Object stories and the Crimean War

Florence Nightingale

On March the 27^th 1854, Britain and France declared war on Russia, which marked the beginning of the Crimean War. This war is now generally remembered in relation to Florence Nightingale and the Charge of Light Brigade, which was prominently written about in a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, describing the bravery of the British cavalry.

France, Britain, and Russia were competing for influence over the Middle East, and both religion and the desire for Ottoman territory with valuable trade routes were the catalyst for the war. Between 1853 and 1856 in what is now Ukraine, there were many causalities on both sides of the battle- a situation that Florence Nightingale’s work brought to the forefront of national consciousness.

Russian prisoners of war

In relation to this anniversary, I was thinking about related objects in the Great North Museum. There is a tobacco pipe in the collection, which is said to have been carved by a Russian prisoner during the Crimean War. The bowl of the pipe is carved in the form of a man with a long beard, wearing smoking cap with a tassel. There was a point when Russian prisoners were taken by the English navy to Lewes in southern England, and perhaps this pipe could have been carved there. The pipe came into the museum as a gift from Mr. Campbell in 1936. Campbell also donated two other pipes from Germany and Holland from his collection. The one from Holland is also relatively whimsical in its decoration and is composed of a china bowl displaying a print of a man carrying a gun.

Pipe NEWHM: 2000.H772

This pipe will be going on display in the ICCHS Newcastle University student exhibition, Changing Faces. The exhibition opens April 16^th 2013.

CAG on travel: Climbing in the Peak District, England

This past weekend, I attempted to start my spring climbing schedule and do some exploring of England’s Peak District. I’m trying to train to climb a much more ambitious mountain, so I thought some hills and about 8 hours worth of walking from Buxton to Chrome Hill might help with my training.

The Peak District is the 2^nd most visited national park after Mount Fuji in Japan. The walks are meant to be challenging and very beautiful.

Unfortunately, spring in England means this…

The area looked so beautiful in the snow, which was really great, but on the first night I couldn’t even get all the way to Buxton and was stuck in Ashbourne (not exactly the most interesting place to get stuck). The next day after arriving in Buxton and the very ‘quirky’ Buckingham Hotel, it was still snowing so much that all walks in the hills were off limits- again.

Buckingham Hotel Buxton

Cabinet of curiosities?

There was plenty of time to make my first lovely snowman.

Slightly grumpy snowman

On the last day, I fit in a short jaunt regardless of the hip deep snow. I would love to go back and see what the area is like in less wintery conditions, so some more areas could be explored of the Peak District.

CAG on museums: Community consultation and conservation

One of my favorite objects while working at the British Museum was a Hawaiian feather god head.  It is believed that this 18^th century god head is the representation of the Hawaiian god Kuka’ilimoku, but other gods were also represented by the heads that exist today. It is very possible that this specific one was collected on Captain James Cook’s third voyage in 1778.

Covered in ‘I’iwi and Mamo bird feathers, eyes of pearlshell with wooden pegs, and dog’s teeth mounted on basketry, this special and old god head is very fragile. At the time I saw it, it was in conservation to help sustain its frame and reduce any further deterioration to the best of an expert team of conservators’ ability.

  

I learned that conservators consult communities to see what materials can/should be used, if their conservation work is appropriate, and what is culturally appropriate to do to such important objects. In the case of the Cook Hawaiian feather god head, the main community consulted is of course the Hawaiian community, which is mainly done through a curator.

The curator liaises with the community to find out what would be appropriate and what would not, and the curator also liaises with the conservators to decide whether objects can travel for loan, go on display, how they are stored, as well as how far to conserve the object in question.

The sacred nature of the image is also an issue. Being a ‘god image’, conservators do not want to alter its state or use invasive means to re-attach now extinct and endangered birds’ feathers to the figure. The collection of the feathers from the O’o, ‘I’iwi, Apapane, and Mamo birds of Hawai’i was a very special act, and culturally valuable. Therefore, many of the loose feathers are also being collected whenever more come loose, as they are still an integral part of the object.

Loose feathers being saved

Consultation in conservation is key to the care of museum objects that have sensitive cultural contexts surrounding their creation, because descendants of the communities that made these objects want to ensure their cultural knowledge is used and protected in the proper context.

