Lost Artefacts from Medieval England and France: Representation, Reimagination, Recovery

Contemporary descriptions of objects no longer extant are examined to reconstruct these lost treasures, providing a tantalizing glimpse of medieval life. The material turn has put art, architecture, and other artefacts at the forefront of historical and cultural studies, but the loss of so much of the physical remnants of the Middle Ages continues to thwart our understanding. This book explores how textual records, archaeological and art-historical evidence, and other sources can expand our awareness of artistic and cultural environments.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: York Medieval Press

The study of objects no longer in existence is an important aspect of reconstructing the lost treasures of medieval Europe. Surviving accounts of the material culture, such as buildings, boats, reliquaries, wall paintings, textiles, ivory mirror cases, book bindings, and much more, provide a tantalizing glimpse into medieval life. However, students and scholars of the period often face the frustration of trying to piece together a complete picture of the past from a handful of fragments. The material turn in historical and cultural studies has placed art, architecture, and other artefacts at the forefront of research, shedding light on the material culture of the past.

Despite this progress, the loss of so much of the physical remnants of the Middle Ages continues to hinder our understanding of the period. Much of the knowledge we take for granted is based on a series of arbitrary survivals. The twelve essays in this book explore how textual records, such as chronicles, inventories, and literary works, can be combined with archaeological and art-historical evidence to expand our awareness of artistic and cultural environments during the medieval period.

The contributors to this volume come from a wide range of disciplines and draw on a diverse array of sources. They address a broad range of issues related to how we imaginatively reconstruct the medieval past, including precious and ephemeral objects. The volume will be of fundamental interest to medieval scholars, regardless of their disciplinary field.

In conclusion, the study of objects no longer in existence is a crucial aspect of reconstructing the lost treasures of medieval Europe. By combining textual records with archaeological and art-historical evidence, we can gain a deeper understanding of the material culture of the past and expand our awareness of artistic and cultural environments. This volume provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of reconstructing the medieval past and will be of interest to scholars and researchers alike.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914049057