Objects & Us: Why Things Matter

Objects & Us asks why people make, value and collect things. Curator and cultural historian Gus Casely-Hayford identifies twelve human needs, gives each its own chapter and pairs it with objects from the last six centuries, from a carved wooden spoon to a stately silk dress.

His argument is that the products of art and design are not just evidence of human history but part of what makes us human. The hardcover, published by Thames & Hudson, includes 116 color illustrations.