Rodda Refs

Bag, 16th century (?), Metropolitan Museum of Art: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993 Size: H. 3 7/8 x W. 3 3/8 in. (9.8 x 8.6 cm) Medium: Cotton, camelid hair

Pair of Gold Ear Ornaments, 13th–mid-16th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Jan Mitchell and Sons Collection, Gift of Jan Mitchell, 2002 Size: a: H. 4 13/16 × W. 7/8 × D. 3/16 in. (12.2 × 2.2 × 0.5 cm) b: H. 5 × W. 7/8 × D. ¼ in. (12.7 × 2.2 × 0.6 cm) Medium: Gold

Chinese bronze sword with turquoise studded, gold inlaid rock crystal hilt, Warring States Period, 4th-2nd century BC

Jade archers thumb ring, used to draw a bowstring using a thumb draw. Decorated with gold, rubies, and diamonds. India, 18th century.

Libraries in Austria

Photo by Christoph Seelbach

Necklace with blue beads, Metropolitan Museum of Art: Greek and Roman Art

Purchase by subscription, 1895 Size: Other: 15 ½ in. (39.4 cm) Medium: Gold, blue glass

The earliest known use of glasses to protect eyes from the sun was the Inuit use of “sun goggles” to shield their eyes from the blinding glare of light reflected off the snow.

These were made from carved driftwood, bone, walrus ivory, or caribou antler that formed a strip worn across the eye area, with thin slits that the wearer could see through. The goggles were cut so that they fit tightly to the face, and often soot or gunpowder was rubbed on the outside to absorb the light and further cut down on glare.

Pair of Arm Bands, Metropolitan Museum of Art: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Purchase, Jan Mitchell Gift, 2003 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Medium: Gold

Painswick, Cotswolds, England