like the tauihu of a M?ori waka, a Samoan kilikiti bat or a flying boat, are housed in museums. Others - a cannon, a cottage and a country road - inhabit public spaces but they too turn out to have unexpected histories. Things invite us into the past through their tangible, tactile and immediate presence: in this collection they serve as 50 paths into New Zealand’s colonial history. While each chapter is the story of a particular object, The Lives of Colonial Objects as a whole informs and enriches the colonial history of Aotearoa New Zealand.