The Art of the Everyday

This companion website to the exhibition, “The Art of the Everyday: Objects from Ancient Daily Life,” highlights the artifacts that were on view, things owned and used by ordinary people who lived in the ancient Mediterranean world. The artifacts in the exhibition – including drinking cups, cookware, coins, figurines, and glass bottles – are evidence of ancient social rituals, religious beliefs, and cultural interaction. Although these remnants of Greco-Roman daily life may sometimes be humble in appearance, they provide us a glimpse into worlds both different from and similar to our own.

In featuring examples of ancient glass loaned by the Toledo Museum of Art alongside modern studio glass from the collection of University of Michigan-Dearborn, the exhibition invited visitors to consider both how much and how little have changed in craft traditions over thousands of years. Connecting our exploration of ancient artifacts to the technologies of today, the exhibition featured some 3D-printed models of ancient artifacts. What cutting edge technology allows scholars to do, and what limitations still exist in digitizing and replicating museum objects may be surprising.

Although the exhibition has completed its run, we hope you will enjoy learning about ancient daily life and its artifacts on this website. In-depth essays on all the artifacts can be found in the exhibition catalog available for purchase.

The exhibition catalog - featuring 136 pages of essays and full color, high resolution photography of all ancient artifacts - is available for purchase from the online CASL Store for UM-Dearborn campus pick up (Rm 3011 CASL Building, University of Michigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128) or shipped (with S&H fee). Please click the button below to place your order.