David Richard Michael Gaimster is a British archaeologist and museum executive. During the 1990s, Gaimster published extensively on medieval to early modern European archaeology, notably on ceramics and Hanseatic material culture, including the 1997 book German Stoneware, 1200–1900: Archaeology and Cultural History. Gaimster became the director of the Hunterian at the University of Glasgow from 2010 to 2017, after which he moved to New Zealand, becoming the director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum from 2017 to 2023. As of August 2024[update] Gaimster is the director of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, South Australia.
David Gaimster | |
|---|---|
 Gaimster at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in 2019 | |
| Born | David Richard Michael Gaimster Cambridge, England |
| Education | Durham University (BA) University College London (PhD) |
| Occupation(s) | Museum executive, archaeologist |
Early life and education
editDavid Richard Michael Gaimster[1] was raised in Cambridge, England, where he developed an interest in archaeology as a young child.[2]
In 1984, he graduated from Durham University with a BA.[3][4]
In 1991[3] he earned a PhD from University College London, with his thesis entitled "Pottery Supply and Demand in the Lower Rhineland c. 1400–1800: an Archaeological Study of Ceramic Production, Distribution and Use in the City of Duisburg and Its Hinterland".[1]
Career
editGaimster began working for the British Museum in 1985, working as a field archaeologist, an assistant keeper in the Medieval & Later Antiquities department and briefly as the caretaker of the Secretum.[5][6][7] In 1991 while working at the museum, Gaimster received a PhD from University College London.[3]
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Gaimster published works relating to medieval and early modern European archaeology, notably on ceramics and Hanseatic material culture.[3] In 1997, Gaimster published German Stoneware, 1200–1900: Archaeology and Cultural History, one of the most significant works on European ceramics published in the 20th Century.[8][9] From 2002 to 2004, Gaimster worked as a senior policy advisor for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, when he worked on measures to prevent trafficking of cultural objects through market reduction approach laws.[3][2] From 2004 to 2010, Gaimster worked as the General Secretary and Chief Executive for the Society of Antiquaries of London, and in September 2010 became the director of the Hunterian museum in Glasgow.[3]
Gaimster moved with his family to Auckland, New Zealand in 2017, where he became the director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[10] During his time at the museum, he oversaw the construction of Te Ao Mārama, a redevelopment of the south atrium space,[11] and managed the museum during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]
In June 2023, Gaimster moved to Adelaide to take up the position of the director of the South Australian Museum.[14]
Recognition and honours
edit- 1996: Elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London[15]
- 2005: SHA Award of Merit by the Society for Historical Archaeology, for his work in historical archaeology[16]
- 2016: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh[17]
- 2019: Appointed honorary adjunct professor at the University of Auckland, in Museum and Cultural Heritage[11]
Selected publications
editBooks
edit- Gaimster, David; Redknap, Mark; Wegner, Hans-Helmut, eds. (1988). Zur Keramik des Mittelalters und der beginnenden Neuzeit im Rheinland, Medieval and later pottery from the Rhineland and its markets. BAR International Series (in English and German). ISBN 0-86054-567-9. Wikidata Q104384554.
- Gaimster, David; Redknap, Mark, eds. (1992). Everyday and Exotic Pottery from Europe c. 650–1900. Studies in Honour of John Hurst. Oxford: Oxbow Books. ISBN 0-946897-47-6. OL 1134189M. Wikidata Q77220811.
- Gaimster, David (1997). German Stoneware, 1200–1900: Archaeology and Cultural History. London: British Museum Press. ISBN 978-0-7141-0571-0. OCLC 39615431. Wikidata Q118935190.
- Gaimster, David; Stamper, Paul, eds. (1997). The Age of Transition: The Archaeology of English Culture, 1400-1600. Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph Series. Oxbow Books. ISBN 978-1-900188-55-5. Wikidata Q64214989.
- Gaimster, David (1999). Maiolica in the North: The Archaeology of Tin-Glazed Earthenware in North-West Europe, c. 1500–1600. London: British Museum. ISBN 0-86159-122-4. OCLC 42137914. OL 11665002M. Wikidata Q118937502.
- Gaimster, David; Gilchrist, Roberta, eds. (2003), The Archaeology of Reformation, 1480–1580, Leeds: Maney Publishing, Wikidata Q63967875
- Gaimster, David; McCarthy, Sarah; Nurse, Bernard (2007). Making History: Antiquaries in Britain 1707–2007. London: Royal Academy of Arts. ISBN 978-1-905711-03-1. OCLC 749943097. Wikidata Q118938730.
