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Albarello vase, Italian, probably from Sicily, C16

Medical Ceramic-ware

1530-1600

Albarello vase, Italian, probably from Sicily, C16 polychrome maiolica, formerly in a Jesuit monastery

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 8 drachms marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 8lbs., marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Bronze bell shaped mortar

Pharmacy-ware

1592

Bronze bell shaped mortar with 2 bands of decoration, 2 handles in the form of sylised animal, inscribed with name of Elizabeth Moesel, Netherlands, 1592

Amuletic loadstone with scalloped metal mounts

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1551-1700

Small loadstone with scalloped metal mounts, bound with string, with ring for suspending, amuletic, English, 1551-1700

Very large bronze mortar

Pharmacy-ware

1666

Very large bronze mortar, moulded body, flared rim and cornice foot with inscription, 2 projecting handles possibly "Marriage Mortar", German (?), 1666

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 8 oz. marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 4lbs., marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Tin glazed earthenware albarello

Medical Ceramic-ware

1601-1630

Tin glazed earthenware albarello, used at Royal Monastery of Escorial for a preparation of zinc oxide, from Talavera, Spanish, early 17th century

Earthenware tile used as a house number

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1511-1520

Tile, earthenware, tin-glazed, used as house number, 1511-1520

Earthenware tile used as house number

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1511-1520

Tile, earthenware, tin-glazed, used as home number, Spanish, 1511-1520

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 2 oz. marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 4 oz. marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 1 oz. marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Bullet extractor

Surgery

1601-1700

Bullet extractor, 17th century probably, German, steel, Dr. E. Hollander collection, Berlin, Germany

Tin-glazed earthenware tile

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1511-1520

Tile, earthenware, tin-glazed, used as house number, Spanish, 1511-1520

Vitruvici de Architectura libri decem

Printed Books

1543

One book by Vitruvius Pollis Marcus "M. Vitruvii de Architectura libri decem". Argenterati, 1543.

Tile used as a house number

Nursing & Hospital Furnishings

1511-1520

Tile, earthenware, tin-glazed, used as house number, Spanish, 1511-1520

Avoirdupois weight (standard)

Weighing & Measuring

1588

One of eleven Queen Elizabeth's third set of Exchequer standard avoirdupois weights, flat circular nested weights in bronze, 2lbs., marked 1588, crown over EL, A, Reg.XXX

Trade card for John Yarwell, optician, London, England, 1697

.Unattributed

1697

Trade card: John Yarwell, at the Archimedes and 3 pair of Golden Spectacles in Ludgate Street, the Shop next Ludgate, London, Makes True Spectacles and other optical instruments.1697. (Calv. 461)

Part of an elm water pipe, England, 1401-1600

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1401-1600 CE

Elm section of a cylindrical pipe, originally part of an underground water pipe laid in the west of London during the 15th or 16th century.

Sovereign of the Seas

John Payne

1637

Copper plate engraving 36 1/2"x5 3/4" by J. Payne of the 'Sovereign of the Seas', built 1637 at Deptford Royal Dockyard

Wax model of a plague scene, Europe, 1657

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1657

Wax model of plague scene in form of a heavily framed plaque, made by Gregorius Lenti, 1657, frame probably 18th century, thus European, 1657

Mandrake root, England, 1501-1700

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1501-1700

Specimen of mandrake root (Mandragora sp. (Solanaceae)), probably carved to enhance human resemblence, English, 1501-1700

Nicholas Culpeper's statement about John Dee's crystal, England, 1651-1658

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1651-1658

Statement about John Dee's crystal by Nicholas Culpeper, written on back of deed

Dutch celestial globe, 1625

Astronomy

1625

Celestial globe by Petrus Plancius, 1625, incorporating observations of Tycho Brahe, with brass meridian and hour circles, on wooden stand

Ivory female anatomical figure, Germany, 1601-1700

Anatomy & Pathology

1601-1700

Ivory anatomical figure, a pregnant female, with some removable organs, lying on cloth-covered bier inside wooden box, possibly German, possibly 17th century

Working model of Hero's Aeolipile and steam boiler

Motive Power

100-1 BCE; 1501-1600; 1914

Working model of Hero's Aeolipile and steam boiler based on Sketches in 16th century Manuscripts

Iron artificial arm, Europe, 1560-1600

Orthopaedics

1560-1600

Articulated artificial left hand and forearm, iron, (previously thought to be owned by Gotz von Berlichingen), possibly German, 1560-1600

