History 230: The Roots of English Society & Politics: Life of an Object: Getting Started

Before our special session on Tuesday, October 6^th, 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.

• If you choose an object from the British Museum, click on ‘use digital image,’ then register for the free image delivery service. Once you’ve registered, log in, accept the terms and conditions of use, then you will receive your image as an email attachment within two working days.
• If you chose an object from the Victoria & Albert Museum, click on ‘Download Image,’ then click on ‘Downloads’ (in upper right of screen). You’ll be prompted to register for the free image download service. Once you’ve registered, log in, then click ‘start download process,’ accept the terms and conditions of use (for type of use, select ‘student thesis’), then click ‘download.’ The site will now display a message that your image is now ‘pending;’ reload the page in about 15 minutes and you should be able to download the image.

Roman Britain

Pottery oil-lamp with gladiators, 1^st century

Cavalry sports helmet from the Ribchester hoard, late 1^st or early 2^nd century

Wooden Writing Tablet, 1^st or 2^nd century

Child’s Shoe, 1^st or 2^nd century

Coin of Hadrian with ‘Britannia’ Figure, 2^nd century

Bronze pan made by Boduogenus, 2^nd century

Bronze figurine of a North African cavalryman, 2^nd or 3^rd century

Felmingham Hall Hoard, 2^nd or 3^rd century

Altar from Roman fort at Maryport, 2^nd or 3^rd century

Tombstone of Volusia Faustina, 3^rd century

Silver platter from the Mildenhall Hoard, 4^th century

Anglo-Saxon and Viking England

Glass Beaker, 5^th or 6^th century

Disk-on-bow brooch, 6^th century

Drinking horn, 6^th century

Purse from Sutton Hoo, 7^th century

Helmet from Sutton Hoo, 7^th century

Desborough Necklace, 7^th century

Gold mancus coin of Coenwulth of Mercia, 8^th or 9^th century

Seax of Beagnoth with runes, 9^th or 10^th century

Æthelswith Ring, 9th century

Silver ‘London’ penny of Alfred the Great, 9^th century

Viking comb case, 10th or 11th century

Pitney Brooch, 11^th century

Medieval England, 1066-1350

Reliquary pendant of Margaret of Sicily, 12^th century

The Gloucester Candlestick, 12^th century

Ceremonial staff made of narwhal tusk, 12^th century

Chertsey Tiles showing Richard I and Saladin, 13^th century

Seal-die of Robert Fitzwalter, 13^th century

Ivory chess piece in the shape of a knight and dragon, 13^th century

Bronze aquamanile (pitcher for hand-washing during meals), 13^th century

Silver and wolf’s tooth ring, 13^th or 14^th century

Bronze bell from a parish church, 13^th or 14^th century

Gold ‘noble’ coin of Edward III, 14^th century

Embroidery Panel, 14^th century

Pilgrim Badge of St Albans, 14^th or 15^th 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?