Jane Austen & the Decorative Arts: A Visit with Kristen Miller Zohn

During the Georgian era, gender differences in domestic goods became increasingly common. For example, a gentleman's writing desk was a sturdy, substantial piece of furniture, while a lady’s desk was a small, delicate writing table.  In this episode we sit down with art historian and museum curator Kristen Miller Zohn to discuss gender and the decorative arts in general, and how Austen’s references to consumer goods in her novels—from furniture and wallpaper to breakfast sets, muslin gowns, and toothpick cases—reveal important information about her characters.

Art historian Kristen Miller Zohn is the Executive Director of Costume Society of America and curator for the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Mississippi. Her articles on Austen and the fine and decorative arts have been published in Persuasions and Persuasions On-Line, and she has presented at eight JASNA AGMs. A Life Member of JASNA, she was a co-coordinator for the 2021 AGM in Chicago.

Many thanks to Kristen for appearing as a guest on Austen Chat!

Listen to Episode 10

Listen to the interview or read the transcript and show notes on our Episode 10 webpage, or stream the episode on your favorite podcast app. Austen Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other streaming platforms. 

Image: “Messrs. Morgan and Sander’s Ware-room, Catherine-Street, Strand.” Rudolph Ackermann, The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions, and Politics (1st series, vol. 2, July–December 1809). Metropolitan Museum of Art.