Explore early approaches to medical treatment and self-care with an incredible range of objects dating from as early as 4000 BCE to around 500CE, many from Rome and Egypt.
Classical & Medieval Medicine
1520-1530
Statue of Saint Sebastian, oak, perhaps lower Rhenish, German, 1520-1530
1601-1700
Lead cross, replica of that taken from the graves of victims of the plague in London, original 17th century
1601-1750
Wooden figure of saint Mary Magdalene as a penitent, invoked against plague, ulcers and for children slow or weak, possibly Spanish, 1601-1750
200 BCE-400 CE
Votive male genitalia, possibly Roman
400 BCE- 100 BCE
Bronze cupping cup, Greek, excavated in Syracuse, 1926
200 BCE-100 CE
Votive left ear, bronze, Roman, 200 BC - 100 BCE
1700-1850
Gilded wooden figure of St. Michael, patron of soldiers and the sick, Spanish, 1700-1850
1936
Model, of Asklepeion at Epidaurus, after the reconstruction of Defrasse, including sign, and roof for Thoros (round-shaped) temple, made in London, 1936, scale 1:66
100 BCE - 100 CE
Statue of Hygeia, white marble, found at Ostia, Roman, 100 BCE - 100 CE
200-200
Votive vulva, terracotta, Etrusco-Roman, 200BC-200AD
Votive left eye, bronze, Roman, 200BC-100AD
Votive right leg, bronze,Roman(?)
199 BCE-500 CE
Strigil, bronze, heavily corroded, Roman
300 BCE; 1905-1915
Copy of Roman artificial leg, c.1910, original was in Royal College of Surgeons and had been in a grave at Capua, c.300BC
1-79 CE
Bronze cupping vessel, from Pompeii, Roman, 1-79AD
Statue of Saint Adrian, invoked against stomach diseases, French(?), 1700-1850
Votive uterus, wrinkled, terracotta, Italy, 200BC-200AD
200 BCE-200 CE
Votive viscera, terracotta, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD
Votive uterus, terracotta, hollow, probably Roman, 200BC-200AD
1-400 CE
Bronze right hand with eye hole for suspension, Roman, circa 200AD (?)
1340-1350 CE
Lead mortuary cross from victim of the Great Plague of 1348, English , 1340-1350
Stone votive penis
1400-700 BCE
Alabaster canopic jar with portrait of Imseti, also known as Mestha, on lid, Egyptian, 1400-700 BCE
100-500 CE
Teething charm, tooth set in bronze handle, Roman
800-100 BCE
Bronze toiletry mirror, Egyptian, 800BC-100BC.
1401-1500 CE
Statuette of St. Rock, wood, northern Germany, 15th century
Votive right ear, bronze, Roman, 200BC-100AD
1-200 CE
Bronze votive left foot, Roman, 1-200AD
200BCE-200CE
Votive left hand, terracotta, Roman, 200BC-200AD
Wooden statue of Saint Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists, French (?), 1700-1850
Lead mortuary cross from victim of the Great Plague of 1348, unsigned, English, 1340-1350.
Bronze miniature skeleton or "Larva Convivalis", a "memento mori" handed to guests at feasts, articulated but with lower right leg missing and left arm substituted for lower right leg, Roman
1000-400 BCE
Bronze figurine of Osiris, Egyptian, 1000-400 BCE
1701-1850
Wooden statue of Saint Margaret of Antioch, patron of nurses, invoked by married woman and against sterility, wounds and facial blemishes, possibly French, 1700-1850
1801-1900
Statue of Saint Nicholas, wood, French, 19th century
2000-100
Limestone falcon headed canopic jar, Egyptian, 2000BC - 100AD
Votive male torso, dissected to show viscera, reputedly from Isola Farnese, Roman, 200BCE-200CE.
1901-1930
Etruscan denture, 2 teeth, copy, the original from a tomb
Olive-ended probe or cautery, bronze, Roman
1870-1930
Bronze statuette of Joseph Lister
Small votive organ of unknown type, built up from coiled strips of terracotta, probably Roman, 200BCE-200BC
Thigh tourniquet, bronze, Roman, from Hamonic collection
Metal and wood fumigating torch (copy), carried around for personal protection against bubonic plague, 17th century
Ring pessary, bronze, Roman
100-350 CE
Water pipe, pottery, found at York, Roman period, 100-350
100 BCE - 400 CE
Bronze vaginal speculum, probably Roman, found in the Lebanon, screw is modern, 99BC to 400AD
100 BCE - 300 CE
Votive scalp with hair, terracotta, painted black, possibly Roman, 100BC-300AD
Wooden figure of Saint-Cosmas, twin brother of Saint Damian, patron saints of physicians, French(?), 19th century
Votive placenta, terracotta, Roman, 200BC-200AD
100 BCE-79 CE
Votive scalp with hair, bronze, reputedly from Pompeii, 100BC-79AD