CAG on museums: The Society of Antiquaries Newcastle Exhibition

This February, after being quickly thrown into the deep end of a new position, I helped put on Newcastle upon Tyne’s Society of Antiquaries 200th anniversary exhibition. Tales of Antiquarian Adventure displays the collections of the Society over 200 years and highlights their commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of Northumberland and the surrounding areas. Specifically, they helped save Hadrian’s Wall.

Artist Dawn Knox installing her work for the exhibition

Working for the Great North Museum has definitely been an experience in hands on work and I’ve actually seen an exhibition being built from scratch now. Although I do think I prefer to be the big champion who turns up in the end and gets all the credit, actually installing an exhibition was fun.

Before

After

The exhibition is definitely family friendly and has a few really cool objects, such as a cow bone model of a guillotine made by prisoners, and a giant man trap. That’s right…Man trap!

Guillotine

Man trap, in the grass on the right

The ‘Adventures Around the World’ section includes some very beautiful Chimu pots from Peru, and an Egyptian mummified hand. It’s pretty gruesome, but cool.

The exhibition is on until 30 April 2013. 

10 year anniversary of Iraq invasion and cultural heritage preservation

Today 19 March 2013, marks the 10-year anniversary of the US/UK led invasion of Iraq. The physical and mental scars of the Iraqi people and the damage to their country are of course the most significant effects of this long-term occupation.

Iraq has a very ancient history and is known culturally as the ‘cradle of civilization’. In 2003 the National Museum of Iraq was looted, as well as many other archaeological sites in the days following the invasion. Of course there were many other resources that needed to be protected, such as hospitals and securing intelligence sites. While the looting of the museum was widely publicized, the looting of archaeological sites continues. Unlike the artifacts taken from the National Museum, the archaeological cultural heritage that is being lost cannot be accounted for.

Cultural heritage is under protection by the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, or the Hague Convention. While cultural heritage is often destroyed in conflicts as a result of fighting, it is also targeted to achieve political goals and to affect the cultural and physical memory of communities through the destruction of significant monuments and sites.

The illicit trade in Iraqi antiquities is continuing and has been brushed away with time as a minor issue. During this ten year anniversary, many reflections on the state of war must come to light, and preserving Iraqi heritage is certainly an important issue for the eventual recovery from this war.

CAG in London: Kristin Scott Thomas and the Barber of Seville

This past week, I had to go back to London to work at the British Museum, and while I was there I took in every bit of culture that I possibly could. I went to Lichtenstein at the Tate Modern. It was a very interesting retrospective, which the Tate usually does well.

Outside of The Harold Pinter Theatre

I went to Harold Pinter’s Old Times, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Rufus Sewell and Lia Williams. I was told before going that the two starring actresses switch roles depending on the night, and that will define the kind of show you see. The night I went, Kristin Scott Thomas was playing Kate, and Lia Williams was Anna. I thought the play was dramatic and had a few good laughs to break it up, but overall it was pretty confusing.

Somewhere towards the end I just didn't understand what was happening anymore. And in the future I’ll also learn not to have multiple drinks before a play that has no intermission!

Ceiling of theatre 

Stage before the show

I also went to the English National Opera house to see The Barber of Seville. I hadn't realized it is the prequel to The Marriage of Figaro, which I went to last year and I was really pleased to see it. Any comedic opera about falling in love, wooing someone, and pretending to be drunk gets my vote.

Inside the ENO

Something strange did happen though...as the lights dimmed to begin the opera, the Casting Manager for ENO came on the stage to announce that the actor playing the role of Count Almaviva was very ill, and so was his understudy. He then explained that they could only find one actor who knew the staging and another who knew the specific song translation ENO was using. So while one actor was playing Almaviva onstage, another was singing his part to the right of the stage.

Announcement of change to actors

Scene onstage

Overall I really loved the opera, but there was certainly a weird Milli Vanilli vibe for the night.

