Edward Town is head of collections information and access and assistant curator of early modern art at the Yale Center for British Art. Angela McShane is head of research development, theWellcome Collection, London.

"A change of focus reveals the design, the beauty, the meaning, and often the life stories, of this collection of bric-a-brac."—Historic House“The attention to detail, both in the archival research and the aesthetic presentation, make it a beautiful object and an impressive resource, one that at the present time, especially, stands as a fitting testament to the ongoing human determination to create, to mark time, and to endure.”—Christina J. Faraday, Apollo Magazine  "The editors and authors are to be commended for the wonderful book they have written, and for the dedication, sensitivity, and nuance with which they have approached the humble yet delightful objects in their care.”—Francesca Kaes, Journal 18“. . . an ambitious exploration of a subject that has rarely—perhaps never—been addressed by design historians.”—Ellenor Alcorn, Magazine Antiques

Edward Town is head of collections information and access and assistant curator of early modern art at the Yale Center for British Art. Angela McShane is head of research development, theWellcome Collection, London.

"A change of focus reveals the design, the beauty, the meaning, and often the life stories, of this collection of bric-a-brac."—Historic House“The attention to detail, both in the archival research and the aesthetic presentation, make it a beautiful object and an impressive resource, one that at the present time, especially, stands as a fitting testament to the ongoing human determination to create, to mark time, and to endure.”—Christina J. Faraday, Apollo Magazine  "The editors and authors are to be commended for the wonderful book they have written, and for the dedication, sensitivity, and nuance with which they have approached the humble yet delightful objects in their care.”—Francesca Kaes, Journal 18“. . . an ambitious exploration of a subject that has rarely—perhaps never—been addressed by design historians.”—Ellenor Alcorn, Magazine Antiques

Edward Town is head of collections information and access and assistant curator of early modern art at the Yale Center for British Art. Angela McShane is head of research development, theWellcome Collection, London.

"A change of focus reveals the design, the beauty, the meaning, and often the life stories, of this collection of bric-a-brac."—Historic House“The attention to detail, both in the archival research and the aesthetic presentation, make it a beautiful object and an impressive resource, one that at the present time, especially, stands as a fitting testament to the ongoing human determination to create, to mark time, and to endure.”—Christina J. Faraday, Apollo Magazine  "The editors and authors are to be commended for the wonderful book they have written, and for the dedication, sensitivity, and nuance with which they have approached the humble yet delightful objects in their care.”—Francesca Kaes, Journal 18“. . . an ambitious exploration of a subject that has rarely—perhaps never—been addressed by design historians.”—Ellenor Alcorn, Magazine Antiques