Share
Portfolio
Filter
All Albums People Nature Comercial Travel

This gold and enamel ring was made in Italy in the 17th-century. Diamonds are set in the skull’s eye sockets and nose, and in the crossbones. Memento mori rings – from the Latin ‘remember that you must die’ – were intended to remind the wearer of the brevity of life.

ARTIFACT

This gold and enamel ring was made in Italy in the 17th-century. Diamonds are set in the skull’s eye sockets and nose, and in the crossbones. Memento mori rings – from the Latin ‘remember that you must die’ – were intended to remind the wearer of the brevity of life.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A gold, enamel and gem-set brooch in the form of a salamander, part of the Cheapside Hoard that was found in London in 1912. The sinuous body is fashioned from 10 cabochon emeralds flanked by diamonds . Late 16th century-early 17th century CE, now housed at the London Museum

ARTIFACT

A gold, enamel and gem-set brooch in the form of a salamander, part of the Cheapside Hoard that was found in London in 1912. The sinuous body is fashioned from 10 cabochon emeralds flanked by diamonds . Late 16th century-early 17th century CE, now housed at the London Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A Memento Mori carved in ivory. Very little is known about this piece, only that it was listed in the Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era, by Ormonde Maddock Dalton, in 1909 and was described as being European from the 17th century

ARTIFACT

A Memento Mori carved in ivory. Very little is known about this piece, only that it was listed in the Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era, by Ormonde Maddock Dalton, in 1909 and was described as being European from the 17th century

ARTIFACT / Photography

A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

ARTIFACT

A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

ARTIFACT / Photography

Pendant in the form of a grape from the early 17th century Southern Germany. Made of “Monstrous pearl”, gold, enamel, rubies. Now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum

ARTIFACT

Pendant in the form of a grape from the early 17th century Southern Germany. Made of “Monstrous pearl”, gold, enamel, rubies. Now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A set of gold jewellery unearthed from the tomb of a woman in Taranto, Italy. The set includes a gold ring, 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, 2 bracelets and a gold hairnet with a central medallion and a ribbon-like base studded with garnets. 3rd century BCE, Altes Museum in Berlin

ARTIFACT

A set of gold jewellery unearthed from the tomb of a woman in Taranto, Italy. The set includes a gold ring, 2 necklaces, 2 earrings, 2 bracelets and a gold hairnet with a central medallion and a ribbon-like base studded with garnets. 3rd century BCE, Altes Museum in Berlin

ARTIFACT / Photography

This is not glass. This 11th century Fatimid ewer was made from a single block of rock crystal, one of the hardest minerals to carve. There are seven similar ewers in existence.

ARTIFACT

This is not glass. This 11th century Fatimid ewer was made from a single block of rock crystal, one of the hardest minerals to carve. There are seven similar ewers in existence.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Seige rocket,it was used to open fire upon a besieging enemy from above the gates and bastions of the Fort, and certain men called "Bandars"were hired in the force for this purpose.17th century ad,victoria memorial kolkata india

ARTIFACT

Seige rocket,it was used to open fire upon a besieging enemy from above the gates and bastions of the Fort, and certain men called "Bandars"were hired in the force for this purpose.17th century ad,victoria memorial kolkata india

ARTIFACT / Photography

The skull of a woman wearing a golden crown, found in an early 10th century CE wooden red coffin in Inner Mongolia, China. Liao dynasty, now housed at the Inner Mongolia Museum

ARTIFACT

The skull of a woman wearing a golden crown, found in an early 10th century CE wooden red coffin in Inner Mongolia, China. Liao dynasty, now housed at the Inner Mongolia Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

Flower bouquet from late 17th century Florence or Vienna. Made of gold, partially enameled, silver, gilt, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, blue sapphires, hyacinths, and hessonites. Part of the Imperial Treasury, Vienna

ARTIFACT

Flower bouquet from late 17th century Florence or Vienna. Made of gold, partially enameled, silver, gilt, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, blue sapphires, hyacinths, and hessonites. Part of the Imperial Treasury, Vienna

ARTIFACT / Photography

Salamander Brooch from London, c.1600-1650 CE: this 400-year-old brooch is made of emerald, diamond, gold, and enamel

ARTIFACT

Salamander Brooch from London, c.1600-1650 CE: this 400-year-old brooch is made of emerald, diamond, gold, and enamel

ARTIFACT / Photography

This 15th Century gold coin, found recently by metal detectorists Keith Young and Lisa Stephenson, is one of 30 gold and silver coins minted in the 1400s they found in the Scottish border lands near St Mary's Loch. Article and more images in comments.

ARTIFACT

This 15th Century gold coin, found recently by metal detectorists Keith Young and Lisa Stephenson, is one of 30 gold and silver coins minted in the 1400s they found in the Scottish border lands near St Mary's Loch. Article and more images in comments.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A plait ornament from India, made of gold, and inset with rock crystal, rubies, emeralds, and amethysts. 18th–19th century CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

ARTIFACT

A plait ornament from India, made of gold, and inset with rock crystal, rubies, emeralds, and amethysts. 18th–19th century CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A lidded cup made in ca. 1655/1656 CE by Dionysio Miseroni and Hanns Reinhardt Taravell. From Prague, made of garnet, gold, silver, enamel and diamonds. Now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

ARTIFACT

A lidded cup made in ca. 1655/1656 CE by Dionysio Miseroni and Hanns Reinhardt Taravell. From Prague, made of garnet, gold, silver, enamel and diamonds. Now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Rothschild Orpheus Cup, made in Vienna and Prague between 1600 and 1642 CE, features a base with Atlas, a bowl with scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and a lid depicting Orpheus and Diana. Made of gold, enamel and rubies, it's now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

ARTIFACT

The Rothschild Orpheus Cup, made in Vienna and Prague between 1600 and 1642 CE, features a base with Atlas, a bowl with scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and a lid depicting Orpheus and Diana. Made of gold, enamel and rubies, it's now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

Pendant with a Memento Mori, second half of the 16th century, gilded enamel.  Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire

ARTIFACT

Pendant with a Memento Mori, second half of the 16th century, gilded enamel.  Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Romanov Family’s diamond “Cherry Earrings”, made for Catherine the Great in the 18th century, were worn by Romanov brides on their wedding day. They are now stored in the Moscow Diamond Fund

ARTIFACT

The Romanov Family’s diamond “Cherry Earrings”, made for Catherine the Great in the 18th century, were worn by Romanov brides on their wedding day. They are now stored in the Moscow Diamond Fund

ARTIFACT / Photography

An Artuqid-period ivory archer’s ring, dating to the 12th–13th century CE, was recently discovered at Hasankeyf in Turkey. Small pearls are set in neat rows on both sides of the ring’s shield, while a turquoise stone is embedded into a diamond-shaped platform on the outer surface

ARTIFACT

An Artuqid-period ivory archer’s ring, dating to the 12th–13th century CE, was recently discovered at Hasankeyf in Turkey. Small pearls are set in neat rows on both sides of the ring’s shield, while a turquoise stone is embedded into a diamond-shaped platform on the outer surface

ARTIFACT / Photography

An old photo of a man wearing a 13th century CE necklace made from moa bone, and discovered at the Māori archaeological site of Wairau Bar in New Zealand

ARTIFACT

An old photo of a man wearing a 13th century CE necklace made from moa bone, and discovered at the Māori archaeological site of Wairau Bar in New Zealand

ARTIFACT / Photography

A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

ARTIFACT

A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

ARTIFACT / Photography