The Mao Era in Objects website

19 February 2020

A project led by OCGH Advisory Committee member, Dr Jennifer Altehenger, recently launched an interactive website called, The Mao Era in Objects.

mao era in objects homepage graphic

The Mao Era in Object Homepage

The new platform explores the social, cultural, economic and political history of China's Mao Era (1949-1976) through 24 objects. Each object is accompanied by an ‘object biography', written by a specialist, that contextualizes its history and impact.

Objects highlighted include a Washbasin (洗脸盆), Dance Props (舞蹈道具), and Children’s Magazines (儿童杂志)

As part of her current research into the history of everyday industrial design in twentieth-century China, Dr Jennifer Altehenger contributed a biography on Chairs and Stools (椅子和凳子) that examines these objects' role 'in the transition to socialism and industrial development after 1949’.

Further resources on the site include an interactive timeline, map, an essay by Michael Schoenhals on 'Objects that mattered' during the Mao Era, a guide for using the site as a teaching resource, and a further reading list.

The website was designed by King's Digital Lab and generously funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. It is aimed at educators, students, and researchers alike making it a fantastic resource for anyone interested in modern and contemporary Chinese history.