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. A 1936 Olympic Stadium A 1936 Olympic Stadium This was passed down from my grandfather who was given it by a German family in exchange for coffee as they couldn’t get ... Contributed by Individual
  2. A green and white swirled glass beaker A green and white swirled glass beaker It’s interesting that an ordinary working class family could own a piece of Italian glassware in the 1920s. Contributed by Individual
  3. Sculpture of Huastec goddess Sculpture of Huastec goddess Sculpture of a goddess made by the Huastec people of Mexico, associated with the Aztec goddess of sexuality Contributed by The British Museum
  4. Gold coin of Abd al-Malik Gold coin of Abd al-Malik Early Islamic coin, one of the first to show text from the Qur'an rather than use an image of the ruler Contributed by The British Museum
  5. Robertson's jam advertising and promotio Robertson's jam advertising and promotio Harking back to a politically incorrect time when the image of 'Golly' was used. Robertson's was a major employer in ... Contributed by Individual
  6. Soldier's pay book Soldier's pay book This detailed pay but also next of kin info and a last will and testament. Clothes sizes were also included. Contributed by Individual
  7. Soldier's pass Soldier's pass A typical soldier pass from 1940. Contributed by Individual
  8. POW objects from Ceylon POW objects from Ceylon Prisoners developed skills in leather and metal work. Contributed by Individual
  9. Silver purse Silver purse This is pure silver, hallmarked and was passed down through the family. Contributed by Individual
  10. Pot Pot My mother was very fond of this pot. It has no markings. I used to look at the picture of the thatched cottage and ... Contributed by Individual
  11. Pipe Pipe This belongs to my husband. It was in his mother's drawer and he didn’t know anything about it. It looks like it’s ... Contributed by Individual
  12. Moorcroft vase Moorcroft vase It was my nana's - given to her on her wedding day on 25th May 1942. It was delivered on the day by 'Little John ... Contributed by Individual
  13. Porcelain tea cup Porcelain tea cup Made for the European market. Contributed by Individual
  14. Muzzle loading double barrelled big game Muzzle loading double barrelled big game Made by the Birmingham trade for export to South Africa. It then found its way to India and returned to this country in ... Contributed by Individual
  15. Book of Common Prayer Book of Common Prayer Probably, with the King James Bible, one of the most influential written books in the history of this country. Wherever ... Contributed by Individual
  16. WW2 dagger WW2 dagger A Luftwaffe officer's dagger. My grandad worked in Germany after the war looking after horses. This was given to him by ... Contributed by Individual
  17. Victorian ring Victorian ring My husband gave this to me as an engagement ring. I think it’s from the Chester 'assay' office, which no longer exists. Contributed by Individual
  18. Painting of West Hartlepool Painting of West Hartlepool West Hartlepool was founded in 1847 as industry started to spread out of Hartlepool towards the newly erected docks. ... Contributed by Museum
  19. Brooch Brooch This brooch belonged to my grandma and was passed down to my mother. I have a photo of her wearing the brooch. Contributed by Individual
  20. Namestone Namestone This namestone is the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of a gravestone or other memorial to the dead. Although they contain ... Contributed by Museum
  21. Costume jewellery Costume jewellery This is silver costume jewellery made at the beginning of the 20th Century and bought by mum at an auction in Greenwich. Contributed by Individual
  22. Punch and Judy Puppets Punch and Judy Puppets Punch and Judy puppets from a Victorian set. Each professor (pupeteer)made his own puppets.It was traditional for the ... Contributed by Individual
  23. Toy paddle steamer Toy paddle steamer This was made in Warrington by my great grandad's dad when he was five. This is the kind of toy people used to play ... Contributed by Individual
  24. Belgian ID Card Belgian ID Card My family was born in the East End of London and went to Antwerp, Belgium. They were evacuated by the British Consul ... Contributed by Individual
  25. Georgian tea caddy spoon Georgian tea caddy spoon Made by Cox & Betteridge and bought from an antiques shop in Worcestershire in 1974. Contributed by Individual
  26. Cameo brooch Cameo brooch I used to see my mother wear this on special occasions like weddings. She kept it in a safe place and passed it down ... Contributed by Individual
