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Objects in Transit – Dutch Trading Companies and the Circulation of Things as Knowledge Practice (17th–19th Centuries)
International Workshop
25 & 26 February 2026 | Saarland University
This workshop explores the circulation of objects as a knowledge practice in the context of Dutch long-distance trading companies from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Focusing on the VOC and its successors, it examines how objects in transit acquired meanings that exceeded their commercial value and became embedded in epistemic, institutional, and political processes.
Drawing on the concept of knowledge in transit, the workshop approaches objects not as static entities but as part of dynamic communicative processes shaped by negotiation, use, and attribution of value. Contributions address questions of valuation, material practices, and the roles of diverse actors involved in the transition, reinterpretation, and institutionalisation of objects across different settings.
The workshop is designed as a discussion-oriented format with short introductory presentations followed by guided debate. A detailed programme, including individual contributions and scheduling, will be circulated to participants shortly.
Language
English
Organisers
- PD Dr. Susanne Friedrich (Freie Universität Berlin)
- Prof. Dr. Philip Hahn (Saarland University)
- Dr. Alexander Stoeger (Saarland University)
Contact
For questions regarding the workshop, please contact:
Programme
Workshop Details
The workshop takes place over 1.5 days and combines short introductory presentations with moderated discussion sessions.
- 25 Feb 2026 | 18:00 | B3 1, Hörsaal I (Room 0.14)
Public Keynote Lecture by Dániel Margócsy (University of Cambridge) on Timber in Transit: Logistics, Collecting, Knowledge Production and the Deforestation of Java
- 26 Feb 2026 | 09:30-17:30 | Innovation Center (3rd Floor)
Discussion-oriented workshop sessions based on short input presentations (ca. 10 minutes each)
Attendance
The keynote lecture is open to members of the university and the wider academic community.
Participation in the workshop sessions on 26 February is limited. Colleagues who wish to attend the workshop are kindly asked to contact Alexander Stoeger via e-mail.