Milli Vanilli (in black) taking a bow

CAG Maori talk at the British Museum

This Saturday I’ll be giving a gallery talk in the British Museum’s Wellcome Gallery, Room 24. The talk will be on the Maori case and give an insight into Maori cultural life in terms of the Maori welcoming ceremony (powhiri), Maori objects (taonga), and the activities that occur at the meeting house complex (marae). I will be explaining the objects in the case in relation to these issues.

Come say hello!

Rugby madness and the social sciences

I was in Edinburgh this weekend visiting a friend, and I hadn’t realized the rugby was on. It was a Scotland v Wales match, and apparently it was pretty important. Full disclosure: I don’t care about rugby at all. I can appreciate the game though when I’m in the actual city it’s being played in and surrounded by all the insane fans.

Being in town for the rugby got me thinking about all kinds of issues though. There was a lot of thishappening in town...

Welsh rugby fan in the streets of Edinburgh

Most rugby fans and players I know tend to display some interesting behaviors that could be looked at from an anthropological sense. I started to look into the history of rugby and its origins as a ball game whose rules were solidified by the seven UK public schools. I was going to write a summary of this history, but I was too bored by it- sorry.

I was interested by the idea of rugby as a sport that defines masculinity through displays like controlled violence, the sport-alcohol nexus, and other aspects of gender performance. I know that lots of women play rugby as well, and I’m sure they wouldn’t agree that it is just a masculine sport in any way. Most sports share the same merited values such as courage, integrity, composure, mental fitness and physical fitness, which the participating athletes aim to achieve.

In light of my experiences this weekend, I was quite curious to see what social scientific analysis had been done on masculinity, rugby, and gender roles. In light of the recent focus in the UK on the need to encourage women in sports, I thought I’d highlight some interesting articles I read on the subject of sports and gender.

*Eric Dunning (1986). ‘Sport as a Male Preserve: Notes on the Social Sources of Masculine Identity and its Transformations’. Theory, Culture & Society. 3: 79-90.

*Melissa A. Fallon and LaRae M. Jome (2007). ‘An Exploration of Gender-Role Expectations and Conflict among Women Rugby Players’. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 31: 311-321.

*Catherine Palmer (2011). ‘Key Themes and Research Agendas in the Sport-Alcohol Nexus’. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. 35: 168-185.

CAG on museums: Pacific fashion in the museum

© 2012 London Pacific Fashion Ltd

Last year while working at the British Museum, I met some Pacific fashion designers and artists. They came to the stores to look at Samoan and New Zealand textiles, ornaments, and jewelry, as the designers were there for the London Pacific Fashion Show in October 2012. The designers Lindah Lepou (Samoa), Rosanna Raymond (Samoa), and Jeanine Clarkin (New Zealand) made collections for the show that reflected their Pacific heritage, but also highlighted the contemporary artistry that is thriving in Pacific communities.

Jeanine Clarkin design; © 2012 London Pacific Fashion Ltd

The reason for visiting the BM collections was to see the kind of work that the designers’ ancestors made, and to connect with genealogical inspirations for their designs today. Many of the patterns and styles at the show were reminiscent of the kinds of patterns seen on tapa cloth, and the intricate weaving found on Maori cloaks from the 18^th and 19^th century. 

© 2012 London Pacific Fashion Ltd

Lindah Lepou gives a really interesting insight into the motivation behind these designs in the video below. She explains how seeing her great-grandmother in a book making tapa inspired her to create a dress as an homage. She talks about her genealogy and the kind of inspiration it engenders in her production of a wedding dress for Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.

In the age of artistic collaborations in the museum, I think it’s especially important to highlight the ongoing connection between Pacific fashion and Pacific artists who are interested in working with museums and their collections.

Museums collecting contemporary Pacific fashion is not occurring on such a large scale, but it is very important. Many fashion themes such as structural shapes and cultural symbolism displayed in contemporary pieces serve as a very relevant response to understanding Pacific cultures from a sense of self-representation. Fashion collections themselves have gained more significance since the 20^th Century, and it would be wonderful to see further collecting put on the museum agenda.

For upcoming Pacific Fashion events please take a look at the LPFS website- http://www.londonpacificfashion.org/.

