Royal Cemetery, PG779, excavated artifact, #U.11164, Standard of Ur, front, War side

Ur (deserted settlement), Iraq; 8 1/2 in. x 1 ft. 7 1/2 in8 1/2 in. x 1 ft. 7 1/2 in.; shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone; set in bitumen

Royal Cemetery, PG779, excavated artifact, #U.11164, Standard of Ur, front, War side

Ur (deserted settlement), Iraq; shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone; set in bitumen

Royal Cemetery, PG789, excavated artifact, #U.10412, Queen's Lyre, front right angle view: center

Ur (deserted settlement), Iraq; lapis lazuli, shell, red limestone, gold on wood

Portland Vase, front view

Glass, Roman; 9 41/64 in.x 6 31/32 in.; carved and blown, cameo glass

Portland Vase, front view: detail

Glass, Roman; carved and blown, cameo glass

The Holy Thorn Reliquary, front

Metalwork, French, 14C; 1 ft. 1/64 in.x 5 29/32 in.; thorn, ruby, sapphire, gold, rock crystal, pearls, sapphires, enamel

Royal Cemetery, PG779, excavated artifact, #U.11164, Standard of Ur, front, Scenes of War: left portion

Ur (deserted settlement), Iraq; H: 8 1/2 in; shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone; set in bitumen

Royal Cemetery, PG779, excavated artifact, #U.11164, Standard of Ur, front, War side: center portion

Ur (deserted settlement), Iraq; H: 8 1/2 in.; shell, lapis lazuli, red limestone; set in bitumen

The St. Eustace Head Reliquary, front view

1 ft. 1 25/32 in.x 6 17/32 in.x 7 1/4 in.; repoussé, silver, rock crystal, gold, glass,cornelian, chalcedony, amethyst, pearl, and obsidian on wood

Hedwig Beaker, front

5 33/64 in.x 5 33/64 in.; wheel-cut glass

Hedwig Beaker, full front

5 33/64 in.x 5 33/64 in.; wheel-cut glass

Tomb of Liu Yan (King Zhi of Fuling), excavated artifact, #582, Pendant, front and back

Anhui. Shouxian. Shouchou town; L: 3 15/64 in.; jade