Material culture can be studied or analysed by looking at an object as if it has a biography; to consider aspects such as formal structure, functional dynamics and meaning, and by examining the object as a living being. This involves asking questions such as:

‘Where does the thing come from and who made it? What has been its career so far? [...]What are the recognised ‘ages’ or periods in the thing’s lifetime, and what are the cultural markers for them? How does the thing’s use change with its age?’

It is important to understand the way an object was perceived by those during its lifetime, as this helps us understand its role within society and appreciate the way it was received at the time and the demands it fulfilled.