Pacific Sisters, New Zealand (manufacturer);
Rosanna Raymond (designer).
Outfit purchased by National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

CAG on travel: San Pedro de Atacama and the altiplano winter

Laguna Miñiques, Antofagasta region

In 2006, I was living and working in Chile at the Natural History Museum of Valparaiso and it was such an amazing experience. Not only is South America one of my favorite places, it is definitely one of the most beautiful. Even though I was living in Chile in the summer/autumn months (January-April), I happened to take one memorable vacation to San Pedro de Atacama with my Greek friend who came to visit, and had a very chilly time.

Chaxa Lagoon

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest deserts in the world with some very unique geological formations, gorgeous vegetation, and some really beautiful wildlife. My friend and I were mainly going to see some scenery, do some sandboarding, and of course I had my eyes set on visiting the R.P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum. Our well planned trip was thrown off by the arrival of the 'Bolivian Winter'. I later found out this is called the altiplano winter effect, and occurs in February relatively frequently.

Suddenly this was coming

Basically our five days of touristy sightseeing were challenged by the monsoon style rains, constant electrical storms, and an insane cold snap. It was probably the worst run of luck, but we still ventured out and although we remained wet for the entire time, it was totally worth it.

On the final day, the weather did clear up and we were even able to dry off, head to the Los Flamencos National Reserve, and experience some of the most beautiful surroundings of all time.

I even got to see my pre-Columbian archaeology and go to the museum- hurray!

Near the R.P. Gustavo Le Paige Museum

The Greek economic crisis and urban anthropology

For those who don’t know me personally, I was raised in California, but born in Greece. I am half American and half Greek. A lot of people tend to ask me what Greece is like after the economic meltdown, and I can only ever really respond about what I know from my friends and family since I live in England.

The Greek protests started in 2010 and quickly degraded into a social and economic crisis. Protests also seemed to be connected to the deep social unrest that was expressed in 2008, when a student was shot by the police in the suburb of Palaio Psychiko. The shooting sparked rioting across the country that was very similar to the rioting in London and other UK cities in 2011. 

View of Athens

The very social fabric of Greece is changing rapidly, and personally I find it terrifying. Divisions are increasing between migrant workers and Greek populations, crimes and suicides have escalated, and on a personal level everyone I know in Greece has been affected in some negative way by this social change.

Dr. Dimitris Dalakoglou is working on an Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project to look at the way the financial crisis is affecting the urban spaces of Greece. The project also uses an anthropological approach to examine how social organization is changing to accommodate the current environment.

Link to the project website: http://www.crisis-scape.net/

Take a look at this short (15 minute) documentary video showing footage of the Greek meltdown over the years, because I think it accurately captures how frustrated and scared people in Greece feel about what is going on.  It’s also really poignant and well-edited for anyone just interested in documentaries.

Athens: Social Meltdown - English Subs http://vimeo.com/55968109 About this video "Dr Dimitris Dalakoglou explains the social meltdown which took place in Greece between May 2010 & June 2012 that is on going. This film contains videos and photos shot on the streets, often containing violence and paints a portrait of widespread economic hardship endured by a cities inhabitants. This film is part of an ongoing research project, which looks at the rapid structural changes which Greece is undergoing. This work in progress can be viewed here: www.crisis-scape.net Produced & Directed by Ross Domoney Interview: Dimitris Dalakoglou Filmed, Photographed & Edited by Ross Domoney"

CAG on travel: Paris in the springtime

Since living in the UK, I’ve been to Paris three times and I realized the other night that all of my visits have been in spring. I’m starting to really crave another Paris trip, and I have been trying to organize it to coincide with a visit to the Pacific collections of the Musée du quai Branly.

Crocodile figure Porapora, Papua New Guinea, Musée du quai Branly

I don’t even know what Paris is like in any other season, but springtime is such a beautiful time to visit. Sitting in the Jardin des Tuileries, eating too many macarons, and enjoying the general vibe of Paris is such a privilege (although I still think Paris is not the city of romance- just a cool city).

A sunny day in the Tuileries

Please excuse the gratuitous daydreaming about travel, and the trip down memory lane…

The pilgrimage- with the loveliest girls

Luxurious midday snack

Oh lálá

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Chez Janou, a fab restaurant in the Marais

P.S. Friends who let you spend half the day inside a museum looking at objects during a beautiful spring day are real friends!