Cabinet of Curiosities | Spencer Museum of Art

Spencer Museum of Art

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Exhibition

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Cabinet of Curiosities

July 8, 2015–July 8, 2016

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Discover more about the unique objects inside the Spencer’s Cabinet of Curiosities.

Works of art

vase, Victor Durand Jr.; Vineland Flint Glass Works — Victor Durand Jr.; Vineland Flint Glass Works

vase, circa 1926–1928

aryballos — aryballos, late 600–early 500 BCE

bowl — bowl, 1700–1735

folding fan — folding fan, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

wine ewer — wine ewer, 1200s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

melon-shaped ewer — melon-shaped ewer, 1000s–1100s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

“Cleopatra’s Needle” salt shaker — “Cleopatra’s Needle” salt shaker, probably after 1877

shell-shaped lamp — shell-shaped lamp, late 1800s

tetsubin (kettle) — tetsubin (kettle), late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)

cong-shaped vase with bagua motif — cong-shaped vase with bagua motif, mid 1700s, mark and reign of Qianlong period (1736–1795), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

bowl — bowl, 1700s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

bowl — bowl, 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)

seashell hanging vase — seashell hanging vase, mid 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

vase — vase, 1800s, Qajar period (1795–1925)

ewer — ewer, 1800s, Qajar period (1795–1925)

cup — cup, 1800s, Qajar period (1794–1925)

candlestick — candlestick, circa 1800s, Qajar period (1795–1925)

snuff bottle with stopper, Bi Rongjiu — Bi Rongjiu

snuff bottle with stopper, 1890–1920, Qing dynasty (1644–1911) to Republic of China (1911–1949)

horses, snuff bottle with stopper — horses, snuff bottle with stopper, 1850–1875, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with geese passing the moon, Tetsugendō Naofusa — Tetsugendō Naofusa

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with geese passing the moon, 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)

鍔 tsuba (sword guard), Kinai School — Kinai School

鍔 tsuba (sword guard), 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with wisteria, Hirata School — Hirata School

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with wisteria, 1600, Edo period (1600–1868)

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with lobster, Tsu Jinpo — Tsu Jinpo

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with lobster, Edo period (1600–1868)

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with dragon flies, Ishiguro Masakatsu — Ishiguro Masakatsu

鍔 tsuba (sword guard) with dragon flies, 1850s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)

鍔 tsuba (sword handle) with 鐙 abumi (stirrups), Umetada (Okada) Zenzaemon Nobumasa — Umetada (Okada) Zenzaemon Nobumasa

鍔 tsuba (sword handle) with 鐙 abumi (stirrups), late 1600s, Edo period (1600–1868)

birds and plum, snuff bottle with stopper — birds and plum, snuff bottle with stopper, circa 1850s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with crane, Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro — Ōtsuki Mitsuhiro

小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with crane, Edo period (1600–1868)

小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with deer, Gōto School — Gōto School

小柄 kozuka (knife handle) with deer, 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)

縁 fuchi (hilt collar) and 頭 kashira (butt cap) with spring flowers and insects, Mitsunaka — Mitsunaka

縁 fuchi (hilt collar) and 頭 kashira (butt cap) with spring flowers and insects, 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)

Osiris — Osiris, Ptolemaic Period, 305–30 BCE

Second Spring, snuff bottle with stopper, Yan Yutian — Yan Yutian

Second Spring, snuff bottle with stopper, 1895, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

snuff bottle with stopper — snuff bottle with stopper, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

pair of Chinese opera figurines — pair of Chinese opera figurines, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

ushabti (funerary sculpture) — ushabti (funerary sculpture), 1800s

standing figure, Elie Nadelman — Elie Nadelman

standing figure, mid 1900s

primate figure, Roman Bronze Works — Roman Bronze Works

primate figure, early 1900s

reflection ball — reflection ball, circa 1855–1890

loom weight — loom weight, Middle Bronze Age (2000–1600 BCE)

vase, Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. — Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd.

