Design and Decoration of Wooden Personal Items from the Roman Imperial Period

In recent years, there has been a substantial and positive increase in research concerning extant wooden objects from the Roman Imperial period. Advances in archaeological practices, conservation techniques and greater access to museum collections have allowed scholars, such as Mohls, Pugsley, and Lange, to collate and analyse vast assemblages of extant wooden items, including furniture, architectural elements, household utensils, children’s toys, musical instruments and personal items, like shoes, jewellery and storage boxes. Despite this recent increase in wood scholarship, there remains, nevertheless, the broader assumption that most wooden objects were designed for purely functional purposes, with little concern for visual appeal or decoration. While this was certainly the case for some items, a more thorough survey reveals that many domestic wooden objects, while functional, appear to have been crafted specifically with aesthetics and decoration in mind. Using a number of key case-studies, this seminar will highlight the complex role that wood played in the lives of everyday individuals. It will demonstrate how design and decoration impacted and facilitated social interactions by communicating cultural belonging, indicating aspects of personal identity, and demarcating social status and wealth.