A bronze lamp from the city of Benin (modern day Nigeria) Benin was also one of the first cities to have a semblance of street lighting. bigger versions of these were hung 20ft high and placed around the city, fueled with palm oil the industrial era equivalent of crude oil. 15th century [800×1200]May 6, 2025
A kiln-changed red glaze pomegranate vase, made during the reign of the emperor Yongzheng (1722-1735 CE). Qing Dynasty, now housed at the Liaoning Provincial Museum in China [1567×1397]May 6, 2025
In the double burial of a young male and female in the central mound of the Hopewell Group in Ohio, each of the skulls was supplied with an artificial nose of copper. Middle Woodland period, 100 BCE to 500 CE [873×685]May 6, 2025
A 19th century CE Japanese ivory netsuke of a sleeping wild boar. Sold at Christie’s in 2016 [2906×2106]May 6, 2025
A woman’s leather sandal decorated with a topaz, found in a well at Saalburg Roman fort in Germany. 100-150 CE, now housed at the Saalburg Museum [2517×1696]May 6, 2025
The colossal and well-preserved relief of Edessa Battle carved at Naqsh-e Rostam in 260 AD tells history. It shows the decisive victory of Sassanid King Shapur I over Rome, which for the first time in history, a Roman Emperor, Valerian, knelt and taken captive for the rest of his life. [800×533]May 6, 2025
Marichi, goddess of the dawn. Gilt copper alloy. Attributed to Zanabazar or his workshop, Mongolia, late 17th or early 18th c. Rubin Museum of Art collection [768×1221]May 6, 2025
The woman, holding the measuring tool for the Roman foot, is identified by the restored inscription as Ktisis, a figure personifying the act of generous donation. The man has the Greek inscription “good” by his head, half of a text that probably said, “good wishes. Byzantine 500-550 [1200×1066]May 6, 2025
The Cloisters set of 52 cards constitutes the only known complete 15th century deck of illuminated playing cards. There are 4 suits, each with king, queen, knave, and 10 pip cards. The suit symbols, based on the hunt, are hunting horns, dog collars, hound tethers, and game nooses [1200×723]May 6, 2025
Brass plate with spinning dials for divination, made by Muhammad ibn Khutlukh al-Mawsili. Syria, 1242 AD [2400×3100]May 6, 2025
Stele declaring lands exempt from taxes, erected by King Udayadityavarman II. Southern Vietnam, Khmer Empire, 1050-1060 AD [5097×4000]May 6, 2025
