China Sets and Crystal Cups: Material Traces of the Communist Past in Romanian Homes

Abstract

Taking on the perspective of “biography of things” among others anthropological concepts, the author looks at the material objects of the socialist era, namely, crystal cups and china sets, in post-socialist Romania, focusing on their appearance in households, past and current use, as well as on the shifts in their meanings and significance. The study draws on ethnographic observation and in-depth interviews conducted in the city of Targoviste in 2012. It was found that these material objects were signs of social capital, prestige and distinctions in rather standardized environment of Romanian homes. The author also discovered that the china sets and crystal cups turned out to be the most long-lasting among socialist things and explore the reasons behind their longevity.