Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in

Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China
- Used Book in Good Condition
Now in paperback
This outstanding and original book, presented here with a new preface, examines the history of material culture in early modern China. Craig Clunas analyzes â€œsuperfluous thingsâ€â€•the paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, ceramics, carved jade, and other objects owned by the elites of Ming Chinaâ€•and describes contemporary attitudes to them. He informs his discussions with reference to both socio-cultural theory and current debates on eighteenth-century England concerning luxury, conspicuous consumption, and the growth of the consumer society.

Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China