Classes in both collections

One of the most important features of the Pitt Rivers Museum is that it presents objects in its displays by typology (that is by the type of object it is, a weapon, tool, status object etc). This division is reflected in the way that objects information is handled, but here the typology is called 'a class'. All PRM objects are identified by a number of classes, for example a ceremonial spear might be described as a 'weapon', 'ceremonial object', 'status object' etc. We have used the same system to classify the second collection. This page shows the results of this analysis for both collections, but note that one object, as has been explained, might have more than one class and this analysis reflects that.

The following table shows how much difference there is between the collections with almost every class showing a markedly different number of objects from each collection (given that the size of the collections is relatively similar). The most obvious different classes are (with larger collection shown in parenthesis afterwards): Basketry (founding); Currency (2nd); Dwelling & Furniture (2nd); Figures (2nd); Food (2nd); Hunting (Founding); Lighting (2nd); Locks (2nd); Models (Founding); Navigation (founding); Physical Anthropology (founding); Plant (founding) Specimens (founding); Theatre (founding); Tools (founding); Vessels (2nd), Weapons or tools (founding). These differences suggest to me a change of emphasis from an interest in techniques (basketry, specimens, tools) to a more aesthetic choice (vessels, currency, furniture).

There are a few very similarly sized classes: Animal Gear,  Metallurgy, pottery, punishment and torture, religious items, reproductions, status items, toilet articles, definite weapons.

AP, May 2010