Global connections and local contexts: the material culture of Saltram, c. 1725-1840.

My research project explores how, why and with what did three generations of the Parker family furnish their house at Saltram. Like many country houses Saltram has a mix of British, European and Asian objects. The Parker family commissioned and collected thousands of objects over the period 1725 to 1840. I will use archive material as a focus to explore the ways in which goods were obtained; through global trade, from Europe or locally through sale rooms, dealers, family connections and direct commissions. I will set this within the wider context of how consumption practices changed over the period and explore the motivations for collecting.