Private Collectors of Islamic Art in Late Nineteenth-Century London: The Persian Ideal (The Histories of Material Culture and Collecting, 1700-1950)

Synopsis

This book examines British collectors of so-called Persian art (a broad umbrella term then covering a large portion of Islamic art) in the late 19th century, including ceramics, metalwork, carpets, textiles and woodwork. Based on a foundational event, the very first exhibition of “Persian and Arab Art” held by a London Gentlemen’s Club in 1885, this book follows one generation of men, retracing the subtle shades of difference among “amateurs,” “connoisseurs,” “experts” and “collectors,” and exploring all the mechanisms of the construction of a collective fascination for the Orient. Isabelle Gadoin uncovers some of the first “scientific” analyses of Islamic objects and of the first private notebooks or exhibition catalogues, to provide an in-depth study of the way Westerners talked about Islamic objects and began to define what would become Islamic art history. All the while, Gadoin unravels the skein of Western prejudice, Romantic fancy, sincere admiration and ruthless appropriation, in art collecting, to write a new chapter of Orientalist history. The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, history of collecting, colonialism and postcolonialism, and Orientalism.

Copyright:

2022

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

216 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781000437003

Related ISBNs:

9780367766023, 9781003167709, 9780367766030

Publisher:

Taylor and Francis

Date of Addition:

09/10/21

Copyrighted By:

Isabelle Gadoin, The right of Isabelle Gadoin to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Art and Architecture

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.