What do you do when you’re drifting across the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by nothing but endless water and ice, with little to occupy your time – except a freshly caught whale? To pass the long, monotonous months at sea and find relief from the hardships of life aboard a whaling ship, whalers practiced the centuries-old…
This artillery shell casing is remarkable not only because it dates back to the First World War, but also because it symbolizes its triumphant outcome. Like many soldiers who sought distraction from the monotony and horrors of trench life, this casing was most likely hand-engraved by a French soldier. The scene depicts a fighting rooster…
Equipped with leather laces that extend into a wrap-around strap, these boots showcase a striking design. But the real surprise reveals itself on the underside: the signature air-cushioned soles are stamped with their original German inscriptions — “Benzin, Oel, Säure STAbil – DR. MAERTENS, LUFT POLSTER SCHUH.” They date back to the period when the…
On the face of it – or him, actually – this might seem like an ordinary illustration, but if you take a better look you’ll find many peculiar details! This satirical cartoon depicts none less than Napoleon Bonaparte and critisizes his violent acts of dictatorship. The original cartoon was made by the German Johann Michael…
This unique vase might seem like it has originally been crafted this way, but it was actually made out of a British artillery shell! To escape the daily stress and boredom in the trenches during the First World War, soldiers would distract themselves through the production of art. Appropriately named “Trench art”, soldiers would express…
This handmade aircraft was not just built by any hobbyist, this wooden model of the iconic Lancaster bomber was made by a RAF pilot who actually used to fly the real deal, and the story behind it makes it even better! In 1941 the Lancaster was first developed by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro, and…
Inspired by the craftmanship of native Canadians these classic wooden snowshoes were traditionally handmade with rawhide latticeworks stretched around wooden frames. Their specific design is called ‘Bear Paws’ because of the distinctive shape which makes them very efficient and silent while moving trough the deep snow. Ideal for hunting, trapping and long-distance hikes these old…
This antique pistol was found in an old barn on the Italian island of Sicily and appears to have a special connection to the local history! Made sometime in the 19th century, this weapon should originally have had two much longer barrels and a stock as this once was a double barrel percussion rifle. With…
These odd looking seats might seem to be prehistoric creations, made out of mammoth tusks and skin, but they’re not that old! Chairs like these became quite popular during the Victorian era when it was highly fashionable to decorate a specific room with all sorts of exotic, natural and historical objects and turn it into…
No, this is not an orc spear or some other movie prop even though you might consider it to be as cruel. This is an actual whaling harpoon, used by the Dutch whaling fleet during the late 19th century! The design of this specific harpoon dates back to the mid 1800’s and was called a…
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