Parianfiguriner - bruk, funktion, betydelser

Sammanfattning: Parian ware figurines – use, function, meanings This essay examines the parian ware figurines produced in Sweden between 1861 and 1900. Its primary concern is the use and function of the figurines, and the meanings attached to them by societal ideals and ideas. This has not been priorly investigated. Parian ware is a white unglazed porcelain, resembling white marble. Parian ware figurines were produced in Sweden from 1861-1937, by the two largest porcelain factories Gustavsberg and Rörstrand. Over 100 000 figurines were produced in circa 300 varieties. Motifs ranged from reproduced artworks, biblical, genre, allegories and portraits. Use, function and meaning in historic times is difficult to investigate. Here, an attempt was made to make thick descriptions, defined by the ethnographer Clifford Geertz as descriptions saying more about an object than what meets the eye, to answer the questions posed. This was done through a combination of Critical Discourse Analysis and theories regarding material culture. Several types of sources were used: statements about parian ware figurines, the figurines themselves and photographs of late 19th century domestic environments. Parian ware figurines were expensive and delicate, easily dusty and stained and often needed cleaning. Therefore, they required both monetary and temporal resources. The figurines often had a prominent place in the home but also contributed to the harmony of the room. They were often placed in rooms for reception, giving them a communicative function. The messages communicated were those found during the discourse analysis: interest in industry and material, nationalism, sense of taste and cultivation. The nationalism is twofold: it both wants to strive forward through innovation and industrialization (in the figurines this reveals itself in the interest for the new material) and strive backwards to a safe and idealized past, in this case through conservative motifs; domestic scenes, royalties, works by Swedish sculptors. These ideas were found to be closely related to the ideals and ideologies of the emerging bourgeoisie in late 19th century Sweden. Despite the pedagogical and class equalizing ideals behind the mass production of art objects, the parian ware figurines were almost exclusively consumed by the urban bourgeoisie and instead of having an equalizing effect contributed to class differentiation.