List of Objects

Telling a history of our world through objects

Click on the titles in the blue bar below [Location, Theme, Contributor Type, etc.] and then choose a category to see a list of objects - e.g. click Theme and then click War. (All objects have been classified by their contributor.)

You can also chose to see objects from a particular time period by clicking on the dates in the box below.

To start again and see all the objects, click this link: Start again

Time Periods

  1. W.W.1 Rosary W.W.1 Rosary This rosary, made from irregular chips of some type of polished white stone, was given to me in 1953 by Miley Robson, ... Contributed by Individual
  2. Notice of prisoner of war (Japanese) Notice of prisoner of war (Japanese) This is a letter from the Royal Engineer's office in Brighton, notifying my grandmother that her son, Sapper Alfred ... Contributed by Individual
  3. Embroidered badge: Royal Engineers Embroidered badge: Royal Engineers My father, George William McQueen, injured his arm during the war. He damaged the tendons in his right arm and was ... Contributed by Individual
  4. Ancient Greek coin Ancient Greek coin My father found this object as a small boy.He was playing with friends near his home,a small hamlet of a few houses and ... Contributed by Individual
  5. A gift from Queen Victoria to her troops A gift from Queen Victoria to her troops This is a chocolate tin given by Queen Victoria to her troops for the New Year/New Century. This particular one was ... Contributed by Individual
  6. Harrison's watch No 4 Harrison's watch No 4 Chronometer H4 was the first practical timepiece to ensure the accurate calculation of longitude. Without it, the ... Contributed by Individual
  7. R.A.F. Pilot's Log Book R.A.F. Pilot's Log Book My uncle, Flying Officer Henry THWAITE, was stationed at Thornaby in 220 Sqn. R.A.F. Coastal Command. When piloting a ... Contributed by Individual
  8. A carving of a pelican wounding itself A carving of a pelican wounding itself The pelican became a symbol of Christian redemption in the middle ages. I don't know quite how old this pelican is, it ... Contributed by Individual
  9. Nazi typewriter by Mars Buromaschinen Nazi typewriter by Mars Buromaschinen Nazi typewriter by Mars Buromaschinen, Berlin circa 1935-40 This was 'liberated' by my late father, Percy Reynolds. ... Contributed by Individual
  10. Indian Elephant Bell Indian Elephant Bell The object I have chosen is an Elephant bell from India. It was my Grandfather’s, pictured here, who, with his family ... Contributed by Individual
  11. Presentation clock Coronation 1937 Presentation clock Coronation 1937 This is a typical clock from this time with its curved wooden shape; it was bought by the neighbours of a cul-de-sac in ... Contributed by Individual
  12. Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Couch Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Couch Sigmund Freud's couch is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture in the world. Given to the founder of ... Contributed by Museum
  13. Shakespeare First Folio Shakespeare First Folio In 1623, seven years after William Shakespeare’s death, a compilation of 36 of his plays were published together in one ... Contributed by Museum
  14. Freud's Chair Freud's Chair Visitors to Freud's study are intrigued by the armchair behind the desk. Its sculptural curves and rounded headrest are ... Contributed by Museum
  15. Queen Victoria's Scissors Queen Victoria's Scissors These were made by hand, each blade from single piece of Sheffield, crucible, carbon-steel. The blades hand-forged, the ... Contributed by Individual
  16. A chinese embrodered silk robe A chinese embrodered silk robe Great-grandfather was RSM in Indian Army and posted to China in late 1800s. He returned with selection of items taken ... Contributed by Individual
  17. Grace Darling - 1st media celebrity Grace Darling - 1st media celebrity GRACE DARLING’s illusionary celebrity portrait – the origins of the cult of CELEBRITY and emergence of WOMEN from ... Contributed by Individual
  18. Mussolini's Hat Mussolini's Hat My father served in the Royal Marines in World War II. He took part in the invasion of Sicily and mainland Italy. Whilst ... Contributed by Individual
  19. Silver Dollar recovered after 9/11 Silver Dollar recovered after 9/11 My object is an American Silver Dollar, often called a Silver Eagle. This is a pure silver bullion coin weighing one ... Contributed by Individual
  20. Silver Dollar recovered after 9/11 Silver Dollar recovered after 9/11 My object is an American Silver Dollar, often called a Silver Eagle. This is a pure silver bullion coin weighing one ... Contributed by Individual
  21. My grandfather's WW1 medals My grandfather's WW1 medals I am looking at my grandfather’s medals from the First World War. They include the DSO, the Japanese Order of the ... Contributed by Individual
  22. 78 RPM Record featuring Adolf Hitler 78 RPM Record featuring Adolf Hitler It came from my father -a german POW who lives in England he found it amongst his late mothers personal effects.His ... Contributed by Individual
  23. US flag from WW1 US flag from WW1 This is the United States flag that draped the coffin of my Great Uncle Mahlon Wallace when his body was repatriated to ... Contributed by Individual
  24. Gang Show sheet music Gang Show sheet music “Go! Go! Go! Go! All systems go!� - the stirring opening to sheet music co-written in 1963 by my father, Frank Hassell, ... Contributed by Individual
