Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

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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Pen case with tortoise shell, ivory, and mother-of-pearl inlays. Turkey, 16th century

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Pen case with tortoise shell, ivory, and mother-of-pearl inlays. Turkey, 16th century

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Chest for combs and cosmetics with mother-of-pearl inlays. Korea, 19th century

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Chest for combs and cosmetics with mother-of-pearl inlays. Korea, 19th century

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Sitting platform with mother-of-pearl inlays. Vietnam, 19th century

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Sitting platform with mother-of-pearl inlays. Vietnam, 19th century

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Mosaic of St. Peter at the Byzantine Chora Church in Istanbul, Turkey. 14th century CE

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Mosaic of St. Peter at the Byzantine Chora Church in Istanbul, Turkey. 14th century CE

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Lacquered dish with mother-of-pearl inlays, depicting antiquities. China, 17th-18th century

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Lacquered dish with mother-of-pearl inlays, depicting antiquities. China, 17th-18th century

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Fireman's helmet with mother-of-pearl inlays. Japan, Edo period, 18th-19th century

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Fireman's helmet with mother-of-pearl inlays. Japan, Edo period, 18th-19th century

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Four-panel screen with tree of life motifs in mother-of-pearl inlay. India, 19th century

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Four-panel screen with tree of life motifs in mother-of-pearl inlay. India, 19th century

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Traveling chest. Japan, late 16th–early 17th century, for export to the Portuguese market. Lacquer with gold flecks, mother-of-pearl inlay, metal fittings. Brooklyn Museum collection

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Traveling chest. Japan, late 16th–early 17th century, for export to the Portuguese market. Lacquer with gold flecks, mother-of-pearl inlay, metal fittings. Brooklyn Museum collection

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Side table. Guatemala or Peru, 18th c. Wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Loaned to the Hispanic Society of America

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Side table. Guatemala or Peru, 18th c. Wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Loaned to the Hispanic Society of America

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India Gujarat Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Tray 16th century

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India Gujarat Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Tray 16th century

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Chess board and ivory game pieces. China, 19th century

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Chess board and ivory game pieces. China, 19th century

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Turkish bath clogs, also known as nalın or Qabâqib, 19th century. This pair is highly decorated with intricate inlaid silver, mother-of-pearl, and velvet straps. This is a very ornate pair potentially made for brides.

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Turkish bath clogs, also known as nalın or Qabâqib, 19th century. This pair is highly decorated with intricate inlaid silver, mother-of-pearl, and velvet straps. This is a very ornate pair potentially made for brides.

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Lacquered box, board, dice, and pieces for the game of Liubo. China, Han dynasty, 2nd century BC

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Lacquered box, board, dice, and pieces for the game of Liubo. China, Han dynasty, 2nd century BC

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Sutra cabinet with inlaid mother-of-pearl flowers. China, Qing dynasty, 18th century

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Sutra cabinet with inlaid mother-of-pearl flowers. China, Qing dynasty, 18th century

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Two ewers covered in mother-of-pearl. India, 17th century

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Two ewers covered in mother-of-pearl. India, 17th century

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Pair of deity head effigy ornaments. Chavín culture, Peru, ca. 900-200 BC. Spondylus shell with mother of pearl and stone inlays. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston collection

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Pair of deity head effigy ornaments. Chavín culture, Peru, ca. 900-200 BC. Spondylus shell with mother of pearl and stone inlays. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston collection

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"Flowering Cherry and Autumn Maple with Poem Slips", a six-panel folding screen made of ink, color, gold, and silver on paper. From Japan, mid- 17th century CE

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"Flowering Cherry and Autumn Maple with Poem Slips", a six-panel folding screen made of ink, color, gold, and silver on paper. From Japan, mid- 17th century CE

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A 17th century emerald carving of a Hindu Saint, with ruby and gold inlays. Part of the Lord Glenconner’s collection

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A 17th century emerald carving of a Hindu Saint, with ruby and gold inlays. Part of the Lord Glenconner’s collection

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Two clam shells for Kai-awase, the shell matching game. Painted with scenes from the Tale of Genji. Japan, 18th-19th century

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Two clam shells for Kai-awase, the shell matching game. Painted with scenes from the Tale of Genji. Japan, 18th-19th century

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