Imagining ancient Egypt in the age of empire: Identity and power in Scottish museum displays of Egyptian objects, 1860 to 1930
Last updated: 8 February 2022
About the research
This constitutes the first research project to use methodologies from Museum Studies to investigate how existing ideologies in British society and Britain’s involvement in empire shaped displays about Egypt, and the ‘Orient’ more broadly, and the role museums played in educating the public about ancient Egypt as an exemplar of ‘civilisation’. A focus on Scottish museums will offer insights into the impact of imperial ideologies outside of London and the role of Scottish national interests. Furthermore, it will address key gaps regarding how elite narratives were privileged, how displays were intended to educate visitors about taste, social roles, and class structure, and the ways museum displays served to enhance the status of contributing archaeologists and donors.
Lead image: Photograph of ancient Egyptian objects on display, from an album ‘Photographs of the Museum of Antiquities, Royal Institution, Edinburgh 1890’ (LIB.2019.41).
- Project title
Imagining ancient Egypt in the age of empire: Identity and power in Scottish museum displays of Egyptian objects, 1860 to 1930
- Student
Giulia Marinos
- Project active
2021 - present
- Funder
- University Supervisors
Dr Rosie Spooner and Dr Michael Given - University of Glasgow School of Humanities
- National Museums Scotland Supervisor
Dr Margaret Maitland and Dr John Giblin - Global Arts, Cultures and Design
- Research theme
Scotland's Material Heritage, Identities and Cultural Contacts
Project contact
Contact list of staff members
Dr Margaret Maitland
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