Model of a Summer Camp (Object in Focus)

The Model of a Summer Camp is an intriguing object with a range of stories to tell. Originating in the Sakha (Yakutia) region of far northeastern Russia, it depicts a yhyakh celebration – a festival of huge cultural importance to the region.

This concise book takes a detailed look at the object, revealing the intricacies of the yhyakh and the model’s fascinating journey from Siberia to the British Museum. The recent resurgence of interest around the model is also explored, where creative responses and research have enriched our understanding of its stories.

This book gives readers the opportunity to learn about a unique object in the British Museum’s Collection and the rich heritage of Sakha (Yakutia).

Table of Contents

Prologue
In Focus: Model of a Summer Camp
From Siberia to the British Museum
Century Long Journey: Exhibiting the Model in Sakha (Yakutia)
Notes
Further reading
Acknowledgements
Picture credits

Dr Tatiana Argounova-Low is a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Aberdeen.

Professor Alison K. Brown holds a Personal Chair in Social Anthropology and is an Honorary Curatorial Fellow at the University of Aberdeen.

Dr Sushma Jansari is the Tabor Foundation Curator, South Asia at the British Museum.