- Majewski, Teresita; Gaimster, David, eds. (2009). International Handbook of Historical Archaeology. New York City: Springer Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-72071-5. ISBN 978-0-387-72068-5. OCLC 432709371. Wikidata Q99843293.
- Gaimster, David (2012). The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: Director's Choice. London: Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers. ISBN 978-1-85759-714-1. Wikidata Q118938420.
- Gaimster, David (21 February 2019). Director's Choice: Auckland Museum. London: Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers. ISBN 978-1-78551-173-8. OCLC 1029847641. Wikidata Q115691905.
Chapters
edit- Gaimster, David (1994). "The archaeology of post-medieval society, c 1450–1750: material culture studies in Britain since the war". Building on the Past: Papers Celebrating 150 Years of the Royal Archaeological Institute: 283–312. Wikidata Q118943639.
Articles
edit- Gaimster, David; Cowell, Mike (January 1988). "Post-Medieval Ceramic Stove-tiles bearing the Royal Arms: Evidence for their Manufacture and Use in southern Britain". The Archaeological Journal. 145 (1): 314–343. doi:10.1080/00665983.1988.11077854. ISSN 0066-5983. Wikidata Q54331606.
- Gaimster, David; Boland, Peter; Linnane, Steve; Cartwright, Caroline (January 1996). "The archaeology of private life: the Dudley Castle condoms". Post-Medieval Archaeology. 30 (1): 129–142. doi:10.1179/PMA.1996.003. ISSN 0079-4236. Wikidata Q56119600.
- Gaimster, David (1999). "The Baltic ceramic market, c1200–1600: an archaeology of the Hansa". Fennoscandia Archaeologica. 16: 59–69. ISSN 0781-7126. Wikidata Q104917169.
- Gaimster, David (September 2005). "A parallel history: the archaeology of Hanseatic urban culture in the Baltic c.1200–1600". World Archaeology. 37 (3): 408–423. doi:10.1080/00438240500168483. ISSN 0043-8243. Wikidata Q57753002.
- Gaimster, David (2014). "The Hanseatic Cultural Signature: Exploring Globalization on the Micro-Scale in Late Medieval Northern Europe". European Journal of Archaeology. 17 (1): 60–81. doi:10.1179/1461957113Y.0000000044. ISSN 1461-9571. Wikidata Q77313232.
References
edit- ^ a b Gaimster, David Richard Michael (1992). Pottery Supply and Demand in the Lower Rhineland c. 1400–1800: an Archaeological Study of Ceramic Production, Distribution and Use in the City of Duisburg and Its Hinterland (PhD). University College London. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ a b Dann, Jennifer (18 December 2018). "12 Questions: Auckland War Memorial Museum director David Gaimster". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Professor David Gaimster". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Results of Final Examinations June 1984". University of Durham Gazette 1983/84. II (Combined Series): 101. 1984. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Gaimster, David (2001). "Under Lock and Key: censorship and the secret museum". Sex: The Erotic Review: 126–139.
- ^ Gaimster, David (2000). "Sex and Sensibility at the British Museum". History Today. 50 (9). Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Phil (22 April 2017). "New boss David Gaimster's plan for the Auckland Museum". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Julia E. Poole (September 1999). "David Gaimster et al. German stoneware 1200-1900. 430 pages, 40 colour plates, 425 b&w plates & figures. 1997. London: British Museum Press; 0-7141-0571-6 hardback £45". Antiquity. 73 (281): 715–716. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00065406. ISSN 0003-598X. Wikidata Q59128602.
- ^ Allan, John (September 1999). "German Stoneware 1200–1900: Archaeology and Cultural History. By David R Gaimster. 275mm. Pp. 430 471 pls and figs, 30 col pls. London: British Museum Press, 1997. ISBN 0-7141-0571-6. £45.00". Antiquaries Journal. 79: 423–424. doi:10.1017/S0003581500044863. ISSN 0003-5815. Wikidata Q59177249.
- ^ "University of Glasgow museum director to take over reins at Auckland War Memorial Museum". The New Zealand Herald. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b Hoddinott, Gail (29 May 2021). "Take a Seat in Parnell: Gail Hoddinott and Dr David Gaimster". Parnell Business Association. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Erin (2 May 2023). "Auckland Museum gets funding increase as council agrees first round of budget spending". Stuff. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Gaimster, David (30 April 2020). "David Gaimster: Role of museums in the past, present and future". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ Noble, Kelly (17 March 2023). "ARTSSA Museum appoints its new Director". GLAM Adelaide. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Dr David Gaimster". Society of Antiquaries of London. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "SHA Awards of Merit 2005" (PDF). Society for Historical Archaeology Newsletter. 38 (1): 5. Spring 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Professor David Gaimster". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Retrieved 1 June 2023.