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The 17th century CE Safavid Wagner Garden Carpet made in Kirman, Iran. The garden design on this carpet is crammed with shrubs and trees, animals and birds intersected by water channels and a pool full of fish and ducks. Now part of the The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Scotland

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The 17th century CE Safavid Wagner Garden Carpet made in Kirman, Iran. The garden design on this carpet is crammed with shrubs and trees, animals and birds intersected by water channels and a pool full of fish and ducks. Now part of the The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, Scotland

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This blown flacon was mounted so that it became part of a horse-like animal made of pinched glass. Made probably in Syria in the 7th-9th century CE, it's now part of the David Collection in Copenhagen, Denmark

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This blown flacon was mounted so that it became part of a horse-like animal made of pinched glass. Made probably in Syria in the 7th-9th century CE, it's now part of the David Collection in Copenhagen, Denmark

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A Safavid medallion and animal carpet from Iran. 16th-17th century CE, wool pile on cotton, wool, and silk foundation, now housed at the Miho Museum in Japan

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A Safavid medallion and animal carpet from Iran. 16th-17th century CE, wool pile on cotton, wool, and silk foundation, now housed at the Miho Museum in Japan

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An akome with small hollyhock and fusenryō roundel design on yellow-green ground. Ca. 1390 CE, now part of the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine Collection in Japan

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An akome with small hollyhock and fusenryō roundel design on yellow-green ground. Ca. 1390 CE, now part of the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine Collection in Japan

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Pink silk faille shoes, late 19th century. Made by Gartrell / Rue St. Honoré No. 359 / Paris, these stylish boots are trimmed with lace and have embossed pewter buttons. From the collections of the Charleston Museum,South Carolina.

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Pink silk faille shoes, late 19th century. Made by Gartrell / Rue St. Honoré No. 359 / Paris, these stylish boots are trimmed with lace and have embossed pewter buttons. From the collections of the Charleston Museum,South Carolina.

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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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Bouquet of porcelain flowers from Vincennes, in France, made prior to 1749 CE by Jean-Claude Chambellan and Claude le Boitteux. Now it's part of the Dresden Porcelain Collection at the Zwinger Palace in Germany

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Bouquet of porcelain flowers from Vincennes, in France, made prior to 1749 CE by Jean-Claude Chambellan and Claude le Boitteux. Now it's part of the Dresden Porcelain Collection at the Zwinger Palace in Germany

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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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Polish eagle with a garnet body. Poland, 2nd quarter of the 17th century, enamel on gold, garnet, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Commissioned by King Władysław IV of Poland. In the collection of Louvre Museum.

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Polish eagle with a garnet body. Poland, 2nd quarter of the 17th century, enamel on gold, garnet, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Commissioned by King Władysław IV of Poland. In the collection of Louvre Museum.

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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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The Powhatan’s Mantle, at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, is made of 4 deerskins trimmed, stitched together with sinew, and decorated with 20,000 polished discs of shell depicting a standing figure flanked by 2 opposed animals. Early 17th century CE, Powhatan people, North America

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The Powhatan’s Mantle, at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, is made of 4 deerskins trimmed, stitched together with sinew, and decorated with 20,000 polished discs of shell depicting a standing figure flanked by 2 opposed animals. Early 17th century CE, Powhatan people, North America

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An early 17th century CE Dehua porcelain figure of an immortal with deer and crane. Made by He Chaozong, now housed at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China

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An early 17th century CE Dehua porcelain figure of an immortal with deer and crane. Made by He Chaozong, now housed at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China

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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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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 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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A Safavid illuminated colophon from the Firdawsi's "Shahnama" with poetry and illumination in the margins. Made by Muhammad al-Qiwam al-Shirazi and Taj al-Din Haydar al-Shirazi in Shiraz, Iran. 1562–1583 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A Safavid illuminated colophon from the Firdawsi's "Shahnama" with poetry and illumination in the margins. Made by Muhammad al-Qiwam al-Shirazi and Taj al-Din Haydar al-Shirazi in Shiraz, Iran. 1562–1583 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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"Witches Going to Their Sabbath" is a painting created in 1878 CE by Luis Ricardo Falero. It depicts a scene of witches flying to a sabbath, a nocturnal gathering traditionally associated with witchcraft. Now part of a private collection

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"Witches Going to Their Sabbath" is a painting created in 1878 CE by Luis Ricardo Falero. It depicts a scene of witches flying to a sabbath, a nocturnal gathering traditionally associated with witchcraft. Now part of a private collection

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Okimono, decorative object made of metal and crystal glass spheres, Japan, 19th century CE. Currently in the collection of Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in England

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Okimono, decorative object made of metal and crystal glass spheres, Japan, 19th century CE. Currently in the collection of Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in England

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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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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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