ELIAS ALLEN

Wenceslaus Hollar

1666

Print, framed and mounted, not glazed, etching, portrait of Elias Allen ELIAS ALLEN. Apud Anglos Cantianus, iuxta Tunnbridge natus, Mathematicis Instrumentis aere incidendis sui temporis Artifex ingeniosissimus, Obijt Londini, prope finem Mensis Martij, Anno a Christo nato 1653, suaeque aetatis, H. Van der Borcht pinxit; W. Hollar fect. [London] [1653?] 1 print, etching, [trimmed to] platemark 24.3x17cm., Portrait, HL to R, with instruments including theodolite sections, dividers, horizontal sundial and universal equatorial ring dial; on wall, sector quadrant and tools. Ref: Parthey 1338; O'Donoghue, 1

Boot for torture purposes, probably English, 1501-1600

Wellcome (general)

1501-1700

Boot, of riveted iron sheet, to hold boiling oil, for torture purposes probably English, 16th to 17th centuries

Burial mask of Agamemnon, Greek, c. 1550 BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1600-1500 BCE (original); 1900-1914 (copy)

Gilt copy of gold burial mask of Agamemnon, Mycenaean original, Greek, 1900-1914

Morland's Calculating Machine, 1666-1695

Mathematics

1666-1695

Calculating machine designed by Sir Samuel Morland in 1666 with leather case, made between 1666-1695.

Early pendulum clock by Salomon Coster, c.1657.

Time Measurement

1657-1659

"Haagsche Klokje" by Salomon Coster (1657-59)

Surveying quadrant, 1674.

Surveying

1674

Surveying quadrant with sights, plotting scales and gunnery scale on the obverse, by J. Lusuerg, Rome, 1674

Artificial hand and forearm, 1601-1700

Orthopaedics

1601-1700

Iron artificial right hand and forearm, with jointed thumb and fingers

Clay tobacco pipe, London, England, 1640-1670

Smoking

1640-1670

Clay tobacco pipe, incomplete, part of stem missing, thick stem, large prominent flat circular heel, small bulbous barrel-shaped bowl hatched milling, unsigned, London, England, 1640-1670.

Alchemical furnace, Germany, 1501-1700

Laboratory Medicine

1501-1700

Alchemist's digesting furnace, or anthanot, stoneware, German, 1501-1700

Surgical instrument set with case, England, 1650-1700

Surgery

1650-1700

Silver mounted fishskin instrument case, with instruments, bearing arms of Barber-Surgeons' Company, English, 1650-1700

Ivory bust of General Wallenstein, Europe, after 1634

Wellcome (general)

after 1634

Ivory bust of General Wallenstein, a memento mori of half skull half head, mounted on an ebony and metal stand studded with stones from his tomb

Parturition chair, Germany, 1601-1700

Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception

1601-1700

Folding parturition chair, German, 1701-1850

Prognosticator

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1538

Prognosticator, brass, unsigned, French, 1538.

Touchpiece issued by Henry VIII, England, 1543-1547

Ethnography and Folk Medicine

1543-1547

Gold angel coin, used as touchpiece in the ceremony of healing by touch, design indicates 3rd coinage, fleur-de-lis and annulet mint marks, issued by Henry VIII, 1543-1547

Bronze kohl stick, Egypt, 1575-1194BCE

Classical & Medieval Medicine

1575-1194 BCE

Bronze kohl stick, Egyptian, 1575BC-1194BC

The Comet of 1532

.Unattributed

1532

Watercolour, The Comet of 1532 15x22cm

Reconstruction of Galileo's Thermoscope, 1592-1600

Heat

1592-1600 (original)

Reconstruction of Galileo's thermoscope (replacement for 1930-650), (original 1592-1600).

Italian armillary sphere, 1648

Astronomy

1648

Brass armillary sphere by Adam Heroldt, Rome, dated 1648 with pillar stand and green malachite Earth globe with rotating circles for the Sun and Moon.

17th century spindle wheel

Textiles Machinery

1601-1700

17th century spindle wheel

Iron artificial arm, Europe, 1501-1562

Orthopaedics

1510-1562

Artificial right hand, iron, ? owned by Gotz von Berlichingen, 16th century

Bow-frame amputation saw, Europe, 1601-1700

Surgery

1601-1700

Ornate bow-frame amputation saw, damascened in gold, ebony handle, c.1650, from the Hamonic collection