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. Skeleton painting c.1820 Skeleton painting c.1820 As organisations operating on the fringe of the law, trade societies enforced secrecy to exclude employers and ... Contributed by Museum
  2. Ipswich Dockers’ Union banner c.1900 Ipswich Dockers’ Union banner c.1900 This banner was made for the Ipswich branch of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers’ Union. The Union ... Contributed by Museum
  3. Stained glass window Stained glass window Stained glass window from the Socialist Institute, Vernon Street, Nelson, Lancashire; This window was commissioned by ... Contributed by Museum
  4. Roman Peacock Belt Buckle Roman Peacock Belt Buckle This bronze belt buckle was found by Rugby Archaeological Society during excavations on the Roman town of Tripontium ... Contributed by Museum
  5. The Becket illumination The Becket illumination Cartoon frieze showing the murder of Thomas Becket, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and medieval book illumination. Contributed by Museum
  6. Norman carving of a dog chasing its tail Norman carving of a dog chasing its tail Excavated in Canterbury in the 1980s, this carving may have been part of the early decoration of the Cathedral... Contributed by Museum
  7. Ripple Flaked Arrowhead Ripple Flaked Arrowhead This is a special piece, probably owned by a rich powerful individual. Made in Yorkshire and ended up in Galloway ... Contributed by Museum
  8. Bronze Flat Axe Bronze Flat Axe This flat axe was found at Boreland Farm, Inch, Stranraer, these kind of axes are some of the earliest examples of metal ... Contributed by Museum
  9. Food Vessel Food Vessel This vessel was found in a burial chamber. It was most likely filled with food or drink for the afterlife. There has ... Contributed by Museum
  10. Butter or 'Scotch' Hands Butter or 'Scotch' Hands These wooden hands would have been used to work, shape and decorate butter. These were found at Bishopton Farm, ... Contributed by Museum
  11. Butter Churn Butter Churn It makes you think how easy life can be now when there are so many machines to help us with manual tasks. Contributed by Museum
  12. The David Vases The David Vases Chinese blue-and-white porcelain vases, early examples of this popular style traded across the Middle East and Europe Contributed by The British Museum
  13. Candlelight, to extend the useful day Candlelight, to extend the useful day By burning candles, the length of the ‘useful’ day could be extended. In the 18th Century, a tax was imposed on the ... Contributed by Individual
  14. Sacred human femur trumpet Sacred human femur trumpet This is a human femur which has been converted into a trumpet. Contributed by Individual
  15. Decorative vase Decorative vase This piece originally had a lid. I won it in a raffle at Ashbourne. Contributed by Individual
  16. Silver money box Silver money box Pictures and the rhyme of the Three Blind Mice can be seen around the edges of the box. It originally belonged to my ... Contributed by Individual
  17. Pug dog ornaments Pug dog ornaments These ceramic pugs were inherited from my husband's grandparents. In competition, Germans showed different breeds to ... Contributed by Individual
  18. My Auntie Martha's chest surf board. My Auntie Martha's chest surf board. When my Auntie Martha died in 1970, and all the antiques and valuables had been taken away, it was left to me to clear ... Contributed by Individual
  19. Needle Needle This object was found during excavations on the Bordesley Abbey site. Contributed by Museum
  20. King's head whittle-tang knife King's head whittle-tang knife This whittle-tang knife from the late 12th or early 13th century has the unusual feature of a quality bone handle carved ... Contributed by Museum
  21. Sheldon Tapestry: Judith & Holofernes Sheldon Tapestry: Judith & Holofernes It is thought this tapestry was made some time between 1575 and 1600. The tapestry depicts Judith holding the head of ... Contributed by Museum
  22. Lithographs of Chatsworth Lithographs of Chatsworth A group of five different pictures of Chatsworth including a picture of the main house; Edensor village; the grave of ... Contributed by Individual
  23. Copy of a Rubens painting Copy of a Rubens painting A copy of 'The Disembarcation of Marie De' Medici at the Port of Marseilles". Contributed by Individual
  24. Coronation items Coronation items Woven coronation items made by J&J Cash in Coventry. The owner's father was the chief designer and artist. Contributed by Individual
  25. Ptah Sokar Osiris Ptah Sokar Osiris Funerary goods accompanied loved ones into the afterlife - they were very concerned about their happiness. Contributed by Individual
