Preliminary Programme

This paper examines the interplay between conspicuous consumption and daily life through the acquisitions and disposals of the Danish Count and Countess Jørgen Scheel and Charlotte Louise von Plessen. A unique collection of bills and receipts offers an insight into the couple’s everyday life. Drawing on inspiration from recent research into material culture and consumption, this paper discusses the shopping practices of the couple and their suppliers in town and in countryside, and what these purchases tell us about the couple’s lifestyle. The receipts open a window to the rhythm of court life in Copenhagen, ranging from autumnal hunting parties to the court’s masquerades. Furthermore, the sources reveal the roles of servants in the household. The paper discusses whether the count and countess’ shopping was gendered, the role of the household staff in the couple’s life and the meaning of shopping practices to the couple as courtiers and as members of the landed elite. (Show less)

This paper explores the purchases of the household of Countess Eleonora Wachtmeister (1684–1748) in mid-eighteenth century Stockholm and maps what goods were bought, who made the actual purchases and shopping, as well as where the goods were acquired from. Through a close-reading of private accounts and hundreds of receipts, the paper explores shopping experiences and practices of two generations of an aristocratic family, as well as the servants and suppliers of the family. The account books and receipts give a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings of shopping and consumption for the family members (a dowager countess and three adult children of which two married in 1748), who made the actual shopping and purchases (family members and servants), the impact of age and civil status on shopping experiences, identities and consuming patterns. The receipts give an opportunity to chart suppliers, shopkeepers and the spatiality of shopping. (Show less)

This paper focuses on the relationships between actors, tradesmen and shopkeepers in creating a shopping experience. In the public eye, the life and consumption of actors and actresses often appeared as futile and extravagant. Some actors and actresses actually ended up in financial distress caused by excessive consumption and heavy debts. In this paper, the consumption of actors and actresses will nevertheless be explored as a compulsory and rational practice in order to create and maintain a sought-after position within the theatre. A complex credit market that enabled actors and actresses’ consumption will also be discussed. Consumption can also be regarded as a way to create an identity as an actor or actress. Hence, the shopping experience will be studied as a performative act in this paper. The archival base for the study is memoires, letters, bankruptcy files and tax registers, as well as newspapers and documents from tradesmen and shopkeepers. (Show less)