Good investment: A poster for the 1948 Olympics went under the hammer for £1,000 The Olympic Games have produced some of the finest sports memorabilia over the decades. Some objects are surprisingly common and, as a result, aren’t worth a great deal – but they still have plenty of aesthetic and sentimental value to fans … Read more
Explore England’s places of worship and you’ll find masterpieces of design, some of the world’s most beautiful stained-glass windows and a host of astonishing murals, monuments and carvings spanning over a thousand years of turbulent history – as a fascinating new book reveals. The National Churches Trust teamed up with prolific church photographer Matthew Byrne … Read more
Explore England’s places of worship and you’ll find masterpieces of design, some of the world’s most beautiful stained-glass windows and a host of astonishing murals, monuments and carvings spanning over a thousand years of turbulent history – as a fascinating new book reveals. The National Churches Trust teamed up with prolific church photographer Matthew Byrne … Read more
A ‘Memento Mori’ gold ring engraved with a skull is one of nine stunning medieval and post-medieval objects found in Wales. The ring, found in Carreghofa Community, Powys, would have been kept as a reminder of the inevitability of death. ‘Memento Mori’ is a Latin term that literally means ‘remember you must die’. Among the … Read more
A trove of treasures uncovered in 2020 including a wax seal stamp of an Elephant with a ‘war-tower’ and a medieval ‘meme’ has been revealed by the British Museum. The meme-like item is a unique mount, perhaps worn as a badge, depicting a knight stepping out of a snail shell that appears to be mounted … Read more
Lloyd’s of London has pledged to publish a catalogue of its 3,000 treasures to root out any connections with the slave trade. The world’s oldest insurance market is seeking an archivist to examine its vast trove of goods obtained over more than three centuries, including paintings, furniture, swords and silverware. Lloyd’s has posted an advert … Read more
Golden finds: The Sutton Hoo helmet The next time you explore our glorious countryside, keep an eye out for what may look like a discarded sweet wrapper. That’s exactly what Kevin Duckett thought he’d found in Northamptonshire in 2017. Instead, it turned out to be a solid gold figurine depicting King Henry VI, thought to … Read more
A new law is set to save the UK’s national treasures going to overseas buyers after the National Gallery lost a £30million battle to keep a 16th Century masterpiece. The introduction of legally binding offers from January 1, which marks the first major change in the export deferral system in more than 65 years, will mean … Read more
Coronavirus lockdown measures led to a spike in back-garden archaeological discoveries, including 15th century gold coins, the British Museum revealed. More than 47,000 discoveries were registered with the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) so far this year – many from garden-based discoveries. In the first lockdown alone – starting in March – the scheme … Read more
Look, no tourists! Incredible 180-year-old photos reveal Rome’s ancient treasures before hordes of selfie-snapping visitors ruined the historic views Group of 78 images date back to between 1840 and 1860 and taken by pioneering photographers of the time They feature historic and ancient sites across the city including the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain Iconic … Read more