centuriespast:

Stemmed Cup with Two Handles
Italy (Deruta), sixteenth century

The Morgan Library

centuriespast:

Owl Mask

Nisga’a (Niska)

British Columbia

1850-1880

National Museum of the American Indian

(via danhallett)

heracliteanfire:

Large blue dish with incised floral-geometric design in white, Iran, 17th century. (via V&A)

heracliteanfire:

Bowl of fritware decorated in black and cobalt blue under a transparent glaze, found at Jurjan. Iran, probably Kashan, 1180-1220. (via V&A)

bulletproofbhatki:

Densatil Capitel with Maitreya and Goddess
Tibet, Densatil, 15th century
Gilt bronze
cm. 22.5 (8 3/4 in. )

(via abstrackafricana)

aleyma:

Drinking bowl, made in Eastern Europe or the Balkans, 1350-75 (source).

aleyma:

Cutlery set with coral, made in Italy in the late 16th century (source).

“This preciously decorated and extremely rare coral cutlery set from the late 1500s would have been only used on extraordinary occasions, such as a wedding, a knighting or a state visit. In the late Renaissance, the guests would typically bring their own cutlery to formal dinners. An expensively decorated cutlery set would have elicited the host’s and other guests’ admiration. Besides, coral was believed to be an antidote against poison. Therefore, in the view of its time this set of cutlery would have offered its bearer special protection during a meal at the table of a rival family or of an untrustworthy foreign ruler.” - from the MIA description

aleyma:

Greek, Caryatid mirror with Aphrodite, Erotes, and siren, c.460 BC (source).

(via venusmilk)

aleyma:

Necklace, made in Iran in the 12th century (source).

objectcuriosity:

Dish, Redcliff Back Pottery, c.1740, England, tin-glazed earthenware, painted, Victoria and Albert Museum. 

(via iloverainandcoffee)

aleyma:

Jar with incised and applied decoration, made in Thailand in the 14-15th century (source).

ancientpeoples:

Bronze Statuette of a Bull

ca. 2nd century AD

Roman

The bull was a powerful symbol in many ancient religions, none more so than in that of Egypt, where the animal was worshipped as the god Apis. The Romans found it easier to accept the Apis bull than some of the more exotic deities of the Egyptian pantheon, like the ibis-headed god Thoth or the jackal-headed Anubis, and they ridiculed Egyptians as worshippers of animals such as cats and crocodiles.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum

ancientpeoples:

Bronze wine vessel, covered in green patina and finely decorated.

Shang dynasty (ca. 1600-1046 B.C.), China. 

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

(via fuckyeahchinesemyths)

inkbomb:

Celadon Ewer from the Koryo Period in Korea.

It’s bluish-green glaze is called kingfisher blue.

(via valscrapbook)

pamelatutu:

Africa | Bamileke Titleholder’s Hat. Cameroon Grasslands | Early 20th century | Materials: Cotton, trade wool, wood pegs ~ Crochet technique

(via abstrackafricana)