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On Collecting examines the nature of collecting both in Europe and among people living within the European tradition elsewhere.
Susan Pearce looks at the way we collect and what this tells us about ourselves and our society. She also explores the psychology of collecting: why do we bestow value on certain objects and how does this add meaning to our lives? Do men and women collect differently? How do we use objects to construct our identity?
This book breaks new ground in its analysis of our relationship to the material world. 'Pearce successfully documents the continuity of object accumulation in the European pursuit of knowledge and identifies "a willingness to speak with things" as its central expressive theme.' - International Journal of Heritage Studies

'An impressive achievement ... She writes with authority and ensures that each argument is carefully summarised at the end of each chapter.' - International Journal of Heritage Studies

On Collecting: An Investigation into Collecting in the European Tradition

List of Plates List of figures Acknowledgements Preface Part One: Collecting Processes Part Two: Collecting in Practice Part Three: Collecting Poetics Part Four: The Politics of Collecting Part Five: Collecting in the European Tradition Bibliography Index