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
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Short mercury delay tube
This is part of LEO 1, the world's first business computer produced by J Lyons to mechanise their invoicing. It was ...
Contributed by Individual
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Gypsy caravan and horse
These were made for Victoria's children at Osborne House.
Contributed by Individual
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Doctor's bag
I used to be a nurse and have always been interested in the medical profession - this was bought at an auction. Some of ...
Contributed by Individual
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Elvis record
I received this as a gift 10 years ago: it was released when Elvis was at the peak of his career. Tracks include ...
Contributed by Individual
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Neolithic flints found in Derbyshire
These flints were collected by John Leonard Waterhouse between 1920 and 1940. Most of these flints are scraping tools ...
Contributed by Museum
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Button holer
This item is associated with fashion, homemade clothes and personal use.
Contributed by Individual
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German musical dolly
A children's toy that makes music and spins around on its stick. I acquired it from my parents - my mum used to play it ...
Contributed by Individual
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Lionel Lines train set
Made in the 1930s by the Lionel corporation, USA. It’s an American Flyer train set that runs on three rail electrics.
Contributed by Individual
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Sewing machine
A Wilcocks & Gibbs machine made in New York. It’s an art nouveau, hand-operated portable machine.
Contributed by Individual
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Bust of Sir Billy Butlin
A bust of a man with a great rags to riches story. It was bought by the owner in a charity shop in Welwyn Garden City.
Contributed by Individual
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Serving platter
An example of the 'Daisy' style of the Late Meyers that was made for serving large pieces of meat.
Contributed by Individual
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Bust of Wellington
A commemorative piece made for the 1815 war.
Contributed by Individual
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Four grain measures
I inherited these from my grandfather who was a hay and corn dealer. They show how measurement has changed for dry ...
Contributed by Individual
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Book of the road
Rudge motorcycles were amongst the finest of this period. These roadbooks were produced by several manufacturers, ...
Contributed by Individual
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Walnut containing photos
This item was bought in a charity shop 35 years ago and contains a roll of pictures of Sheffield.
Contributed by Individual
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Two ceramic plates
These are German majolica plates - the woman in the middle represents day. They belonged to my great-grandmother and ...
Contributed by Individual
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Siren Suit
This is a special item of clothing. It’s called a ‘Siren Suit’ because you could put it on when the air raid sirens ...
Contributed by Museum
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Generals Gordon & Kitchener in Sudan.
These spent bullets and cartridge cases come from an isolated desert battlefield in Northern Sudan where in 1898 the ...
Contributed by Individual
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Two small boxes made during WW2
This is a small box 96 x 70 x 20, one of two...made probably out of aluminium. These were made I think by a Russian ...
Contributed by Individual
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Silhouette
This silhouette is by M Forster Knight and depicts the season of summer. I have three others representing the other ...
Contributed by Individual
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Photographs
This Victorian photograph was donated to a charity shop and is a real insight into how we used to live. You can see ...
Contributed by Individual
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Miniature paintings
These are little pocket paintings with great detail. They were bought at an auction.
Contributed by Individual
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Bracelet
This belonged to my wife's mother who was from Cologne. It has been kept as a reminder of our German ancestry.
Contributed by Individual
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Brooch
This object belonged to the owner's mother.
Contributed by Individual
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Bowler hat
I bought this in an auction at Wilson & Peacock. Laurel and Hardy had one like this - this was Stan Laurel's and he was ...
Contributed by Individual
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Watercolours
These four watercolours were supposedly painted by the last Tsar of Russia while he was in an asylum. My uncle was the ...
Contributed by Individual
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Radiator cap
Marked as 'Made in England' this a very decorative cap and would have been used as a personal mascot. I bought it in an ...
Contributed by Individual
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Casket
The casket was given to my grandfather who worked in the mission field for the Methodist Church for 43 years.
Contributed by Individual
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Watch
This was given to one of my female ancestors as she was moving to Canada to marry a man in the Navy. He was a cabin boy ...
Contributed by Individual
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Wax doll
It is suggested by some that this was the first wax doll. She is in a dodgy costume because she has been in a safe for ...
Contributed by Individual
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An early Compound Microscope
The museum has a magnificent collection of microscopes including some fine examples of early compound microscopes such ...
Contributed by Museum
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Ale jug
The Foly Potteries' are marked on the underside of this jug.
Contributed by Individual
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Dame Nellie Melba’s Microphone
The museum has a wonderful collection of early radio apparatus include this historic example of an early microphone. ...
Contributed by Museum
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An English Table Orrery
This beautiful model of the solar system is an example of a type of instrument known as an ‘orrery’. It is made of wood, ...
Contributed by Museum
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Necklace and ring
These items are examples of jewellery being made from whatever resources are available.
Contributed by Individual
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The Wizard Earl’s Armillary Sphere
This magnificent armillary sphere stands in the centre of the museum’s top gallery. It was designed to show a model of ...
Contributed by Museum
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Aeroplane piece
This is a piece of the plane in which Vernon Castle was killed in Feb 1918. Vernon was born in Norwich (1887-1918) and ...
Contributed by Individual
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Queen Elizabeth I’s Astrolabe
The History of Science Museum in Oxford has one of the largest collections of astrolabes in the world and this is just ...
Contributed by Museum
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Newspaper Cutting
Bridge in Berlin named after uncle - Mrs. Harper
Contributed by Individual
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Rolls razor
I bought this for my father one Christmas when I got my first job in the 1950s. He never used it however, and it is ...
Contributed by Individual
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Period doll furniture set
I received these from my parents they are a classic example of very old children's toys.
Contributed by Individual
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Victorian Double Dolls Pram
Whilst at a local tip, I saw someone ready to dispose of this Victorian Double Dols Pram, having just purchased a ...
Contributed by Individual
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Pendant
I inherited this from my grandmother - it's a butterfly wing enamelled on silver.
Contributed by Individual
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Edward & Alexandra sculptures
These were given by Lord Salisbury to the University possibly in 1992. They were then presented by the University of ...
Contributed by Individual
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Silver jug
This beer jug is hallmarked Hunt & Roskell Late Storr & Mortimer. It was copied in the mid 1800s and adapted for hot ...
Contributed by Individual
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Tapa
This tapa was made from a paper mulberry tree. It was a gift to the family whilst they were living in Raratonga.
Contributed by Individual
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Mabel Lucie Attwell cards
Mabel Attwell was famous for her cheeky children paintings which were used in advertising e.g. LUX soaps. One famous ...
Contributed by Individual
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World War1-Labour Party Socialist Poster
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FOUR ORGINAL WORLD WAR ONE POSTERS OF POLITICAL TIMES FROM THE ERA OF SOCIALST LABOUR PARTY! ALTHOUGH ...
Contributed by Individual
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ARP First Aid box
A tin box first aid kit - inside are tourniquets, mine dressings and bandages. This shows the care provided for ...
Contributed by Individual
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Railway timetable
This is a Great Eastern railway passenger and goods train timetable. My father was given the book by the widow of a ...
Contributed by Individual