The working life of Museum of London

Day 3 in the Big Battle between our best objects rediscovered during the VIP6 project. But what was the winner from yesterday?

The second object going into Friday’s Grand Final is…

THE ROMAN BASKET!

Well done to Lucy & Emma who join Monday’s winner Claire’s object, the Saxon Bird Pin

Ready for Round 3…

The first contestant today was repacked by Monday volunteer Deborah during Week 3. This  fine medieval sheath from Billingsgate excavations (BWB83) dates to around the mid 14th Century. The engraved/embossed decoration features a number of anonymous animals. Due to the zoomorphic decoration the blades are usually interpreted as ‘hunting’ knives, although knives were commonplace and multipurpose tools in the medieval period.

Second up was only repacked by Monday volunteer Maria last week during Session 8. Originally excavated at Sir John Cass School (CASS72), this is a somewhat deceptive 19th Century bottle. Its ‘marbled’ colouration is actually a result of the glass degrading and would originally have been coloured brown. It reads: ‘By The Kings Patent True Cephalick Snuff’ and as such would have been used to treat aliments of the head. The snuff may not have been tobacco based, but rather a reference to how the medicine was administered.

Your third choice was excavated at Newgate Street in 1975 (GPO75) but rediscovered during VIP6 by Monday volunteer Miranda during Week 4. This Roman copper lamp would have been more costly than the more common ceramic lamps (which are sometimes dusted with mica in an effort to imitate their metallic counterparts). The lamp has lost part of its crescent shaped handle but has survived fairly well considering! It would originally have been suspended by a chain from the wall or ceiling, attached to the side and back ringlets, but would emit very little light.

Today’s final candidate was audited during week 7 by Friday volunteer Simona. Excavated in 1976 at Milk Street (MLK76), this oyster shell of the late 12th Century has been reused as a paint palette. Oysters were a popular delicacy in the medieval period, and there is a long tradition of them being reused as palettes. The traces of red are probably vermillion – an expensive product for its time which could have been used in wall paintings of churches or for the illumination of manuscripts.

Four great objects but which is your favourite? To vote click here: VOTE (voting has now closed but you can still vote in round 4)

Voting closes at noon tomorrow (Thurs 12th Aug).

Join us then to find out the result of today’s competition and choose your final winner before Friday’s Grand Final.

For more info about excavations, what we did each week or for larger photos, click on any highlighted word in the text or image.