These playing cards, called hanafuda, are from Japan. The Portuguese first introduced playing cards to Japan in the mid-16th century. However, European cards were banned along with many other foreign goods in 1633, leading to the development of unique Japanese cards. The cards went through […]
This hat is from the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After the completion of initiation rites, many Kuba men wear a simple cap on the crown of their head known as a laket. Lakets are woven from raffia fiber in a […]
Chupícuaro is a late Pre-Classic archaeological culture located in west central Mexico. It is best known for its bold polychrome ceramics like this tripod bowl, which dates to between 300 BCE and 400 CE. Chupícuaro pieces take a variety of forms including hollow figures, jars, […]
Although we do not know its specific place of origin, this oil lamp is a typical product of the Late Antique eastern Mediterranean or Middle East. It dates to between the 4th and 7th century CE. It is about four inches long and would easily […]
This mporo necklace was made by the Samburu people who live in north central Kenya, just above the equator. The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists, moving frequently to allow their livestock to graze. They are closely related to the Maasai, who live further south, and speak […]
For people in South and Southeast Asia and Oceania, chewing betel nut is a tradition dating back thousands of years. What is referred to as betel nut is actually a piece of nut from the areca palm dabbed with slaked lime and wrapped in a […]