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This clear glass piece with bulbous ends and notched centre is a knife rest. Popular from the 17th to early 20th century, they kept knives off tablecloths and added elegance to dining. Once essential for etiquette, they faded as dining grew more casual. Other sizes are available.

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This clear glass piece with bulbous ends and notched centre is a knife rest. Popular from the 17th to early 20th century, they kept knives off tablecloths and added elegance to dining. Once essential for etiquette, they faded as dining grew more casual. Other sizes are available.

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Selection of early 20th century highland New Guinea penis sheaths from the Penn Museum collection. Once part of the everyday dress, this clothing is still sometimes worn on formal or festive occasions.

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Selection of early 20th century highland New Guinea penis sheaths from the Penn Museum collection. Once part of the everyday dress, this clothing is still sometimes worn on formal or festive occasions.

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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.

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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.

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Archaeologists in Greece have uncovered the grave of an ousted noblewoman whom they are calling "The Lady with the Inverted Diadem." The 7th century BCE burial is notable for the bronze crown placed upside down on the woman's head, which may have signified a final end to her power

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Archaeologists in Greece have uncovered the grave of an ousted noblewoman whom they are calling "The Lady with the Inverted Diadem." The 7th century BCE burial is notable for the bronze crown placed upside down on the woman's head, which may have signified a final end to her power

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A rather eclectic collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th to 15th Centuries, recently acquired, all produced in France. There are charters, letters, and several bound records. The oldest piece is an inventory notice dated May 1241, for one Pierre de Castela

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A rather eclectic collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th to 15th Centuries, recently acquired, all produced in France. There are charters, letters, and several bound records. The oldest piece is an inventory notice dated May 1241, for one Pierre de Castela

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Tablet from Nineveh, letter from princess Serua-eterat, daughter of Esarhaddon and sister of Ashurbanipal, to Libbali-sharrat, wife of l Ashurbanipal, reprimending the future queen for not studying. 7th century BC. British Museum

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Tablet from Nineveh, letter from princess Serua-eterat, daughter of Esarhaddon and sister of Ashurbanipal, to Libbali-sharrat, wife of l Ashurbanipal, reprimending the future queen for not studying. 7th century BC. British Museum

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A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes and estuarine waters of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. They were used as dwellings over five millennia, from the European Neolithic Period to as late as the 17th/early 18th century

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A crannog is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes and estuarine waters of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. They were used as dwellings over five millennia, from the European Neolithic Period to as late as the 17th/early 18th century

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Harmondsworth Great Barn is a medieval barn on the former Manor Farm in the village of Harmondsworth. Built in the early 15th century CE by Winchester College, it is the largest timber-framed building in England and is regarded as an outstanding example of medieval carpentry

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Harmondsworth Great Barn is a medieval barn on the former Manor Farm in the village of Harmondsworth. Built in the early 15th century CE by Winchester College, it is the largest timber-framed building in England and is regarded as an outstanding example of medieval carpentry

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An ancient Chinese incense burner. Stoneware, with clear glaze and modeled dragons and lotus petals. Sui to early Tang dynasty, late 6th–7th century CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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An ancient Chinese incense burner. Stoneware, with clear glaze and modeled dragons and lotus petals. Sui to early Tang dynasty, late 6th–7th century CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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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.

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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.

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Notation knives are rare 16th Century CE, Renaissance serving knives with musical notation engraved on their blades, used to sing prayers before and after meals...

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Notation knives are rare 16th Century CE, Renaissance serving knives with musical notation engraved on their blades, used to sing prayers before and after meals...

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Foldable game board for chess on one side and backgammon on the other, with turtle shell and mother-of-pearl inlays. Istanbul, Turkey, 17th century

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Foldable game board for chess on one side and backgammon on the other, with turtle shell and mother-of-pearl inlays. Istanbul, Turkey, 17th century

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This 12th-century CE sock, from Egypt, was knitted from the toe upward to the leg. Its heel was made separately at the end and attached to loops left during leg knitting. This ingenious practice allowed the heel to be replaced when it wore out without the necessity of making new socks

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This 12th-century CE sock, from Egypt, was knitted from the toe upward to the leg. Its heel was made separately at the end and attached to loops left during leg knitting. This ingenious practice allowed the heel to be replaced when it wore out without the necessity of making new socks

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Part of a recently acquired collection of 20 original Papal Bulls from Italy, dating from the 16th to 18th century, and 10 with original bulla and cords. The oldest example is one issued by Pope Pius V

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Part of a recently acquired collection of 20 original Papal Bulls from Italy, dating from the 16th to 18th century, and 10 with original bulla and cords. The oldest example is one issued by Pope Pius V

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A pietra dura table top from Rome. Made of hardstones, alabaster, and marble. Late 16th or early 17th century CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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A pietra dura table top from Rome. Made of hardstones, alabaster, and marble. Late 16th or early 17th century CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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This extraordinary table from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia, is the greatest masterpiece to have been created using the “piqué” technique. It was made by Giuseppe Sarao in Naples, Italy, in circa 1730-1740 CE using tortoiseshell piqué with gold and mother-of-pearl

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This extraordinary table from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia, is the greatest masterpiece to have been created using the “piqué” technique. It was made by Giuseppe Sarao in Naples, Italy, in circa 1730-1740 CE using tortoiseshell piqué with gold and mother-of-pearl

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Winged Victory statuette, Bronze, Pompeii, 1st century AD. Smaller copy of a well-known Greek piece, frequently reproduced in antiquity. The original gilded bronze was created by the Tarentines to celebrate their victory over Rome at Heraclea in 281 BC with the help of King Pyrrhus...

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Winged Victory statuette, Bronze, Pompeii, 1st century AD. Smaller copy of a well-known Greek piece, frequently reproduced in antiquity. The original gilded bronze was created by the Tarentines to celebrate their victory over Rome at Heraclea in 281 BC with the help of King Pyrrhus...

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Cupid wears a gigantic Silenus mask with a wreath, pointed ears, a bulbous nose, and a long, shaggy beard. His childlike face gazes out from the mask's open mouth with a serious expression, revealing the strain. Roman 1st century AD

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Cupid wears a gigantic Silenus mask with a wreath, pointed ears, a bulbous nose, and a long, shaggy beard. His childlike face gazes out from the mask's open mouth with a serious expression, revealing the strain. Roman 1st century AD

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The remnant entrance portal from the earlier 10th century CE Jorjir Mosque, now part of the Hakim Mosque in Iran. The remaining portal of the ruined mosque was hidden for centuries and was accidentally discovered in 1957 when the wall of the Safavid mosque was washed away by rain

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The remnant entrance portal from the earlier 10th century CE Jorjir Mosque, now part of the Hakim Mosque in Iran. The remaining portal of the ruined mosque was hidden for centuries and was accidentally discovered in 1957 when the wall of the Safavid mosque was washed away by rain

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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

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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

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