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The Oton Death Mask is a 14th-15th century CE gold funerary mask from the Philippines. Made of thin gold sheets, it covered the eyes and nose of a deceased elite individual and was decorated with repoussé dots and curvilinear patterns. National Museum of the Philippines

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The Oton Death Mask is a 14th-15th century CE gold funerary mask from the Philippines. Made of thin gold sheets, it covered the eyes and nose of a deceased elite individual and was decorated with repoussé dots and curvilinear patterns. National Museum of the Philippines

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The Bolinao Skull is an archaeological discovery excavated at the Balingasay Archaeological Site in Bolinao, in the Philippines. It is considered to be a one-of-a-kind find due to its gold dental decorations that resemble fish scales. 14th-15th century CE

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The Bolinao Skull is an archaeological discovery excavated at the Balingasay Archaeological Site in Bolinao, in the Philippines. It is considered to be a one-of-a-kind find due to its gold dental decorations that resemble fish scales. 14th-15th century CE

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A gold ornament with an image of Eros and Psyche. From Taxila in Pakistan, 1st century BCE-1st century CE, now housed at the National Museum of Pakistan

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A gold ornament with an image of Eros and Psyche. From Taxila in Pakistan, 1st century BCE-1st century CE, now housed at the National Museum of Pakistan

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A ceramic egg-shaped pyxis decorated with geometric patterns, excavated from a Bronze Age tomb in Cyprus. Late 21st Century BCE, now housed at the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities in New Zealand

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A ceramic egg-shaped pyxis decorated with geometric patterns, excavated from a Bronze Age tomb in Cyprus. Late 21st Century BCE, now housed at the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities in New Zealand

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A limestone Roman funerary stele depicting a seated woman with necklaces and earrings. From Athienou in Cyprus, end of 1st century CE, now housed at the Louvre museum in Paris

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A limestone Roman funerary stele depicting a seated woman with necklaces and earrings. From Athienou in Cyprus, end of 1st century CE, now housed at the Louvre museum in Paris

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Bracelet from the Elamite period , a combination of gold and agate, kept at the National Museum of Iran.

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Bracelet from the Elamite period , a combination of gold and agate, kept at the National Museum of Iran.

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A gold phiale from the Panagyurishte treasure, decorated with black African heads. 4th-3rd century BCE, now housed at the National Historical Museum in Sofia, Bulgaria

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A gold phiale from the Panagyurishte treasure, decorated with black African heads. 4th-3rd century BCE, now housed at the National Historical Museum in Sofia, Bulgaria

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Pennannular brooch with beast-shaped terminals, part of the St Ninian's Isle Treasure, discovered in the late 1950s on an island in the Shetlands. From the latter part of the 8th century. National Museum of Scotland.

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Pennannular brooch with beast-shaped terminals, part of the St Ninian's Isle Treasure, discovered in the late 1950s on an island in the Shetlands. From the latter part of the 8th century. National Museum of Scotland.

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Marble funerary altar of a child named Anthus- The altar was set up by his father, Lucius Iulius Gamus. The deceased is referred to as, “his sweetest son" and a personal touch is given to the relief by showing Anthus with his pet dog.

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Marble funerary altar of a child named Anthus- The altar was set up by his father, Lucius Iulius Gamus. The deceased is referred to as, “his sweetest son" and a personal touch is given to the relief by showing Anthus with his pet dog.

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A Mixtec collar from the Tomb 7 of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico, made of gold, turquoise, coral and pearl. 14th century CE, now housed at the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca

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A Mixtec collar from the Tomb 7 of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico, made of gold, turquoise, coral and pearl. 14th century CE, now housed at the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A royal gold belt weighing 1kg, discovered in Surigao. 10-13th century CE, now housed at the Ayala Museum in the Philippines

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A royal gold belt weighing 1kg, discovered in Surigao. 10-13th century CE, now housed at the Ayala Museum in the Philippines

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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A 2nd century CE Roman marble sculpture of Aphrodite, unearthed in 1726 within the premises of the ancient amphitheater in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. It is a Roman reproduction of a 4th-century BCE Greek original by Scopas, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples

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A 2nd century CE Roman marble sculpture of Aphrodite, unearthed in 1726 within the premises of the ancient amphitheater in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. It is a Roman reproduction of a 4th-century BCE Greek original by Scopas, and is now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples

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A gold plaque from Java, depicting Vishnu and Garuda. 9th century CE, now housed at the National Museum of Indonesia

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A gold plaque from Java, depicting Vishnu and Garuda. 9th century CE, now housed at the National Museum of Indonesia

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Secretary with lacca povera decoration, 18th century, National Museum of Slovenia. The figural scenes originate from a series of copper engravings on the theme of pastoral lovers, within Rococo cartouches, ladies and cavaliers passing the time in social games and making music.

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Secretary with lacca povera decoration, 18th century, National Museum of Slovenia. The figural scenes originate from a series of copper engravings on the theme of pastoral lovers, within Rococo cartouches, ladies and cavaliers passing the time in social games and making music.

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A Mughal dagger made in c. 1610-1620 CE, probably from Agra in India, now part of the private collection of sheikh Al Thani. Nephrite jade hilt and scabbard set with rubies, emeralds and a pearl in kundan settings; watered steel blade with gold-overlaid decoration

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A Mughal dagger made in c. 1610-1620 CE, probably from Agra in India, now part of the private collection of sheikh Al Thani. Nephrite jade hilt and scabbard set with rubies, emeralds and a pearl in kundan settings; watered steel blade with gold-overlaid decoration

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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

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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

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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A gold horse harness with jade decoration from the Liao Dynasty , unearthed from the joint tomb of princess Chen and her consort in Inner Mongolia. Now housed at the Capital Museum in Beijing, China

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A gold horse harness with jade decoration from the Liao Dynasty , unearthed from the joint tomb of princess Chen and her consort in Inner Mongolia. Now housed at the Capital Museum in Beijing, China

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