vase, 1860–1891

weight with reclining lion — weight with reclining lion, Neo–Assyrian Empire, 911 BCE–612 BCE

amphoriskos — amphoriskos, late 600–early 500 BCE

vase — vase, 200s–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE

Crucifixion San Felipe de Jesús — Crucifixion San Felipe de Jesús, 1800s

苦瓜 kugua (bitter melon), snuff bottle with stopper — 苦瓜 kugua (bitter melon), snuff bottle with stopper, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

teapot with lid, Belleek Pottery Works Company Ltd — Belleek Pottery Works Company Ltd

teapot with lid, circa 1890

scarab paperweight, Paul Teeter — Paul Teeter

scarab paperweight, 1920–1922

possibly a biscione (serpent devouring a human) — possibly a biscione (serpent devouring a human), circa late 1800s

water clock, William Tyler — William Tyler

water clock, 1694

Coronation of Queen Victoria medal — Coronation of Queen Victoria medal, 1838

Rinaldo and Armida plaquette — Rinaldo and Armida plaquette, circa 1700

Isis and the infant Horus — Isis and the infant Horus, circa 300 BCE, Ptolemaic Kingdom, 332 BCE–30 CE

Cosimo de Medici the Elder (1389-1464) medal, Niccoló Fiorentino — Niccoló Fiorentino

Cosimo de Medici the Elder (1389-1464) medal, circa 1465–1469

écorché (skinned) anatomical figure of a man, Michael Henry Spang; Edward Burch — Michael Henry Spang; Edward Burch

écorché (skinned) anatomical figure of a man, after 1761

crab-shaped inkwell — crab-shaped inkwell, late 1500s

Enthroned Zeus — Enthroned Zeus, circa 100 CE, Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE)

sea horse sculpture — sea horse sculpture, early 1500s

Neptune — Neptune, 1700s

Vulcan Forging Arrows, Andrea Riccio — Andrea Riccio

Vulcan Forging Arrows, circa 1500–1530

toad — toad, 1500s–1700s

reliquary of the True Cross — reliquary of the True Cross, circa 1500

bust of Emperor Nero (37-68 CE), Pietro Tacca — Pietro Tacca

bust of Emperor Nero (37-68 CE), late 1500s

miniature painting of Krishna with milkmaids — miniature painting of Krishna with milkmaids, early 1900s

Der Tritonenfang (Triton Fishing), Johann Joachim Kändler; Meissen Porcelain Factory — Johann Joachim Kändler; Meissen Porcelain Factory

Der Tritonenfang (Triton Fishing), late 1890s–early 1900s

Saint Sebastian — Saint Sebastian, late 1400s

vase, Durand Art Glass — Durand Art Glass

vase, 1924–1931

coffee cup and stand — coffee cup and stand, circa 1920s, Republic period, (1923–present)

The Texas Steer, Charles Marion Russell — Charles Marion Russell

The Texas Steer, 1925

Bacchus with a panther — Bacchus with a panther, late 1500s

horse — horse, early 1500s

bull, Giambologna — Giambologna

bull, early 1600s

Wisnu (Vishnu) on Garuda — Wisnu (Vishnu) on Garuda, 1850–1900

male figure — male figure, mid 1900s

brush holder — brush holder, late 1800s, Ottoman Empire (1299–1923)

Bird, Adelheid Lange Roosevelt — Adelheid Lange Roosevelt

Bird, circa 1913

snuff bottle with stopper — snuff bottle with stopper, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

佛手 foshou (citron), snuff bottle with stopper — 佛手 foshou (citron), snuff bottle with stopper, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings — pair of dragon-shaped chariot fittings, circa 300 BCE, Warring States period (BCE 481–BCE 221)

The Lion of Belfort, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi — Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi

