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.

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Time Periods

  1. Tin of Coffee from 1940s Tin of Coffee from 1940s This Home and Colonial tin contains vacuum-packed coffee and dates from the 1940s. It was found in the contributor’s ... Contributed by Individual
  2. Mechanical Clock from Bavaria Mechanical Clock from Bavaria The clock is known as a Postman’s Alarm. It is decorated with a painted hunting scene and dates from the 1840s. It ... Contributed by Individual
  3. Cigarette cards Cigarette cards These Players' cigarette cards date back to the 1930s. Each card features a caricature of a 'celebrity' of the day. ... Contributed by Individual
  4. WW2 Ceremonial Sword WW2 Ceremonial Sword This originates from Germany in the 1930s, and includes ‘trodels’. These would have been strapped around the wearer to ... Contributed by Individual
  5. Shuco Examico 4001 Model Car Shuco Examico 4001 Model Car Schoco made small clockwork cars. The Schuco Examico 4001 is a boxed miniature car and was first produced in 1936. It ... Contributed by Individual
  6. Mayo Composite Aircraft Mayo Composite Aircraft This was made in die cast metal by Dinky (the company was owned by Meccano), and shows one plane riding on the back of ... Contributed by Individual
  7. Apple Record Acetate Apple Record Acetate This is the only copy of the King of Fuh by Brute Force pressed in the United States, although 2,000 were made in the ... Contributed by Individual
  8. A Piece of Transatlantic Cable A Piece of Transatlantic Cable This was guaranteed by Tiffany & Co on Broadway, New York, in 1853. It was given to the contributor by his grandparents ... Contributed by Individual
  9. Tray from Hong Kong Tray from Hong Kong The contributor’s grandfather was in business in Hong Kong and this tray was presented to him to represent ‘business ... Contributed by Individual
  10. Illustrated London News Illustrated London News This is the Illustrated London News Record of the Glorious Reign of Queen Victoria, the life and accession of King ... Contributed by Individual
  11. A 21st Birthday Watch A 21st Birthday Watch This wrist watch, given to the contributor by his parents on his 21st birthday, is a classic design. Purchased during ... Contributed by Individual
  12. Two Pocket Watches Two Pocket Watches These watches are engraved with the initials of the relatives who owned them. The cases are carved and the worksmanship ... Contributed by Individual
  13. A Pocket Watch A Pocket Watch This watch is engraved with JM – the contributor’s grandfather was called Morton. The pocket watch was the key ... Contributed by Individual
  14. Indo-Persian Armour Indo-Persian Armour This armour comprises a dagger, a shield, an arm shield and a helmet. It is embossed with exquisite carving. It was ... Contributed by Individual
  15. Ornate Walking Stick Ornate Walking Stick The handle of this walking stick shows a female Atlas holding up an embossed globe and is made of brass. The globe is ... Contributed by Individual
  16. Japanese Walking Stick Japanese Walking Stick This beautifully carved walking stick is still in daily use by the contributor. At the top of the stick, you can see the ... Contributed by Individual
  17. A Snuff Box A Snuff Box This snuffbox dates from 1810, from Geneva, Switzerland. The enamel lid was painted in the manner of Jean-Louis Richter, ... Contributed by Individual
  18. Photography of a Publisher Photography of a Publisher This is a photo of the contributor’s great great grandfather, John Edward Taylor, proprietor and editor of the ... Contributed by Individual
  19. Prisoner of War Diary Prisoner of War Diary This was kept during captivity in a prisoner of war camp in Norway during World War One. The diary contains details of ... Contributed by Individual
  20. Elephant from the Caribbean Elephant from the Caribbean This elephant was brought back from the Caribbean by an aunt who travelled out to Curacao in the 1920s. She went out ... Contributed by Individual
  21. 1950s Ceramic Bowl 1950s Ceramic Bowl This is a piece of Carltonware, in the 1 ‘Orbit’ design that dates from 1957. It was a wedding present to the ... Contributed by Individual
  22. A Button-hole Watch A Button-hole Watch This Edwardian-style button hole watch was bought in a shop in Prague Castle. There is also a version in the Prague ... Contributed by Individual
  23. Hornby Train Set Hornby Train Set This trainset was produced in the 1950s, at the Hornby factory in Liverpool. The Hornby company made some iconic toys – ... Contributed by Individual
  24. A Thai Wall Hanging A Thai Wall Hanging This souvenir wall hanging hails from Thailand in SE Asia. It depicts scenes from ceremonial life, and would have been ... Contributed by Individual
  25. Shirley Temple Doll Shirley Temple Doll This doll has been made in the likeness of Shirley Temple, the American child film star from the 1930s. This shows how ... Contributed by Individual
