Objects on Display
Bronze coil bracelet
Diameter: 5 cm
1st millennium BCE
Italy
Esther Boise Van Deman bequest, 1938
KM 6643
"My essay, 'The Crown Jewel: Female Agency through Jewelry,' analyzes the agency that Roman women gained through jewelry. Using a bronze pendant from the Kelsey Museum, I argue that jewelry allowed women to voice personal preferences, gain financial independence, and exert influence over their physical well-being."
— Jason Leaym
Round clay school tablet
Diameter: 6.4 cm
1500–500 BCE
Iraq
Middle East Studies Department
KM 89257
"This tablet represents a chapter from one of the most pivotal periods in history. Cuneiform, the earliest form of writing, was more than a collection of symbols or a complex record system; etched in clay, it signified our unique potential as humans to create, teach, and inspire. Against all odds, the tablet continues to testify to the enduring power of writing and education."
— Anna Luurtsema
Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter depicting Alexander III of Macedonia
Diameter: 2.6 cm
312 BCE (Hellenistic)
Numismatic Fine Arts International
KM 1988.4.13
"Through my examination I found that the message of this coin is caught between two reigns. On one hand, Ptolemy is beginning to assert his independent rule, but on the other hand, he still draws heavily on Alexander the Great’s reputation and imagery. I am particularly interested in how this coin represents the way that Macedonian identity, as introduced to conquered lands by Alexander, persisted and mingled with local identity following his conquest and death."
— Araceli Rizzo
"Copper Coins"
Acid-etched copper coins
Artist: Dani Tutak
"This collection of acid-etched copper coins features both historical coin motifs and modern interpretations of designs. Coins have widely been used throughout history and serve to connect both individuals and cultures. They require trust to be valuable because, without the collective agreement that these little discs of metal hold value, they are relatively useless. As such, I made these coins to serve as an analogy to human connection, how people interact, and how ideas spread. The designs all feature motifs that are either a nod to a notable milestone from human history or symbolize interpretations of the human experience."
— Dani Tutak
