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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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Muhammad leading Jesus, Moses, and Abraham in prayer. Miniature from a medieval Persian book created in Shiraz, housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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Muhammad leading Jesus, Moses, and Abraham in prayer. Miniature from a medieval Persian book created in Shiraz, housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A mid 18th century CE desk and bookcase from Mexico, made of inlaid woods and incised and painted bone, maque, gold and polychrome paint, and metal hardware. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A mid 18th century CE desk and bookcase from Mexico, made of inlaid woods and incised and painted bone, maque, gold and polychrome paint, and metal hardware. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A Chancay collar made of spondylus shell beads, from Peru, 1300–1450 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas

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A Chancay collar made of spondylus shell beads, from Peru, 1300–1450 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas

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A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

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A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

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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 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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A blue-green faience round cosmetic box with crouching frog on swinging lid. From Egypt, 600–500 BCE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A blue-green faience round cosmetic box with crouching frog on swinging lid. From Egypt, 600–500 BCE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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A gold ewer decorated with a dragon and lion playing with a ball, Ming dynasty, 1601 CE, now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xian, China

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A Nubian necklace from Sudan, 50–320 CE. Mqde of carnelian, travertine , and obsidian. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A Nubian necklace from Sudan, 50–320 CE. Mqde of carnelian, travertine , and obsidian. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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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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Japanese woodblock print “Kidomaru seated cross-legged on the head of a giant python, learning magic from the tengu”, made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1840 CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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Japanese woodblock print “Kidomaru seated cross-legged on the head of a giant python, learning magic from the tengu”, made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in 1840 CE. Now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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Dagger with double-edged watered steel blade and white nephrite jade pommel in the form of a horse's head. India, mid 17th c. Loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, from the Al-Sahah Collection, Kuwait

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Dagger with double-edged watered steel blade and white nephrite jade pommel in the form of a horse's head. India, mid 17th c. Loaned to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, from the Al-Sahah Collection, Kuwait

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A Chimú ceremonial costume made of cotton and camelid fibers. From Peru, 1320-1440 CE, now housed at the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Santiago

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A Chimú ceremonial costume made of cotton and camelid fibers. From Peru, 1320-1440 CE, now housed at the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Santiago

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Some of the collection of gold ornaments and vessels, made during the Ming Dynasty , and now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi'an, China

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Some of the collection of gold ornaments and vessels, made during the Ming Dynasty , and now housed at the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi'an, 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 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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A 7th century CE bronze ewer with a feline-shaped handle, from Iran, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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A 7th century CE bronze ewer with a feline-shaped handle, from Iran, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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Woodblock prints depicting tanukis using their large scrotums for fishing in the river , and for weightlifting . From Japan, made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi , now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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Woodblock prints depicting tanukis using their large scrotums for fishing in the river , and for weightlifting . From Japan, made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi , now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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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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