  26. Train set Train set This is a mechanised train set that hadn’t been put together before today! I inherited the set from my father. Contributed by Individual
  27. Presentation stick Presentation stick I bought this Ancient Order of Freemasons or Ancient Order of Foresters presentation stick on eBay in 2009. Contributed by Individual
  28. Hand bell Hand bell This domestic style hand bell was presented to the station master at Whatstandwell by Florence Nightingale. The station ... Contributed by Individual
  29. Boer War medal Boer War medal This medal has been handed down through the family from Corporal RL Harrison. He fought in the Wittenbergen, Transvaal ... Contributed by Individual
  30. Uniform badges WW2 Uniform badges WW2 These belonged to my great uncle who was a surveyor attached to the Royal Artillery. Contributed by Individual
  31. WW2 cigarette tins WW2 cigarette tins I inherited these cigarette tins from my great-uncle. He picked them up off the back of a British army truck on the way ... Contributed by Individual
  32. Japanese clock Japanese clock This is a rare clock from Japan with a calendar, barometer and thermometer. Contributed by Individual
  33. WW2 painting WW2 painting This painting gives a chronological history of the Dunkerque evacuation. It was painted for the original owner by ... Contributed by Individual
  34. Watercolour of Blackeney Point Watercolour of Blackeney Point This watercolour of Blakeney Point by Thomas Henry Fisher was given to my mother by his daughter. The artist was born in ... Contributed by Individual
  35. China half timbered house China half timbered house I bought this china half timbered house in a flea market. It is labelled Mermaid - a china house in Tudor style. It ... Contributed by Individual
  36. Watercolour Watercolour I purchased this watercolour by Sheffield artist Frank Salfeet at a local antique shop. Contributed by Individual
  37. Watercolour painting Watercolour painting I purchased this watercolour paintings by Francis Edward James at an auction in Buxton for £3. Contributed by Individual
  38. Chinese export wear Chinese export wear I inherited this object from my grandparents. It is Chinese export wear and was probably used for candles or potpourri. Contributed by Individual
  39. Two Japanese figurines Two Japanese figurines I bought these figurines in Kyoto in a small antique shop outside the Imperial palace. They tell us something about the ... Contributed by Individual
  40. Child's stick chair Child's stick chair I bought this chair in Harrogate about forty years ago. It would have been made by a father for his child. The arms are ... Contributed by Individual
  41. John Entwistle's bass guitar John Entwistle's bass guitar This was one of John Entwistle's bass guitars. It is an important marker in the advancement of the manufacture of the ... Contributed by Individual
  42. Cutlery Cutlery My mother's aunt won this silver, strawberry cutlery set in a cycling competition. It consists of a sugar sifter, tongs ... Contributed by Individual
  43. Masonic memorabilia Masonic memorabilia I inherited this collection of Masonic memorabilia. The apron belonged to my granddad who was a grand master and the ... Contributed by Individual
  44. Washstand Washstand This is a high quality washstand that would have been common in the bedrooms of stately homes such as Chatsworth. It ... Contributed by Individual
  45. Painting Painting I inherited this portrait of my great grandfather Alderman Fredrick Todd who was Chairman of the Manchester Art ... Contributed by Individual
  46. Shepherd and shepherdess Shepherd and shepherdess The shepherdess belonged to my grandmother and the shepherd was purchased in the 1960s to match. These figures were ... Contributed by Individual
  47. Wedding dress Wedding dress This wedding dress is a family heirloom. It was made in Burton-on-Trent possibly for one of the brewing families as the ... Contributed by Individual
  48. Brass box Brass box This Celtic revival brass box is decorated with stylised horses and birds on a pierced white metal band. I bought it in ... Contributed by Individual
  49. Queen Victoria's silk stockings Queen Victoria's silk stockings Queen Victoria was quite careful with her money so it is thought she sent this pair of stockings back to the factory to ... Contributed by Individual
  50. Deeds to Clay Cross building society Deeds to Clay Cross building society These Deeds to Clay Cross building society were found in a skip by a former chairman. They are signed by Charles Baines, ... Contributed by Individual