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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Culture / African Cultures
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Ethiopian Gold Cross
This little cross is a reminder that Ethiopia has been a Christian nation for 2000 years. According to the Bible,in Acts ...
Contributed by Individual
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Shaka Zulu warrior's armband
I have chosen an armband worn by Shaka Zulu's leading warriors, a reminder of one of Africa's high points. The antique ...
Contributed by Individual
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Colonial era carving, Nigeria
This object commemorates a short moment in the British colonial presence in Africa. It is a relief carving of my ...
Contributed by Individual
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Highly decorated Arab Chest
This highly decorated,carved chest was bought by my parents for £4 in Zanzibar when they were on their way to be ...
Contributed by Individual
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Omweso mancala gaming board from Uganda
Mancala is an ancient African/Arabic game. I bought this 'Omweso' gaming board in Kampala, Uganda where I sponsered a ...
Contributed by Individual
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Head of an oba (king) sculpted in bronze
This bronze head is as controversial as it is magnificent.
It was a trophy of empire, taken from a royal shrine by ...
Contributed by Museum
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Huntley and Palmer African Thumb Piano
A Huntley & Palmers biscuit tin reused as the sound box of an early twentieth century African thumb piano or sanza.
Contributed by Museum
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Nelson Mandela Hippo
It represents Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa. It shows the world changing from white people being in ...
Contributed by Individual
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camel bell
My grandfather gave this camel bell to my father and my father gave it to me. It was my grandfather's idea to have bells ...
Contributed by Individual
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West African calabash food container
This object is made from the fruit of a gourd-plant. The husk is hollowed out, dried and hardened, and then can be used ...
Contributed by Individual
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Ibeji (twin) figures (Nigeria, Yoruba)
These figures were given to me as a personal gift in 1961, by HH the Ataoja [Chief] of Oshogbo, Oba Adenle the Second. ...
Contributed by Individual
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Model of West African fishing boat
This West African fishing boat comes from Accra, Ghana. It was acquired by my father in the early 1950s when he worked ...
Contributed by Individual
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Salt blocks used as currency
These blocks of salt bound with straw, and called 'amole tchew' (??? ??), were collected in Ethiopia by Major ...
Contributed by Museum
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East african wooden statue
My grandfather Austin Kirby was in the colonial service in east Africa. He married my grandmother in 1913 and they ...
Contributed by Individual
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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
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Camel Saddle from Suez
This is a camel saddle which my father, Major Tony Baldwin, brought home with him when he returned from Egypt after ...
Contributed by Individual
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Painting of a Turkana tribesman
This watercolour painting of a Turkana tribesman was given to my father in the 1940s. It is one of a number of ...
Contributed by Individual
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Ghanaian stool
My mother acquired this wooden stool in the early 1940s during the Second World War. She had sailed in convoy from ...
Contributed by Individual
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Beaded belt from Kenya
This belt was made for me when I was a child growing up in Kenya in the 1950s. It was made by my ayah (nanny) Maria who ...
Contributed by Individual
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Sudanese slit drum
Wooden drum from central Africa, inscribed with Islamic markings in Sudan and brought to Britain in 1898
Contributed by The British Museum
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Akan drum
West African drum found in Virginia, USA in the 1700s probably brought from Africa on a slave trading voyage
Contributed by The British Museum
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Benin plaque: the oba with Europeans
Brass plaque showing the Oba (king) of Benin in West Africa with attendants and European traders
Contributed by The British Museum
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Benin carvings
Made by the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria
Contributed by Individual
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Ornamental head
I bought this in Ghana, it appears to be quite old.
Contributed by Individual
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Necklace Beads of African Slaves 17-18th
European slave-traders paid African middle-men to bring native men and women to the atlantic ports. In the case of ...
Contributed by Individual
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Lace-bark slippers from Jamaica
These slippers are made of the delicate mesh inner bark of the lace-bark tree, Lagetta lagetto, with soles of "cocoa ...
