A hermeneutic analysis of historical auction catalogue records considering the impact of their authorship on the construction of symbolic and economic value for Near Eastern antiquities within the international art market

This research considers the nature and authorship of auction catalogue records for the transaction of cultural objects within the international art market. Through an evaluation of the Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction catalogue records for Near Eastern objects sold over the last century, this analysis identifies how the structuring of these textual artifacts influences market legitimacy and buyer demand. Employing both semiotic and hermeneutic theory, and a qualitative content coding framework within its research methodology, this study aims to identify how the authorship of catalogue records influences the establishment of the sociological, cultural and economic value of cultural objects. Specifically, this research examines how meaning is established in the construction of catalogue records, and how the interpretation of this meaning is influenced by the evolving relationship between the reader and the text. By locating these catalogue records within an ecology of symbolic signs and market inferences, where the inclusion, omission and ambiguity of information can influence their reception and meaning, this analysis assesses the impact of these texts on the perpetuation of institutional authority, and cultural biases. It considers the historic networks of supply and consumption underpinning the market for cultural objects, and the efficacy of legal and ethical guidelines established to regulate this economy. It also considers the impact of emerging technologies on the representation, accessibility, and security of catalogue records, and the potential risks and opportunities associated with embedding this information within digital frameworks. Through its integration of critical theory and market analysis, this research positions auction catalogue records as structured and dynamic texts that actively mediate the relationship between culture, economics, and meaning.