  25. Victorian Telegraph Pole Finial Victorian Telegraph Pole Finial In contrast to today, this object represents the height of the Victorian age and the wealth of the empire upon which the ... Contributed by Individual
  26. Dunkirk evacuation congratulatory letter Dunkirk evacuation congratulatory letter This letter from Pickfords Limited was sent to Captain Ashley Brown, Master of the Chamois, thanking him for his part in ... Contributed by Individual
  27. A pair of wooden napkin rings A pair of wooden napkin rings My father Harry Cardwell, was in the Middle East during the Second World War. At sometime between 1942 and 1945 he ... Contributed by Individual
  28. Traditional clinker built wooden dinghy Traditional clinker built wooden dinghy Boats are the single most important objects in the history of the world, bringing migrants, spreading civilisations, ... Contributed by Individual
  29. Greenham Common fence wire Greenham Common fence wire This piece of wire was cut from the fence at Greenham Common air base during the anti-Cruise missile protests in the ... Contributed by Individual
  30. The AVO Multimeter The AVO Multimeter This after its first introduction became the primary test equipment for all Electrical and Radio engineers. It was by ... Contributed by Individual
  31. RAF 'Pilot' doll mascot WW2 SOE RAF 'Pilot' doll mascot WW2 SOE These dolls were made by WAAF's using RAF wool and were given to friends/boyfiends etc. This one spent it's wartime ... Contributed by Individual
  32. silver teapot silver teapot This teapot belonged to my Grandmother. It started it's life in Germany about 1870. The tea service it was part of ... Contributed by Individual
  33. Supreme Projector, Keystone MFG. Co. Supreme Projector, Keystone MFG. Co. As a small boy, my dad walked with my granddad into Walsall to buy the latest gadget – a home movie projector – and ... Contributed by Individual
  34. Checkpoint Charlie Passport Stamp Checkpoint Charlie Passport Stamp As an 18 year old I visited West Berlin, then a Western enclave in communist East Germany. Although I knew that the ... Contributed by Individual
  35. Attempted flight round the world 1924 Attempted flight round the world 1924 This model is of the Vickers Vulture amphibian aeroplane, presented to my grandfather, Squadron Leader Stuart-MacLaren, ... Contributed by Individual
  36. 11c depiction of English village 11c depiction of English village A cartulary dated 1444 was produced for Edmund Rede of Boarstall in Buckinghamshire. We are descendants of Edmund. ... Contributed by Individual
  37. A folding chair my father made A folding chair my father made I have been using this chair since my childhood; the only piece of furniture made by my father I brought with me to ... Contributed by Individual
  38. Long case clock Long case clock In the mid-19th century Benjamin Disraeli bought a long-case (Grandfather) clock from George Strange, ironmonger of ... Contributed by Individual
  39. Long case clock Long case clock In the mid-19th century Benjamin Disraeli bought a long-case (Grandfather) clock from George Strange, ironmonger of ... Contributed by Individual
  40. Long case clock Long case clock In the mid-19th century Benjamin Disraeli bought a long-case (Grandfather) clock from George Strange, ironmonger of ... Contributed by Individual
  41. Reckitts Reps Dinner Menu Cards 1934 Reckitts Reps Dinner Menu Cards 1934 Reckitt & Sons Hull Metal menu card for the Representatives Dinner dated 6th july 1934. This one is contained inside a ... Contributed by Individual
  42. Hand carved (oak) paper knife Hand carved (oak) paper knife I was an impoverished Literature student in Sheffield in 1984 and was browsing the junk shops for a birthday present for ... Contributed by Individual
  43. Martyr's Well Memorial Applique Cawnpore Martyr's Well Memorial Applique Cawnpore From 1940 to 1945 I lived in a colonial bungalow in Cawnpore, now Kanpur. Our compound bordered the Martyr's Well into ... Contributed by Individual
  44. Grandmother's diamond ring Grandmother's diamond ring The platinum and diamond ring belonged to my husband's grandmother, Lily Friedlander. Her husband Willie owned a jewelry ... Contributed by Individual
  45. Circus horse-brass. Circus horse-brass. The entertainment and artform of the modern circus began in what is now London's Waterloo district in 1768, when Philip ... Contributed by Individual
  46. Letter dated 1771 Letter dated 1771 This letter dated 20th July 1771 was written by my great-great-great-great grandfather John Allen to his father William ... Contributed by Individual
  47. Joseph Chamberlain souvenir notebook Joseph Chamberlain souvenir notebook In 1907, whilst he was living in South Africa, this notebook was given to my grandfather, Harley Firman, following the ... Contributed by Individual
  48. Enamel Bread Bin Enamel Bread Bin This bread bin has been in my family since 1945. My parents (both from the former Czechoslovakia) got married in May ... Contributed by Individual
  49. Suffragette memorabilia - arrest warrant Suffragette memorabilia - arrest warrant My great grandmother, Alice Hawkins, was a suffragette a 100 years ago and was first arrested outside the Houses of ... Contributed by Individual
  50. cast iron medical column scales cast iron medical column scales These old scales came from my grandfather's surgery in Budapest, Hungary, and later stood in the bathroom of my parents' ... Contributed by Individual