The Social Life of Teak (Paperback)

Tim Webster

ISBN 10: 6164510821 / ISBN 13: 9786164510821

Published by River Books, 2024

About this Item

Paperback. In this illustrated anthology of oral histories, people connected personally or professionally to teak speak of survival, change and learning, creativity and destruction, growth and demise. Woven together these experiences bring to light the way teak has been sought, crafted, cultivated, traded and valued over time. With photographs throughout by renowned photographer Tim Webster. In The Social Life of Teak, the authors also use oral histories to examine the history of one of the world's most valuable commodities, prized for its durability and beauty over millennia, Virginia's insightful texts are accompanied by Tim's unique photographic vision. AUTHORS: Tim Webster is a documentary photographer and writer, who focuses on culture, environment and heritage issues. Previous publications include Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market Book (Thames & Hudson, 2017) and Yangon Echoes: Inside Heritage Homes with co-author Virginia Henderson (River Books, 2015). Virginia Henderson is an independent scholar, facilitator and producer. She has a doctorate in heritage management and an MA in Thai Studies and is a trained oral historian. Her research interests include cultural expression, the power of storytelling, and the production of art and social space. SELLING POINTS: . A fascinating, original and beautiful book examining the many aspects of teak, using oral histories to examine the history of one of the world's most valuable commodities, prized for its durability and beauty over millennia . All new photographs by renowned photographer Tim Webster 200 colour illustrations A fascinating, original and beautiful book examining the many aspects of teak, using oral histories to examine the history of one of the world's most valuable commodities, prized for its durability and beauty over millennia. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9786164510821

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Social Life of Teak (Paperback)
• Publisher: River Books
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 6164510821
• ISBN 13: 9786164510821
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Tracing human interactions with the world’s most famous tropical timber species, The Social Life of Teak maps worlds revolving around teak forests, trees and wood.

What gives Tectona grandis such a powerful aura, stoking desires and capturing imaginations? How has teak shaped people’s lives, driving fortunes and impacting futures? What has happened to the teak forests and what is their destiny?

In this illustrated anthology of oral histories, people connected personally or professionally to teak speak of survival, change and learning, creativity and destruction, growth and demise. Woven together, these experiences bring to light the ways that teak has been sought, crafted, cultivated, traded and prized over time.

Animist beliefs, creative expression, scientific invention, economic viability, imperialist expansion, peak luxury, violent repression, ecological disaster and the regenerative power of nature all find a home in this global intergenerational tale.

Charting the domestication of wilderness and exposing the era of extinction of a feted natural resource, this book seeks to stimulate conversations about our role as nature’s most troublesome offspring.

About the Author

New Zealander Virginia Henderson has been based in Southeast Asia since 1990 and is an oral historian with a doctorate in heritage management. Tim Webster is a documentary photographer specializing in theater, dance and architectural heritage photography.