TREASURES

A selection of the Ashmolean's most treasured objects, chosen by our curators

The Alfred Jewel

ALFRED JEWEL

Made for the only English monarch known as 'the Great'
The Apotheosis of Germanicus (Gemma Tiberiana) by Sir Peter Paul Rubens

APOTHEOSIS OF GERMANICUS

A discovery in Paris brought to life
Arion riding on a Dolphin

ARION RIDING ON A DOLPHIN

This charming story was used by Ovid to mark the 3rd of February in the Roman calendar
Landscape with Ascanius shooting the Stag of Sylvia (detail) 1681-1682

ASCANIUS SHOOTING THE STAG OF SYLVIA

A poetic royal hunt leads to war
astrological tea set at the ashmolean museum

ASTROLOGICAL BOWL, SAUCER AND SPOON

Astrological decoration at the Persian court
Ballyshanon sun disc

BALLYSHANON SUN DISC

One of the earliest documented prehistoric objects
Camel, Tang Dynasty

Camel Tomb Figure

A spiritual object intended to protect the dead from evil
Samurai suit Iron, gilt iron, gilt soft metals, lacquer, gilt leather, doeskin, crystal, mother-of-pearl, silk, wood, and bear fur

CEREMONIAL SUIT OF ARMOUR FOR A SAMURAI

Armour intended for a period of peace
Coin of Emperor Jahanigir

COIN OF EMPEROR JAHANGIR

A gift for the Emperor’s followers
Charles Allston Collins, Convent Thoughts

CONVENT THOUGHTS

Charles Allston Collins (1828-1873)
Cycladic figure, 30cm, (detail)

CYCLADIC FIGURE

From Pre-history to Picasso
DING WARE DISH at the Ashmolean Museum

DING WARE DISH

One of the ‘Five Great Wares’
Dish with a composite head of penises by Francesco ‘Urbini’

DISH WITH A COMPOSITE HEAD OF PENISES

A Renaissance joke
Djed-djehuty-iuef-ankh mummy

DJED-DJEHUTY-IUEF-ANKH MUMMY

Journeying to an afterlife
South Indian bronze sculpture depicting Hindu saint, Chandikeshvara.

FIGURE OF THE SAINT CHANDIKESHVARA

Wielding an axe with grace and elegance
The Great Bookcase Painted bookcase doors covered with painted scenes Ashmolean

GREAT BOOKCASE

Creating a medieval world that never was
Guy Fawkes' lantern, London, England c.1605 at the ashmolean museum

GUY FAWKES' LANTERN

Remember, remember the 5th of November
Hasta la Muerte (Until death) by Goya at the Ashmolean Museum

HASTA LA MUERTE (UNTIL DEATH)

Francisco de Goya (1746–1828)
Blue enamelled glass oil lamp made between AD 1299-1340 in Egypt or Syria

ISLAMIC LAMP

The Light of the Heavens
Japanese gunpowder flask

JAPANESE GUNPOWDER FLASK

Japanese gunpowder flask decorated with figures in Portuguese dress
knossos storage jar at the ashmolean museum

KNOSSOS STORAGE JAR

An octopus at home in a palace
KOGANEI IN MUSASHI PROVINCE

KOGANEI IN MUSASHI PROVINCE

One of thirty-six views by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858)
Laocoön group at the Ashmolean Museum

LAOCOÖN GROUP

Punished by the Greek gods
Chinese c.19th formal silk robe, traditional Han design with alterations inspired by Manchu horsemen.

MAN'S FORMAL ROBES

Imperial court robes with horse riding ancestry
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