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Carved Benin ivory cuffs depicting Portuguese and Bini traders, the former identified by long noses, flowing hair, and beards. These probably signalled the Oba's access to foreign sources of wealth and power. 16th century. Horniman Museum. Returned to Nigeria in 2022

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Carved Benin ivory cuffs depicting Portuguese and Bini traders, the former identified by long noses, flowing hair, and beards. These probably signalled the Oba's access to foreign sources of wealth and power. 16th century. Horniman Museum. Returned to Nigeria in 2022

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Pair of ivory Benin leopards. Leopards were considered 'kings of the forest' and were an important symbol of regal power in Benin. 19th century Nigeria, British Museum

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Pair of ivory Benin leopards. Leopards were considered 'kings of the forest' and were an important symbol of regal power in Benin. 19th century Nigeria, British Museum

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Bust showing a Roman, probably from the beginning of the 2nd century CE - the reign of Emperor Caracalla. This is indicated by the hairstyle and beard. The artifact is in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles .

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Bust showing a Roman, probably from the beginning of the 2nd century CE - the reign of Emperor Caracalla. This is indicated by the hairstyle and beard. The artifact is in the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles .

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Vase with handles and lid. Painted to represent flower bunches on one side and floral and flower design on the other.19th century,made by Osler porcelain Calcutta india,salar jung museum india

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Vase with handles and lid. Painted to represent flower bunches on one side and floral and flower design on the other.19th century,made by Osler porcelain Calcutta india,salar jung museum india

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An Elamite silver cup found in Marvdasht, Iran, depicting on one side, a standing woman wearing a kaunakes and a tiara or headband, and on the other side, a seated woman with long flowing hair, also wearing a kaunakes, 3 necklaces and a braid or hairband. 2000 BCE, Museum of Ancient Iran

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An Elamite silver cup found in Marvdasht, Iran, depicting on one side, a standing woman wearing a kaunakes and a tiara or headband, and on the other side, a seated woman with long flowing hair, also wearing a kaunakes, 3 necklaces and a braid or hairband. 2000 BCE, Museum of Ancient Iran

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A bronze plaque from Perm, in Russia, depicting seven elk men, with two-fingered hands and small hooves for feet,walking in procession along the back of a long-horned, scaly anteater. 6th-8th century CE

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A bronze plaque from Perm, in Russia, depicting seven elk men, with two-fingered hands and small hooves for feet,walking in procession along the back of a long-horned, scaly anteater. 6th-8th century CE

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A 19th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting a reclining cat, turning back to the left as it looks at a small bird, broken winged, on its back, a loose feather caught in the cat's fore paw. Sold at Christie's in 2008

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A 19th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting a reclining cat, turning back to the left as it looks at a small bird, broken winged, on its back, a loose feather caught in the cat's fore paw. Sold at Christie's in 2008

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The Powhatan’s Mantle, at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, is made of 4 deerskins trimmed, stitched together with sinew, and decorated with 20,000 polished discs of shell depicting a standing figure flanked by 2 opposed animals. Early 17th century CE, Powhatan people, North America

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The Powhatan’s Mantle, at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, is made of 4 deerskins trimmed, stitched together with sinew, and decorated with 20,000 polished discs of shell depicting a standing figure flanked by 2 opposed animals. Early 17th century CE, Powhatan people, North America

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Underground Roundel, London, UK, 1908. From its humble beginnings as a platform name board at the beginning of the 20th century and after many attempts to redesign it – or even get rid of it completely- the roundel now provides a unified identity for all London’s transport services.

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Underground Roundel, London, UK, 1908. From its humble beginnings as a platform name board at the beginning of the 20th century and after many attempts to redesign it – or even get rid of it completely- the roundel now provides a unified identity for all London’s transport services.

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The Netherlands have returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, nearly 130 years after they were looted by British colonial troops. The official handover ceremony takes place on June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos, in the presence of representatives from both nations

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The Netherlands have returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, nearly 130 years after they were looted by British colonial troops. The official handover ceremony takes place on June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos, in the presence of representatives from both nations

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A Byzantine ivory panel depicting the last judgement. From Constantinople, 11th century CE, now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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A Byzantine ivory panel depicting the last judgement. From Constantinople, 11th century CE, now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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A 4th century BCE solid gold finger ring found in Tomb Z in Derveni, Greece. The ring bears the inscription ΚΛΕΙΤΑΙΔΩΡΟΝ, which means "a gift to Kleita", most probably the deceased of Tomb Z. Now housed at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

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A 4th century BCE solid gold finger ring found in Tomb Z in Derveni, Greece. The ring bears the inscription ΚΛΕΙΤΑΙΔΩΡΟΝ, which means "a gift to Kleita", most probably the deceased of Tomb Z. Now housed at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

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Detail of an armor made in the 2nd half of the 16th century CE, in either France or Flanders. Now housed at the Louvre Museum

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Detail of an armor made in the 2nd half of the 16th century CE, in either France or Flanders. Now housed at the Louvre Museum

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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

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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

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A Muromachi Period embroidered painting of the Buddha with human hair woven into it, produced in Japan. These pieces were typically produced by women devotees, and documented examples have been noted to have human hair woven into the Buddha's vestments or hair

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A Muromachi Period embroidered painting of the Buddha with human hair woven into it, produced in Japan. These pieces were typically produced by women devotees, and documented examples have been noted to have human hair woven into the Buddha's vestments or hair

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A Roman cameo depicting a medusa mask in front view. Winged, surrounded by tangled hair, a snake knot under the chin. 1st-2nd century CE, made of gass, turquoise, frame made of gold, enamelled. Now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

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A Roman cameo depicting a medusa mask in front view. Winged, surrounded by tangled hair, a snake knot under the chin. 1st-2nd century CE, made of gass, turquoise, frame made of gold, enamelled. Now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna

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These Roman glass spherical bottles were used to hold perfume and loose powder. The contents were sealed inside the delicate cosmetic containers and a small knob at the top had to be broken off to remove the oil/powder. Found in Trier, 1st/2nd century CE, Landesmuseum Trier, Germany

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These Roman glass spherical bottles were used to hold perfume and loose powder. The contents were sealed inside the delicate cosmetic containers and a small knob at the top had to be broken off to remove the oil/powder. Found in Trier, 1st/2nd century CE, Landesmuseum Trier, Germany

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Votive decorated dagger & sheath, made of gold, ivory, & silver. From the Temple of the Obelisks, Byblos; dated to 2000 - 1800 BCE. Considered to be an offering to the warrior god Resheph, who is probably depicted on the hilt. At the Beirut museum, nr. 16492

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Votive decorated dagger & sheath, made of gold, ivory, & silver. From the Temple of the Obelisks, Byblos; dated to 2000 - 1800 BCE. Considered to be an offering to the warrior god Resheph, who is probably depicted on the hilt. At the Beirut museum, nr. 16492

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