  27. Long sea service flintlock pistol Long sea service flintlock pistol This item evidences the simple technology of the early 19th Century and shows that military weapons of this period ... Contributed by Individual
  28. POW objects from Ceylon POW objects from Ceylon A soldier's release book detailing his medical record and record of payment. It also entitles the holder to ... Contributed by Individual
  29. Brass fireplace ornament Brass fireplace ornament A brass fireplace ornament from the north of Germany. Contributed by Individual
  30. Tile from the Alhambra Palace Tile from the Alhambra Palace This object was featured on the BBC Radio Wales religious affairs programme "All Things Considered" on behalf of ... Contributed by Individual
  31. St Dunstan Stole St Dunstan Stole This object was featured on the BBC Radio Wales religious affairs programme "All Things Considered" on behalf of ... Contributed by Individual
  32. Praying Hands Praying Hands This object was featured on the BBC Radio Wales religious affairs programme "All Things Considered" by the presenter, ... Contributed by Individual
  33. Clay figure Clay figure This object was featured on the BBC Radio Wales religious affairs programme "All Things Considered" on behalf of writer ... Contributed by Individual
  34. The Hartlepool Merman The Hartlepool Merman Mermen, and mermaids, became popular as tourist souvineers as in the late 1800s and were traditionally made in China. ... Contributed by Museum
  35. Lothair Crystal Lothair Crystal Crystal engraved with images from the Biblical story of Susanna, made for the Medieval King Lothair Contributed by The British Museum
  36. Chinese export porcelain saucer Chinese export porcelain saucer This saucer was collected by Mr Andrew Franklin, a career diplomat, whose time in China and Taiwan bred a life-long ... Contributed by Museum
  37. Mummified Cat's Head Mummified Cat's Head This Egyptian mummified cat's head is part of the Market Harborough Historical Society's Collection which is on display ... Contributed by Museum
  38. Chinese tripod censer Chinese tripod censer Our appreciation of objects is a strange and variable history in itself. The celadon glazed wares from the kilns of ... Contributed by Museum
  39. Palestinian Robe Palestinian Robe This beautiful robe is a woman’s dress, known as thob, and is made of a cotton and silk mixture striped in red, orange, ... Contributed by Museum
  40. Roman Republican Denarius Coin Roman Republican Denarius Coin This Roman silver denarius coin was one of 5294 British Iron Age and Roman coins excavated at a Late Iron Age shrine ... Contributed by Museum
  41. Silk princess painting Silk princess painting Painting from central Asia showing the legend of a princess who smuggled the secret of how to make silk out of China Contributed by The British Museum
  42. North American otter pipe North American otter pipe Pipe for ritual tobacco-smoking made by Native American farmers living in what is today the US state of Ohio Contributed by The British Museum
  43. Warren Cup Warren Cup Silver cup used at Roman dinner parties decorated with pairs of male lovers, scenes not uncommon in Ancient Rome Contributed by The British Museum
  44. Head of Augustus Head of Augustus Head of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, originally part of a statue in Egypt that was decapitated and buried in Sudan Contributed by The British Museum
  45. Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone Ancient Egyptian stela with text in Greek, hieroglyphs and demotic, which allowed modern scholars to read hieroglyphs Contributed by The British Museum
  46. Pillar of Ashoka Pillar of Ashoka Inscription from a pillar erected by Ashoka, ruler of an Empire that covered most of the Indian subcontinent Contributed by The British Museum
  47. Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy Icon of the Triumph of Orthodoxy Christian icon showing the Triumph of Orthodoxy, when religious art became accepted by the Byzantine church Contributed by The British Museum
  48. Seated Buddha from Gandhara Seated Buddha from Gandhara One of the earliest images of the Buddha, seated and in an enlightened state, his posture shows he is teaching Contributed by The British Museum
  49. Ceremonial ballgame belt Ceremonial ballgame belt Stone version of a belt worn by players of a ball game, a popular sport in Mexico and Central America Contributed by The British Museum
  50. Donkey Harness Donkey Harness Birmingham Museum is unusual for a regional museum in having a major collection of European folk art. This donkey ... Contributed by Museum