The Lion of Belfort, mid 1800s–early 1900s

Salamander vase, Louis Comfort Tiffany — Louis Comfort Tiffany

Salamander vase, 1905–1910

Ganesha — Ganesha, early 1900s

bowl, Louis Comfort Tiffany — Louis Comfort Tiffany

bowl, 1925

bowl, Louis Comfort Tiffany — Louis Comfort Tiffany

bowl, 1925

vase, Irene Bishop; Rookwood Pottery — Irene Bishop; Rookwood Pottery

vase, 1907

rhyton drinking horn — rhyton drinking horn, early 1900s

Wadjet Amulet (Eye of Horus) — Wadjet Amulet (Eye of Horus), 1900s

Rustic Basin, Bernard Palissy and Workshop — Bernard Palissy and Workshop

Rustic Basin, circa 1570–1590

pair of lions — pair of lions, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

church official, one of pair — church official, one of pair, 1700s

church official, one of pair — church official, one of pair, 1700s

Caravaggio's Medusa with pasta, Vik Muniz — Vik Muniz

Caravaggio's Medusa with pasta, 1999

demitasse with saucer, Coalport Porcelain Works — Coalport Porcelain Works

demitasse with saucer, mid 1800s

fork — fork, 1700s

ruyi sceptre — ruyi sceptre, late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

fish-shaped pendant — fish-shaped pendant, 1200 BCE–1000 BCE, late Shang dynasty (circa 1600–1046 BCE) to early Western Zhou dynasty (circa 1120–770 BCE)

miniature shrine — miniature shrine, early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)

calla lily vase, Black, Starr and Frost — Black, Starr and Frost

calla lily vase, late 1800s

apple with scene — apple with scene, 1900s

ring with blue scarab — ring with blue scarab, 1900s

Jupiter — Jupiter, 1700s

drunken faun — drunken faun, late 1700s

kneeling merman — kneeling merman, 1800s

jar with three frogs, unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) artist — unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) artist

jar with three frogs, 1900–1940

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

weight, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

weight, late 1800s–early 1900s

balance for gold dust, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

balance for gold dust, late 1800s–early 1900s

spoon for gold dust, unrecorded Asante artist — unrecorded Asante artist

spoon for gold dust, late 1800s–early 1900s

scrimshaw with whaling scene, unrecorded Native Alaskan artist — unrecorded Native Alaskan artist

scrimshaw with whaling scene, 1875–1925

fineline black-on-white olla (jar), Lucy M. Lewis — Lucy M. Lewis

fineline black-on-white olla (jar), 1960s–1970s

British South Africa Company medallion — British South Africa Company medallion, 1897

British South Africa Company with Rhodesia bar (1896) and Mashonaland bar (1890) — British South Africa Company with Rhodesia bar (1896) and Mashonaland bar (1890), 1890–1896

Union of South Africa commemorative medal — Union of South Africa commemorative medal, 1910

瑞宝章 Zuihōshō (First Class Medal of the Order of the Sacred Treasure) — 瑞宝章 Zuihōshō (First Class Medal of the Order of the Sacred Treasure), November 1, 1895, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Bread Mold Piece on Scorched Rock, Peter Hutchinson — Peter Hutchinson

Bread Mold Piece on Scorched Rock, 1969

votive tablet (tsa-tsa) — votive tablet (tsa-tsa), 1800s

three tiles — three tiles, late 1400s, Lodi dynasty (1451–1526)

Cinnamon Macchia, Dale Chihuly — Dale Chihuly

Cinnamon Macchia, circa 1997

Shrine to Amitayus (Buddha of Limitless Life) — Shrine to Amitayus (Buddha of Limitless Life), 1800s

Maharthraysithu medal awarded to U Kya Bu (1898-1980) — Maharthraysithu medal awarded to U Kya Bu (1898-1980), 1952

container — container, 200–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE

container — container, 200–300s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE

jar — jar, 300–400s, Roman Empire, 27 BCE–476 CE

scholar's rock on wooden stand — scholar's rock on wooden stand, late 1900s

vase, Rookwood Pottery; William Purcell McDonald — Rookwood Pottery; William Purcell McDonald

vase, 1882

Field Museum, Drawer of Bluebirds, various dates, Terry Evans — Terry Evans

Field Museum, Drawer of Bluebirds, various dates, 2000

Field Museum, Eastern Fence Lizards, Terry Evans — Terry Evans

Field Museum, Eastern Fence Lizards, 2001

Field Museum, Helianthus, 1905, Terry Evans — Terry Evans

Field Museum, Helianthus, 1905, 2000

coffee cup and stand — coffee cup and stand, circa 1920s, Republic Period (1923–present)