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A Maya mosaic mask, from Guatemala, made of wood, jadeite, resin and seashell. 200-600 CE, now part of the private collection of Sheikh Al Thani in Paris

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A Maya mosaic mask, from Guatemala, made of wood, jadeite, resin and seashell. 200-600 CE, now part of the private collection of Sheikh Al Thani in Paris

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A Maya carving of a frog from Topoxte. 700–800 CE, shell and quartz, now part of the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City

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A Maya carving of a frog from Topoxte. 700–800 CE, shell and quartz, now part of the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City

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A Maya jade figure of a seated lord, ca. 250-430 CE, now part of an American private collection

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A Maya jade figure of a seated lord, ca. 250-430 CE, now part of an American private collection

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A Sassanian silver and gold dish from Iran, featuring a central female figure, likely Anahita, the Zoroastrian goddess of water, fertility, and health. 400-600 CE, now part of the private Al Thani Collection in Paris

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A Sassanian silver and gold dish from Iran, featuring a central female figure, likely Anahita, the Zoroastrian goddess of water, fertility, and health. 400-600 CE, now part of the private Al Thani Collection in Paris

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An Amlash terracotta vessel, from Iran, in the form of a talking female figure. 800 BCE, now part of the M. Mahboubian Private Collection

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An Amlash terracotta vessel, from Iran, in the form of a talking female figure. 800 BCE, now part of the M. Mahboubian Private Collection

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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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“Oxus Lady” with bird body. From Eastern Iran or Central Asia, Oxus Culture . Made of chlorite, limestone and lapis lazuli. Now part of a Private Collection in the UK

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“Oxus Lady” with bird body. From Eastern Iran or Central Asia, Oxus Culture . Made of chlorite, limestone and lapis lazuli. Now part of a Private Collection in the UK

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A Maya trumpet made from conch shell and incised with hematite. From Peten in Guatemala, 4th–6th century CE, now housed at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia

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A Maya trumpet made from conch shell and incised with hematite. From Peten in Guatemala, 4th–6th century CE, now housed at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia

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A ceramic Maya vase from Guatemala, 600-800 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A ceramic Maya vase from Guatemala, 600-800 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A ceramic Maya vase with hunters and waterbirds. Probably from Guatemala, 600–900 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston

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A ceramic Maya vase with hunters and waterbirds. Probably from Guatemala, 600–900 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston

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A carnelian engraved seal of a Sasanian king. 200-400 CE, now part of the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait

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A carnelian engraved seal of a Sasanian king. 200-400 CE, now part of the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait

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A codex-style ceramic plate decorated with the Maya death god Cizin wearing a turtle shell. From northern Petén in Guatemala or southeastern Campeche in Mexico, 600-900 CE, sold in 2019 at Binoche & Giquello in Paris

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A codex-style ceramic plate decorated with the Maya death god Cizin wearing a turtle shell. From northern Petén in Guatemala or southeastern Campeche in Mexico, 600-900 CE, sold in 2019 at Binoche & Giquello in Paris

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This two-part Maya vessel is made of slip-painted ceramic and features the form of what appears to be an armadillo with a human-like face. From Petén in Guatemala, 300-600 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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This two-part Maya vessel is made of slip-painted ceramic and features the form of what appears to be an armadillo with a human-like face. From Petén in Guatemala, 300-600 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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A Mughal pendant of white nephrite jade set with rubies and emeralds in gold, and with a pendent emerald bead. Made in India in c. 1610-1620 CE, now part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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A Mughal pendant of white nephrite jade set with rubies and emeralds in gold, and with a pendent emerald bead. Made in India in c. 1610-1620 CE, now part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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1,700-year-old Maya jade mosaic mask discovered in a royal tomb at the ancient site of Chochkitam in Petén, Guatemala. approximately 350 C.E.

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1,700-year-old Maya jade mosaic mask discovered in a royal tomb at the ancient site of Chochkitam in Petén, Guatemala. approximately 350 C.E.

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A jaguar mask made of green and black stone and shell, found in tomb 105 of Monte Albán in Mexico. 200-500 CE, now housed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

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A jaguar mask made of green and black stone and shell, found in tomb 105 of Monte Albán in Mexico. 200-500 CE, now housed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

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An 18th Century CE "Moulin à Parfums" made of gilded bronze and green opaline. Now part of the Courtoy Collection

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An 18th Century CE "Moulin à Parfums" made of gilded bronze and green opaline. Now part of the Courtoy Collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting the Ashinaga-tenaga . Now part of a private collection

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An 18th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke depicting the Ashinaga-tenaga . Now part of a private collection

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An old photo from 1935 showing a large stucco mask from the pyramid structure K-5 at the ancient Maya city of Piedras Negras in Guatemala. 600-850 CE

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An old photo from 1935 showing a large stucco mask from the pyramid structure K-5 at the ancient Maya city of Piedras Negras in Guatemala. 600-850 CE

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Panel with loaf of bread from a large floor mosaic for a residence, 2nd c AD. Excavated in Rome in 1823. Stone and mortar. Art Institute of Chicago collection

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Panel with loaf of bread from a large floor mosaic for a residence, 2nd c AD. Excavated in Rome in 1823. Stone and mortar. Art Institute of Chicago collection

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