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The Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu is the dower document for the Byzantine princess Theophanu. Written in gold, the document was created after her marriage to Emperor Otto II in 972 CE, which made her the empress of the Holy Roman Empire. State Archives of Wolfenbüttel

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The Marriage Charter of Empress Theophanu is the dower document for the Byzantine princess Theophanu. Written in gold, the document was created after her marriage to Emperor Otto II in 972 CE, which made her the empress of the Holy Roman Empire. State Archives of Wolfenbüttel

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Roman gold statuette probably of Faustina the Elder - wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius - who was deified after death. Object dated to the II century CE.

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Roman gold statuette probably of Faustina the Elder - wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius - who was deified after death. Object dated to the II century CE.

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Serpentine dish inlaid with gold fish, Roman, 1st century BCE or CE, with 9th-century mounts dated to the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald

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Serpentine dish inlaid with gold fish, Roman, 1st century BCE or CE, with 9th-century mounts dated to the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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Perfume House created in India which was gifted to President Ulysses S. Grant by the Maharaja of Travancore around 1877. Crafted from silver It was designed to hold scented oils or perfumes.

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Perfume House created in India which was gifted to President Ulysses S. Grant by the Maharaja of Travancore around 1877. Crafted from silver It was designed to hold scented oils or perfumes.

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Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, aka Brunelleschi's dome, was the largest dome in the world after the fall of the Roman Empire and is still considered the largest ever made in masonry. Conceived, designed, and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, who initiated the Florentine Renaissance...

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Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, aka Brunelleschi's dome, was the largest dome in the world after the fall of the Roman Empire and is still considered the largest ever made in masonry. Conceived, designed, and built by Filippo Brunelleschi, who initiated the Florentine Renaissance...

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This golden carriage, made from gilded walnut wood, is an opulent state coach commissioned in 1638 CE by Johann Eggenberg to announce the election of Emperor Ferdinand III to the Pope. The coach was used as a special showpiece to carry the gifts to the Pope through the streets of Rome

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This golden carriage, made from gilded walnut wood, is an opulent state coach commissioned in 1638 CE by Johann Eggenberg to announce the election of Emperor Ferdinand III to the Pope. The coach was used as a special showpiece to carry the gifts to the Pope through the streets of Rome

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The Pluviale or Coronation Cloak, one of the Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire. An Arab-Norman work, originally made in 1133/1134 for the Norman Kings of Sicily, it reached Germany after the Hohenstaufen Emperors inherited Sicily

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The Pluviale or Coronation Cloak, one of the Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire. An Arab-Norman work, originally made in 1133/1134 for the Norman Kings of Sicily, it reached Germany after the Hohenstaufen Emperors inherited Sicily

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The "Cape of Charlemagne" is a large red silk cloak woven with gold on silver threads and adorned with 4 eagles, griffons and roses. The cope was probably made in 1204 CE, and was in fact the coronation mantle of Frederick II, King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor

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The "Cape of Charlemagne" is a large red silk cloak woven with gold on silver threads and adorned with 4 eagles, griffons and roses. The cope was probably made in 1204 CE, and was in fact the coronation mantle of Frederick II, King of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor

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A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

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A jade burial suit is a ceremonial suit made of pieces of jade in which royal members of China's Han dynasty were buried. The top one for example belongs to the king Liu Wu , and was made from more than 4,000 pieces of jade linked together with gold wire

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Wedding dress of Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp. She married her cousin Charles, Duke of Södermanland, in Stockholm on 7 July 1774 at age 15. The marriage was arranged by King Gustav III to provide the throne of Sweden with an heir. Royal Armory of Sweden

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Wedding dress of Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp. She married her cousin Charles, Duke of Södermanland, in Stockholm on 7 July 1774 at age 15. The marriage was arranged by King Gustav III to provide the throne of Sweden with an heir. Royal Armory of Sweden

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The epitaph of Licinia Eucharis, an ancient Roman stage actress who died at the age of 14. She is one of the few ancient actresses known to have achieved fame and respect in her profession during the Roman Republic. The 1st century BCE epitaph on her tomb was written by her father

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The epitaph of Licinia Eucharis, an ancient Roman stage actress who died at the age of 14. She is one of the few ancient actresses known to have achieved fame and respect in her profession during the Roman Republic. The 1st century BCE epitaph on her tomb was written by her father

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In 1650 CE, the Chinese Empress Dowager Wang sent a written letter to Pope Innocent X. In it she reported that impressed by the work of the Jesuits, she had converted to Catholicism, and requested the Pope to send more missionaries to her kingdom. Vatican Apostolic Archives

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In 1650 CE, the Chinese Empress Dowager Wang sent a written letter to Pope Innocent X. In it she reported that impressed by the work of the Jesuits, she had converted to Catholicism, and requested the Pope to send more missionaries to her kingdom. Vatican Apostolic Archives

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These 3rd century CE medallions were found by chance in Egypt in 1902 and formed part of a hoard of 20 medallions, 600 gold coins and 20 stamped gold ingots. The medallions were commissioned to honor Emperor Caracalla, representing him as the descendant of Alexander the Great

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These 3rd century CE medallions were found by chance in Egypt in 1902 and formed part of a hoard of 20 medallions, 600 gold coins and 20 stamped gold ingots. The medallions were commissioned to honor Emperor Caracalla, representing him as the descendant of Alexander the Great

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Roman fresco from Herculaneum showing two young women, where one of them holds a wax tablet and a stylus for writing. Object dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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Roman fresco from Herculaneum showing two young women, where one of them holds a wax tablet and a stylus for writing. Object dated to the 1st century CE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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The Titus tazza is one of the Aldobrandini Tazze which are a set of 12 silver-gilt standing cups, made during the late 16th century. The inside surface of each bowl is chased with four scenes which describe the lives of the first 12 Roman emperors

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The Titus tazza is one of the Aldobrandini Tazze which are a set of 12 silver-gilt standing cups, made during the late 16th century. The inside surface of each bowl is chased with four scenes which describe the lives of the first 12 Roman emperors

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Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, Rome, 176 AD. One of the greatest surviving works of Roman imperial art, it is the only large bronze imperial equestrian statue to survive, largely because M. A. was confused with Christian emperor Constantine and escaped being melted down...

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Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, Rome, 176 AD. One of the greatest surviving works of Roman imperial art, it is the only large bronze imperial equestrian statue to survive, largely because M. A. was confused with Christian emperor Constantine and escaped being melted down...

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Glassware made in the Roman Empire. Excavated at Hwangnamdaechong, the royal burial of the kings of Silla, in modern day South Korea. 5th Century CE. The gold wire on the ewer handle was probably added later to repair a crack.

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Glassware made in the Roman Empire. Excavated at Hwangnamdaechong, the royal burial of the kings of Silla, in modern day South Korea. 5th Century CE. The gold wire on the ewer handle was probably added later to repair a crack.

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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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