Before our special session on Tuesday, October 6th, please choose one of the objects from the lists below, obtain the largest available image of it, and upload this image to a place where you can access it from the lab computers in Library 018.
These objects come from the virtual collections of major museums. Some sites allow you to simply download an image. Two exceptions, the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum, make you go through a short registration process before you can use their images.
Roman Britain
Pottery oil-lamp with gladiators, 1st century
Cavalry sports helmet from the Ribchester hoard, late 1st or early 2nd century
Wooden Writing Tablet, 1st or 2nd century
Child’s Shoe, 1st or 2nd century
Coin of Hadrian with ‘Britannia’ Figure, 2nd century
Bronze pan made by Boduogenus, 2nd century
Bronze figurine of a North African cavalryman, 2nd or 3rd century
Felmingham Hall Hoard, 2nd or 3rd century
Altar from Roman fort at Maryport, 2nd or 3rd century
Tombstone of Volusia Faustina, 3rd century
Silver platter from the Mildenhall Hoard, 4th century
Anglo-Saxon and Viking England
Glass Beaker, 5th or 6th century
Disk-on-bow brooch, 6th century
Purse from Sutton Hoo, 7th century
Helmet from Sutton Hoo, 7th century
Desborough Necklace, 7th century
Gold mancus coin of Coenwulth of Mercia, 8th or 9th century
Seax of Beagnoth with runes, 9th or 10th century
Silver ‘London’ penny of Alfred the Great, 9th century
Viking comb case, 10th or 11th century
Medieval England, 1066-1350
Reliquary pendant of Margaret of Sicily, 12th century
The Gloucester Candlestick, 12th century
Ceremonial staff made of narwhal tusk, 12th century
Chertsey Tiles showing Richard I and Saladin, 13th century
Seal-die of Robert Fitzwalter, 13th century
Ivory chess piece in the shape of a knight and dragon, 13th century
Bronze aquamanile (pitcher for hand-washing during meals), 13th century
Silver and wolf’s tooth ring, 13th or 14th century
Bronze bell from a parish church, 13th or 14th century
Gold ‘noble’ coin of Edward III, 14th century
Embroidery Panel, 14th century
Pilgrim Badge of St Albans, 14th or 15th century
Start your research with these subject encyclopedias, then branch out as needed.
Although the focus of this assignment is not on art history, you may find that these resources provide at least some of the information you'll need to interpret your object.
Oxford Art Online
This massive reference resource includes the full text of the 34-volume Dictionary of Art. [Note: There is a limit of three simultaneous users.]
Oxford Reference Art & Architecture
Includes these sources for an overview of art related topics.
It's likely that you'll need to think expansively and creatively as you research your chosen object. The following questions will help guide you as you do research:
Who created the object?
When was it created?
How was it created?
Where was it found?
Who would have made use of it? Who wouldn't have made use of it?