Reflection on the remains of the past as a way of emphasising the transience of life was such a common theme in Old English literature that they had a special word for this motif: Dustsceawung, 'contemplation of the dust.'I blog history things. I am particularly interested in medieval, maritime, medical, and scientific history, as well as osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology. So you will probably see a lot of those topics here. My ask is always open for questions, suggestions, requests, or anything else you feel compelled to say.
Note: all images belong to me unless a source is listed. If material is incorrectly sourced or if you own the rights to material which you wish to be removed, please let me know.
And one more. Taken at the Dalwhinnie train station. Can you tell I got a little too excited about this particular camera feature? I just wish my phone camera had better resolution.
Another panorama shot from my Scotland trip. The shore of Beauly Firth near where I was camping.
Okay, this isn’t strictly history/archaeology related, but I just got back from a camping trip in the Highlands. And I also just discovered that my phone camera has a panorama function. So …
Urquhart Castle. Enjoy. (Click for big version.)
York in the Snow
British Museum Clocks and Watches Room
1a and 1b. masterpiece clock, 1620
Thomas Starck, Augsburg, Germany
This clock not only displayed the time and the day of the week, but also included saints’ days, feast days, the length of day and night at different times of the year, and the likely times of eclipses.
2. gilt-brass clock-watch, 1580s
Hans Schniep, Speyer, Germany
3. astronomical watch, 1600-1610
H. Roberts, London, England
This watch shows the positions of the sun and moon in the zodiac and the time of high tide at London Bridge.
4. hexagonal clock, 1450s
unknown maker, Burgundy
The oldest clock on display at the British Museum, this table clock is designed to reflect the architectural style of the day.
5. silver and gilt-brass watch, 1620-1630
Jean Vallier, Lyon, France
This watch has an alarm, and in addition to the time, it displays the date, the phase of the moon, the month, the season, and the day of the week.
6. planispheric astrolabic clock, 1560s
maker’s mark ‘M’, France
This astrolabe is driven by a clockwork mechanism and shows the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.
7. silver coach watch, 1650s
Jean Baptiste Duboule, Geneva, Switzerland
This watch displays the month and day, the age and phase of the moon, the season, and the zodiac, as well as the time.
8. marine chronometer, 1800
Thomas Earnshaw, London, England
This chronometer was designed for the purpose of determining longitude at sea. Marine chronometers had to keep extremely accurate time under adverse conditions, allowing for the calculation of longitude based on the difference between Greenwich Mean Time and the time on board ship. This particular example was carried on the HMS Beagle during its famous voyage of 1831 to 1836.
Women’s Social and Political Union Banner, 1910
Museum of London
Made in the style of a friendship quilt to represent the solidarity and comradeship of the imprisoned suffragettes, this banner comprises eighty rectangles of linen embroidered with the signatures of those women who had gone on hunger strike and endured brutal force-feedings while in prison for their activist work.
walls of Wellclose Square prison cell, c. 1750
Museum of London
Spitalfields silk mantua (detail), 1751-1752
Museum of London
This formal court dress was originally worn by Ann Fanshawe as Lady Mayoress of the City of London. The fabric uses fourteen different colours of thread and would have taken months to weave. The pattern depicts hops, barley, anchors, and bales, alluding to Ann’s father’s profession as a brewer and merchant.
London Bill of Mortality, 1-8 February 1675
Museum of London
page from ‘The Clerk’s Tale’
The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer
printed 1476 by WIlliam Caxton
Museum of London
see also: this post
gilded copper alloy mount, decorated in Ringerike style, perhaps from a wooden chest, saddle, or piece of furniture, early 11th C.
Museum of London
fragments of painted wall plaster, Roman
Museum of London
iron trident, perhaps used by a retiarius, 1st-2nd C.
bronze figure of a gladiator, 1st-2nd C.
Museum of London
stone carving of a soldier, 1st-2nd century
Museum of London
The soldier is depicted wearing a tunic, a cloak, and a belt with with a crescent strap end or ornament. He is carrying a short sword and a case of writing tablets. The carving was originally from a Roman-era tomb, but was later reused as building material for the city walls.
