Skip to main content

University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Search form

University of Oxford

VISIT US
WHAT'S ON
- EVENTS
- EXHIBITIONS
  - Last Supper in Pompeii
  - Exhibitions on Tour
COLLECTIONS
RESEARCH
LEARN
SUPPORT
SHOP

VISIT US
WHAT'S ON
- EVENTS
- EXHIBITIONS
  - Last Supper in Pompeii
  - Exhibitions on Tour
COLLECTIONS
RESEARCH
LEARN
SUPPORT
SHOP

Search form

TREASURES

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

Material

Geography

Period

Department

A Forest Floor Still Life of Flowers – by Rachel Ruysch – WA1940.2.64

A FOREST FLOOR STILL LIFE OF FLOWERS

Rachel Ruysch (1664 - 1750)

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 (detail)

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 bowl, saucer and spoon (detail)

ASTROLOGICAL BOWL, SAUCER AND SPOON

Astrological decoration at the Persian court

Ballyshanon sun disc

BALLYSHANNON 'SUN DISC'

An early discovery of a prehistoric object

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

Convent Thoughts by Charles Allston Collins

CONVENT THOUGHTS

Charles Allston Collins (1828-1873)

Cycladic figure, 30cm, (detail)

CYCLADIC FIGURE

From Pre-history to Picasso

Ding Ware Dish

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

Ennui by Walter Richard Sickert

ENNUI

Walter Richard Sickert (1860-1942)

Lapis Lazuli Ewer wrapped in Gold

EWER

Carved from lapis lazuli and wrapped in gold

South Indian bronze sculpture depicting Hindu saint, Chandikeshvara.

FIGURE OF THE SAINT CHANDIKESHVARA

Wielding an axe with grace and elegance

Gilbert Cannan and his mill, Mark Gertler, 1916

GILBERT CANNAN AND HIS MILL

Mark Gertler (1891-1939)

The Great Bookcase, William Burges, 1856-62

GREAT BOOKCASE

Creating a medieval world that never was

Guy Fawkes Lantern, 17th Century

GUY FAWKES' LANTERN

Remember, remember the 5th of November

Hasta la Muerte (Until death) by Francisco Goya, 1799

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 with figures in Portugese dress

JAPANESE GUNPOWDER FLASK

Japanese gunpowder flask decorated with figures in Portuguese dress

1
2
3
next
last

BUY PRINTS FROM OUR ONLINE SHOP

Our history
Working for us
Press
Venue hire
Contact

Collections

Selected treasures
Curatorial departments
Online collections

Get involved
Volunteer
Membership
Donate
Corporate membership

Privacy policy
Terms of use
Image policy
Accessibility

Keep in touch

Email Address

Twitter Facebook Instagram

Explore the University of Oxford’s other gardens, libraries and museums

Ashmolean

Bodleian Libraries

Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum

History of Science Museum

Museum of Natural History

Pitt Rivers Museum

List of site pages