April 2016: When the thorn from Christ's crown of thorns was in front of me at the British Museum

This is the Holy Thorn Reliquary of Jean, Duc de Berri, third son of Charles V of France, in 1390's.

You can look at the link to get more descriptions of this most amazing piece of Goldsmith's art, but I was focussed on the thorn. Is the thorn, which is protected by a pane of rock crystal, really 2000 years old? is this the thorn which adorned Jesus's head? I didnt talk to me, I am afraid, I didnt feel anything but then should I have? I am guessing yes, i should have, this has been the object of veneration for so many centuries and is one of the holiest objects in the world. But nothing? no feeling? at all? I was disappointed.

April 2014: A wonderfully intricate wooden carving of the life of Jesus Christ at the British Museum and another wooden sculpture

Its Flemish, carved in 1515 and is an altar piece.

Dont do anything but just watch it, look at each of the photographs and see the amazing workmanship. they would have used pins to carve this amazing piece out.




























Can you see the last supper? there's plates with food, the expressions of the apostles are amazing.

And then this is Herculus and Antaeus, German, mid 17th century. Just look at the face and rictus.

April 2014: Normal people put plastic or brown paper on their books as covers, and then some do this to their books

So normal people put plastic covers on their books, or brown paper or put in cardboard covers. If very rich, they go and do it with leather.

And then you have the Kfrafft family of Ulm for Munster Cathedral in 1506 to hold the gospels and the Epistles from the Bibles. This is in the British Museum.

HOLY SMOKES.

April 2014: Statues at the British Museum

Here's old man WIlliam Shakespeare





King Charles 1







Here's the man himself, Oliver Cromwell, who caused King Charles 1 to lose his head.




this is Anne Seymour Damer, a lady sculpturess, carved by her guru, Giuseppe Ceracchi. She is holding an allegory of Sculpture in her hands and you can just make out the tools of a sculptor at her feet. Quite a nice statue.