Sailing the monsoon winds in miniature: model boats as evidence for boat building technologies, cultures and collecting

Abstract

Models of non-European boats are commonly found in museum collections in the UK and throughout the world. These objects are considerably understudied, rarely used in museum displays and at risk of disposal. In addition, there are several gaps in current understanding of traditional watercraft from the Indian Ocean, the region spanning from East Africa through to Western Australia. Using models of a range of boats from thirteen museum collections throughout the UK, this Collaborative Doctoral Award PhD research considers the value of these objects for both researchers and museums.

This thesis explores the potential of models to help us to understand traditional boats and boat building practices; some of which no longer exist. It achieves this through the production of a catalogue and analysis of a wide range of models. Then, through the presentation of two case studies it starts to explore a number of ideas about the physical attributes of these objects and how representative they are of full-size vessels. In addition, the wider cultural processes and contexts of the models are explored. It considers ideas about collecting, miniaturisation and the iconic symbolism of watercraft.

It is anticipated the outcome of this project will be the utilisation of models of boats from the Indian Ocean, and throughout the world, in future studies of traditional watercraft. It is also hoped that this research will help museums to re-evaluate the significance of these objects in their collections, and to use them in displays in the future to tell a range of narratives.

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ORCID for Rosemary Farr: orcid.org/0000-0002-7922-9179

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