  26. Key to Lexington, Kentucky Key to Lexington, Kentucky This key was presented to the first American to be presented with a congressional medal from Vietnam, and was awarded to ... Contributed by Individual
  27. Lady Hussey’s Riding Habit? Lady Hussey’s Riding Habit? This hunting jacket and skirt was made by Moss Bros, Covent Garden, London in the 1960s. The button through, wrap around ... Contributed by Individual
  28. Anti-aircraft shell nose-cone Anti-aircraft shell nose-cone Our Anti-aircraft shell nose-cone represents the part played world-wide by defences attempting to protect ciivilians ... Contributed by Museum
  29. Jenni Murray's pack of playing cards Jenni Murray's pack of playing cards Jenni Murray's object is a deck of cards which were specially made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woman'?s Hour in ... Contributed by Individual
  30. Bronze Age axe-head Bronze Age axe-head Our Bronze Age axe-head represents the part played by technology in providing the tools needed for everyday life. It is ... Contributed by Museum
  31. Roman pine cone and snake sculpture Roman pine cone and snake sculpture This sculpture tells us a lot about Roman ideas of death. The snake is a transformative symbol because it sheds its ... Contributed by Museum
  32. Guide to Liverpool, London & Paris GUION Guide to Liverpool, London & Paris GUION This is a Guide to Liverpool, London, and Paris published by GUION Line to aid passengers on their United States Mail ... Contributed by Individual
  33. A Time Machine clock A Time Machine clock bought by my late wife for our daughter. She loved it but found it to be too noisy when it was running. left it hidden ... Contributed by Individual
  34. Information Sign from Berlin Information Sign from Berlin In the early eughties I was Posted to serve in the Diplomatic Section of The British Military Government, Berlin. My ... Contributed by Individual
  35. A Large Wooden Fork A Large Wooden Fork This large wooden fork was possibly a barley fork or hop fork, and could date back as far as the 1800s. It’s evidence of ... Contributed by Individual
  36. Lighter made from shell casing Lighter made from shell casing This cigarette lighter was made from shell casing after World War Two, and was inherited from the contributor’s ... Contributed by Individual
  37. Pocket Watch from 1769 Pocket Watch from 1769 This watch dates from 1769 and was made in Oxfordshire. It was inherited from the contributor’s grandmother’s family. Contributed by Individual
  38. A watch from Le Cambre A watch from Le Cambre This gold pocket watch shows the style of watches that were popular before wristwatches took over in the early 20th ... Contributed by Individual
  39. Early 20th century doll Early 20th century doll Shows an early recognition that dolls should represent the wider community and races. It was made in Germany in the ... Contributed by Individual
  40. Ladies’ Fob Watch Ladies’ Fob Watch This fob watch was converted to a wrist watch, and was bought in Beverley around 40 years ago. Shows how jewellery can ... Contributed by Individual
  41. Wooden Grain Measure Wooden Grain Measure This is a wooden measure and was used to measure out a quarter of grain. This belonged to contributor’s great ... Contributed by Individual
  42. Silver Georgian Sugar Basket Silver Georgian Sugar Basket This Georgian sugar basket bears a hallmark from 1790 and includes a family crest. It was taken by a missionary to ... Contributed by Individual
  43. Stamps at Bhutan Stamps at Bhutan These stamps hail from Bhutan. They are to the value of an old 3d (2p) and commemorate the coronation of the King. They ... Contributed by Individual
  44. Artefacts made by POWs Artefacts made by POWs These were made by prisoners of war in World War One, at working camps in Pommerensdorf in Russia. The contributor’s ... Contributed by Individual
  45. Victorian Wedding Dress Victorian Wedding Dress This is a Victorian wedding dress and dates from the 1840s. It’s a family heirloom. Shows how people were much smaller ... Contributed by Individual
  46. A Mother of Pearl and Gold Bracelet A Mother of Pearl and Gold Bracelet This is a beautiful love token from the Edwardian era. It is made of gold and mother of pearl. It has a loveheart clasp, ... Contributed by Individual
  47. Decorated Medieval ring brooch Decorated Medieval ring brooch Medieval ring brooches like this one were used to hold a person's undergarments closed! This brooch shows fine ... Contributed by Museum
  48. Inscribed Medieval ring brooch Inscribed Medieval ring brooch This Medieval ring brooch was made to hold a person's undergarments closed! It is inscribed with the words 'IESUS ... Contributed by Museum
  49. Coffee Maker from the 1900s Coffee Maker from the 1900s This came into the contributor’s possession when it was left on a church stall 20 years ago. It’s an old coffee maker. ... Contributed by Individual
  50. Oak armchair Oak armchair This armchair is known as the Mounsey Throne. It belonged to the Mounsey family of Patterdale in Cumbria. They were ... Contributed by Museum