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Oxford, England

The Alfred Jewel

One of Oxford's greatest treasures likely belonged to England's legendary King Alfred the Great.
Mark Bramble's peach tea caddy.
objects of intrigue

Tea Was Once So Valuable It Was Kept in Locking Caddies

At least until the British Empire turned its attention to India.
Noor Al-Samarrai January 18, 2019
Beheading Stone.
Stirling, Scotland

Beheading Stone

Legend says this rock was once a chopping block for public executions.
Stone Head of Salaspils.
Riga, Latvia

Stone Head of Salaspils

This enigmatic artifact remained buried in a churchyard for years.
Lloyds Bank coprolite.
York, England

Lloyds Bank Coprolite

An incredibly well-preserved piece of ninth-century Viking poop.
In his performances, Dickens took to the stage alone, with little more than a desk and his book.
objects of intrigue

Charles Dickens Couldn't Stop Tinkering With 'A Christmas Carol'

He revised and revised whenever he took his show on the road.
Jessica Leigh Hester December 17, 2018
Constellations were printed on the inside of the snug case.
objects of intrigue

The Tiny Globe That Puts the World and Heavens in Your Palm

Elizabeth Cushee’s elegant 1745 orb was boundary-pushing at the time.
Jessica Leigh Hester December 3, 2018
Manfred Anson's Liberty menorah.
objects of intrigue

A Menorah That Honors an Immigrant's Story

After escaping the Holocaust, Manfred Anson paid tribute to his new home.
Matthew Taub November 22, 2018
What does your most cherished holiday decoration look like?
objects of intrigue

Show Us Your Most Precious Holiday Heirloom

'Tis the season to bring out those beloved family artifacts.
Eric Grundhauser November 21, 2018
The prototype and its copies will remain under lock and key—and under two bell jars.
objects of intrigue

So Much Used to Depend on a Small Metal Cylinder in a Vault in France

The life and death of the physical prototype of the kilogram.
Jessica Leigh Hester November 16, 2018
objects of intrigue

A Close-Up Look at the Most Influential Medical Book of the 16th Century

Andreas Vesalius dissected the bodies of executed prisoners to better understand human anatomy.
Lizzie Philip November 9, 2018
Rare books at London's Frieze Masters.
objects of intrigue

A Closer Look at a Million-Dollar Medieval Manuscript

You can buy it this weekend if you like.
Evan Nicole Brown October 5, 2018
An advertisement for customizable cucumber glasses.
objects of intrigue

How England Got Its Curvy Cucumbers Straightened Out

The cucumber straightener was a marvel of British horticulture.
Abbey Perreault August 9, 2018
Slavery and sugar were closely linked.
objects of intrigue

This Bowl Contained Sugar 'Not Made by Slaves'

An early version of ethical consumption.
Anne Ewbank July 19, 2018
The horned helmet.
Leeds, England

Horned Helmet of Henry VIII

The bizarre headgear looks like it was made for a fool, not a king.
This volume of Christian parables and lessons, <em>Colloquios de la paz y tranquilidad christiana<em>, was compiled by a Franciscan missionary and translated into Otomi, an indigenous language of Mexico, around 1600.
objects of intrigue

Why Medieval Monasteries Branded Their Books

The fiery marks were a way to keep track of tomes on the move.
Jessica Leigh Hester June 22, 2018
A male reserve head found in the shaft of a tomb c. 1915.
objects of intrigue

Dozens of Mysterious 'Reserve Heads' Were Sealed in Ancient Egyptian Tombs

Over 30 have been found, but their function is unclear.
Hadley Meares June 4, 2018
The Cap'n Crunch Bo'sun Whistle, in all its glory.
objects of intrigue

Early Hackers Used Whistles From Cap’n Crunch Cereal Boxes

You can draw a line from the tiny toys to Apple Inc.
Anne Ewbank May 18, 2018