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Marie Antoinette's famed "Pink Diamond" that was hidden by the queen's hairdresser during the French Revolution before being passed to Antoinette's only surviving child, Marie-Thérèse. The 10.38-cart gemstone is now going to auction, where it's expected to fetch up to $5 million.

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Marie Antoinette's famed "Pink Diamond" that was hidden by the queen's hairdresser during the French Revolution before being passed to Antoinette's only surviving child, Marie-Thérèse. The 10.38-cart gemstone is now going to auction, where it's expected to fetch up to $5 million.

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Marie Antoinette was executed on this day in 1793. A single shoe that was reputed to have belonged to the queen fetched a whopping £38,000 at auction in 2020. The silk and kidskin shoe is inscribed “Soulier de Marie-Antoinette donné à M. de Voisey”.

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Marie Antoinette was executed on this day in 1793. A single shoe that was reputed to have belonged to the queen fetched a whopping £38,000 at auction in 2020. The silk and kidskin shoe is inscribed “Soulier de Marie-Antoinette donné à M. de Voisey”.

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A portrait of a young girl with a Titus cut, made by the French painter Pierre-Narcisse Guérin in 1794 CE. The Titus cut, a female haircut that became popular during the French Revolution, was inspired by the way executioners would cut the hair of people going to the guillotine

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A portrait of a young girl with a Titus cut, made by the French painter Pierre-Narcisse Guérin in 1794 CE. The Titus cut, a female haircut that became popular during the French Revolution, was inspired by the way executioners would cut the hair of people going to the guillotine

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A pair of original, unaltered diamond bracelets purchased by Marie Antoinette for 250,000 livres in 1776. The queen's daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte de France, wears what appear to be her mother's diamond bracelets in this 1816 portrait by Antoine-Jean Gros

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A pair of original, unaltered diamond bracelets purchased by Marie Antoinette for 250,000 livres in 1776. The queen's daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte de France, wears what appear to be her mother's diamond bracelets in this 1816 portrait by Antoine-Jean Gros

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The shoe that Marie Antoinette lost when she tripped going up the steps to the guillotine on the morning of her execution, 16 October 1793. In the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen, France.

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The shoe that Marie Antoinette lost when she tripped going up the steps to the guillotine on the morning of her execution, 16 October 1793. In the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen, France.

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A chirogymnast made in 1840 CE by the Frenchman Casimir Martin to allow instrumentalists in general, and pianists in particular, to warm up and stretch their hands and fingers. It was presented in 1842 to Queen Isabella II, and is now housed at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid

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A chirogymnast made in 1840 CE by the Frenchman Casimir Martin to allow instrumentalists in general, and pianists in particular, to warm up and stretch their hands and fingers. It was presented in 1842 to Queen Isabella II, and is now housed at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid

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The Sunset Glory bannerstone, largest and finest ferruginous quartz butterfly form known, was found in 1874 on a Missouri farm. Named in the 1930s, it joined Earl Townsend Jr.’s famed collection before setting an auction record in 2011. 6000–1000 BCE

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The Sunset Glory bannerstone, largest and finest ferruginous quartz butterfly form known, was found in 1874 on a Missouri farm. Named in the 1930s, it joined Earl Townsend Jr.’s famed collection before setting an auction record in 2011. 6000–1000 BCE

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2 of the 500-year-old Qilakitsoq Mummies that were found in Greenland in 1972. There were 6 women and 2 children, including a 6 month old baby boy , all of whom were fully dressed. It is thought that the child was either smothered or buried alive when the mother died

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2 of the 500-year-old Qilakitsoq Mummies that were found in Greenland in 1972. There were 6 women and 2 children, including a 6 month old baby boy , all of whom were fully dressed. It is thought that the child was either smothered or buried alive when the mother died

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The Garmsar Salt Cave features massive salt pillars that support its ceiling, formed and shaped by the Achaemenid Empire during salt extraction in 550–330 BC. Located in the Iranian county of the same name, the cave has 27 mines, and the one shown here is a popular tourist attraction.

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The Garmsar Salt Cave features massive salt pillars that support its ceiling, formed and shaped by the Achaemenid Empire during salt extraction in 550–330 BC. Located in the Iranian county of the same name, the cave has 27 mines, and the one shown here is a popular tourist attraction.

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A trapped miner, named Jacob Vowell, wrote this letter in his notebook to his wife and mother to their 6 children before dying in the Fraterville Mine Disaster in Tennessee in 1902. Vowell's 14-year-old son Elbert was also trapped within the mine beside him

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A trapped miner, named Jacob Vowell, wrote this letter in his notebook to his wife and mother to their 6 children before dying in the Fraterville Mine Disaster in Tennessee in 1902. Vowell's 14-year-old son Elbert was also trapped within the mine beside him

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La Pieta, one of Michelangelo's most revered sculptures, probably the most moving. He was 24 when he carved it. Mary suffers in silence. While her face remains serene, her hand betrays her emotions by saying at the same time there you have him and how could this possibly happen?...

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La Pieta, one of Michelangelo's most revered sculptures, probably the most moving. He was 24 when he carved it. Mary suffers in silence. While her face remains serene, her hand betrays her emotions by saying at the same time there you have him and how could this possibly happen?...

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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

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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

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The ruins of the Jerwan aqueduct in Iraq, constructed of more than 2 million dressed stones and using stone arches and waterproof cement. The aqueduct is part of the larger Atrush Canal built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib between 703-690 BCE to water Ninevah's extensive gardens

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The ruins of the Jerwan aqueduct in Iraq, constructed of more than 2 million dressed stones and using stone arches and waterproof cement. The aqueduct is part of the larger Atrush Canal built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib between 703-690 BCE to water Ninevah's extensive gardens

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Roman golden ring that belonged to a child. The object was found in Aalen . The inscription CRESCAS is engraved on the ring, which translates as "May you grow" - probably the ring was given to the child by his parents.

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Roman golden ring that belonged to a child. The object was found in Aalen . The inscription CRESCAS is engraved on the ring, which translates as "May you grow" - probably the ring was given to the child by his parents.

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