Contributed by Museum
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Sphinx of Taharqo
A sphinx with the black African face of pharoah Taharqo of Kush in Sudan, which ruled Egypt for about 100 years.
Contributed by The British Museum
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'Numoli' figures
These 'Numoli' figures were highly prized and thought to bring good luck to their owners. They were placed under ...
Contributed by Museum
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West African Ashanti cloth
Each square of the fabric is made on an individual loom and then sewn together. My father acquired it after being ...
Contributed by Individual
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Three water vases
These were used to keep things cool. They belonged to my great-grandma who worked for the Governor in Gibraltar. She ...
Contributed by Individual
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Bronze ankle rings - West African dowry?
We bought these heavy BRONZE rings in London approx. 6 year ago (say 2004). They were described as ankle rings given ...
Contributed by Individual
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Ife head
Head of an Oni, one of the rulers of Ife in Nigeria, one of medieval Africa's most powerful and wealthy kingdoms
Contributed by The British Museum
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Kilwa pot sherds
Broken pieces of pottery from China, the Middle East and Africa found at a port in Tanzania on Africa's east coast
Contributed by The British Museum
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Sir Ben Kingsley's gold turban
The actor, Sir Ben Kingsley, is no stranger to history, having played Gandhi in the David Attenborough film of the same ...
Contributed by Individual
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General Gordon's ring made from a coin
The ring belonged to my grand-mother who was a cousin of General Gordon of Khartoum ('Chinese Gordon' as he was called) ...
Contributed by Individual
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General Gordon's ring made from a coin
The ring belonged to my grand-mother who was a cousin of General Gordon of Khartoum ('Chinese Gordon' as he was called) ...
Contributed by Individual
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Benin Pot
Museum of Mankind suggest this is 1600. It was brought back from Nigeria in 1960. The embossed detail shows a curved ...
Contributed by Individual
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Zimbabwe Bird
My sister & I toured Rhodesia in the mid 1970's where our father had lived for some years. We visited the ruins of the ...
Contributed by Individual
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Wooden mask
An early tourist industry object that was bought by my father whilst working in Sierra Leone.
Contributed by Individual
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Norvalspont May 1900 Pickaxe Lapel Pin
The pickaxe lapel pin has a tiny engraved sterling silver plate that states: NorvalsPont May 1900. After many hours ...
Contributed by Individual
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Yoruba Diviners Sash
My parents are from the Yoruba region of Nigeria and according to oral tradition my surname was originally 'Ifashola' ...
Contributed by Individual
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African Necklace
My Grandfather excahanged a tin of bully beef for this necklace from an African Tribsman when he was in S Africa in the ...
Contributed by Individual
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An African sword
Forged from steel with a unique rib on blade. Probably brought to the UK by British soldiers after the war.
Contributed by Individual
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Egyptian Statue
This statue hails from the Valley of the Kings and is made of sandstone. The contributor’s grandfather worked in the ...
Contributed by Individual
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coconut beads and seashell beads
This necklace is made from little pieces of coconut shell and bamboo. It was given to me as a gift in Fiji when I ...
Contributed by Individual
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A card made by disabled women in Zambia
This card comes from Zambia in Africa. I got in Dromantine Newry at summer camp last year. The leaders go to Africa ...
Contributed by Individual
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A Bracelet from Malawi
This bracelet comes from Malwai. When my cousin visited there a few years ago she helped local people to design ...
Contributed by Individual
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Bracelet from the Phillipines.
This bracelet came all the way from the phillipines and my Uncle bought me as a gift when he visited there. Local women ...
Contributed by Individual
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Copper manillas
Copper manilla bracelets from West Africa
Contributed by Museum
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Fanti Fertility Doll
Wooden fertility doll used by the Fanti culture of West Africa. Painted face with traditional pattern on back of head.
Contributed by Museum