Postmortem Collectibles Miller, C L

Name: Postmortem Collectibles Miller, C L
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Miller, C L
ISBN: 9780764313301

✍️ Miller, C L

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30 $

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unearth the fascinating, often beautiful, world of artifacts dedicated to eternal remembrance.

C.L. Miller's seminal work offers an unprecedented visual exploration into humanity's relationship with mortality through the objects left behind. Far from morbid, this book respectfully chronicles the evolution of postmortem customs, from ancient rites to modern practices, through a rich tapestry of historical photographs, illustrations, and collectible items. It delves into the material culture of death, showcasing everything from funerary art and embalming tools to personal mementos and advertising, providing an insightful look into how societies have commemorated their loved ones across the ages.

Key themes

{'title': 'The Evolution of Mourning', 'body': 'This volume meticulously traces how societies have honored the deceased across millennia, revealing the changing cultural norms and emotional expressions embedded in various postmortem practices. It highlights the transition from intimate home rituals to public ceremonies, illustrating the shifting landscape of grief and remembrance through tangible objects.'} {'title': "Postmortem Photography's Poignancy", 'body': 'A significant portion is dedicated to the captivating and often heart-wrenching practice of postmortem photography, offering a comprehensive collection of images from private homes and other settings. The book explores this unique art form as a vital method of preserving a final image of the departed, reflecting its profound emotional and historical significance.'} {'title': "Death's Material Culture", 'body': 'Explore the surprising array of items that comprise the material culture of death, from elaborate cemetery monuments and burial garments to practical embalming instruments and promotional ephemera. The book reveals how these diverse collectibles serve as historical markers, offering insights into societal values, technological advancements, and personal expressions of loss.'}

In stock

🏛 Schiffer Publishing 📅 2001 📖 160 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780764313301

Fun fact

Miller's 'Postmortem Collectibles' is an indispensable visual compendium, offering a respectful and deeply informative journey into the material culture of death. Its strength lies in its extensive, beautifully curated illustrations and its broad scope, making it a definitive guide for collectors and historians alike. Those seeking purely philosophical or sensationalist accounts will be disappointed, as this work prioritizes historical documentation and tasteful presentation. It stands as a vital reference in the burgeoning field of death studies and material culture.

📝 Description: Postmortem Collectibles Miller, C L

Intended to be intriguing but not morbid, this book takes readers on an amazing journey through past, present, and evolving postmortem practices. The first of its kind, it deals with a topic that is rapidly becoming popular in the collectibles world. Tastefully and beautifully illustrated with many historical photographs and postcards, the book provides a pictorial review of the customs employed by mankind throughout the ages to deal with the final disposition of loved ones. Included in the remarkable array of collectible items are embalming products and instruments, photographs of funeral homes and funeral processions, promotional and advertising materials, and an outstanding collection of postmortem photographs taken in private homes and other locations. Cemetery monuments, sculptures, and mausoleums are shown, along with background material on caskets, floral arrangements, burial garments, mourning etiquette, and more. Values are included in the captions.

⭐ Reader reviews

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⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.8/5

★★★★★

If you are a collector of unique historical artifacts, a cultural historian, or simply curious about the profound ways humanity has confronted death, this meticulously researched and visually rich book offers unparalleled insights into a fascinating, often overlooked, aspect of human experience.

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❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not. The author approaches the subject with a respectful, academic tone, focusing on historical practices and cultural significance rather than sensationalism, making it suitable for serious study and appreciation.

While postmortem photography is a key highlight, the book offers a much broader scope, covering a vast array of collectibles including funerary products, advertising materials, monuments, burial garments, and insights into mourning etiquette.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Evolution of Mourning

This volume meticulously traces how societies have honored the deceased across millennia, revealing the changing cultural norms and emotional expressions embedded in various postmortem practices. It highlights the transition from intimate home rituals to public ceremonies, illustrating the shifting landscape of grief and remembrance through tangible objects.

Postmortem Photography's Poignancy

A significant portion is dedicated to the captivating and often heart-wrenching practice of postmortem photography, offering a comprehensive collection of images from private homes and other settings. The book explores this unique art form as a vital method of preserving a final image of the departed, reflecting its profound emotional and historical significance.

Death's Material Culture

Explore the surprising array of items that comprise the material culture of death, from elaborate cemetery monuments and burial garments to practical embalming instruments and promotional ephemera. The book reveals how these diverse collectibles serve as historical markers, offering insights into societal values, technological advancements, and personal expressions of loss.

💬 Quotes from the book

«These tangible mementos offer a profound window into how societies have navigated the liminal space between presence and absence, transforming grief into enduring legacy.»

«From the ornate simplicity of a Victorian mourning card to the stark utility of early embalming tools, each artifact tells a story of evolving traditions and human connection.»

📜 Historical context

Emerging as a pioneering work, this book establishes itself as a foundational text in the study of mortuary practices and the material culture of death. It broadens the scope of historical inquiry beyond written records, offering a visual and tangible narrative of human customs surrounding mortality, thereby contributing significantly to death studies and collecting circles alike.

📚 Glossary

Postmortem Photography
Mourning Etiquette
Embalming Instruments

📔 Questions to reflect on

{'prompt': "How do contemporary cultural views on death and grief compare to historical practices depicted in the book, and what artifacts might define our era's mourning?"}
{'prompt': 'Reflect on a personal or familial memento related to loss. How does its significance parallel or diverge from the historical items discussed in this collection?'}
{'prompt': 'Consider the ethical implications of collecting and displaying postmortem items. Where do you draw the line between historical preservation and personal reverence?'}