Jackman Scholars-in-Residence ~ The Art and Science of Museum Objects and Seeing Potential: Asking/Investigating/Exhibiting the Malcove Collection

This is a historical and technical guide to the materials and techniques of European sculpture, based on the collections at the V&A. Casting, carving and modelling practices are explored within a historical perspective, from medieval times onwards. Each chapter concentrates on a specific material or category, including terracotta, bronze, alabaster, plasters, wood, marble and stone, ivory, bone, medals, cameos, rock crystal, amber, jet and waxes. Beautiful colour photography highlights the collections and illustrates contemporary workshop practices.

The current conception of the absolute chronology of the Italian Copper Age to the end of the Early Iron Age is set out in this new title from the British Museum. Some 850 objects have been arranged chronologically from the Copper Age, through the Bronze Age, to the Early Iron Age.

In recent years, British Museum curators have collaborated with scientists and medical experts to explore non-invasive imaging techniques and other scientific approaches to further study Egyptian mummies. Piecing together key biographical data and information, it has been possible for the first time to discover more about who these people were in ancient Egyptian society. Mummies draws on cutting-edge research to reveal the actual experience of living and dying in the ancient Nile Valley.

This volume is the first comprehensive technical history of the production of zinc and brass. It describes the inception and technical development of the processes by which zinc and brass were made at various centres around the world, together with typical compositions of the resulting brasses. The essays show that technical developments were in fact continuous and consciously related from the ancient to the modern world.

In the same format as his best-selling books A History of the World in 100 Objects and Germany: Memories of a Nation--the acclaimed art historian now gives us a magnificent new book that explores the relationship between faith and society. Until fairly recently, religion as a major influence on the nature of individual societies around the world seemed to be on the wane. Now, far from being marginalized, the relationship between faith and society has moved to the center of politics and global conversation. Neil MacGregor's new book traces the ways in which different societies have understood and articulated their places in the cosmic scheme. It examines mankind's beliefs not from the perspective of institutional religions but according to how shared narratives have shaped societies--and what happens when different narratives run up against each other.