suttonhoo
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A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECTS
SUTTON HOO HELMET
DOUBLE-HEADED SERPENT
HAWAIIAN FEATHER HELMET
HOKUSAI’S “THE GREAT WAVE”
SUTTON HOO HELMET
LOCATION: UK - England
- East - Suffolk
CULTURE: Saxons and
Vikings
PERIOD: 7th century AD
THEME: Death - Leaders
- War
SIZE: H: 31.8cm W: 21.5cm
COLOUR:
MATERIAL: Metal - Gold
Sutton Hoo in relation to Gipeswic (Ipswich) and the Wicklaw
The ship under excavation in the
1930s
The Sutton Hoo Helmet is one of the most important Anglo Saxon finds of all time. It was
buried in the grave of a warrior chieftain. Alongside it were a vast array of weaponry and
a 27-metre-long ship. Although the helmet belonged to a powerful war-leader we cannot
be certain who was buried at Sutton Hoo. When it was found it conjured up images of the
warrior culture of the great Anglo Saxon epic poem, Beowulf that was written at a similar
period.
The many pieces of the helmet before it was reconstructed.
DOUBLE-HEADED SERPENT
Location: Central and
South America -
Mexico
Culture: Aztec, Maya and
Central America
Period: 1400 - 1600
Theme: Trade - Art -
Religion
Size; Small
H: 20.5cm W: 43.3cmD:
6.5cm
Colour:
Material: Shell - Wood -
Gemstones
This serpent mosaic was created in Aztec
Mexico. It may have been worn or carried
during religious ceremonies. Snakes were
sacred to the Aztecs as they were the sym-
bol of the feathered serpent god, Quetzal-
coatl.
The Aztec Empire consisted of many sub-
ject territories, stretching from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Pacific. Frequently they had to
provide gifts as tribute to demonstrate their
allegiance to the Aztec emperor. Tributes in
the form of turquoise were particularly high-
ly valued.
An Aztec codex with an illustration of a double-headed serpent.
Detail of one of the serpent’s heads.
HAWAIIAN FEATHER HELMET
Location: Pacific - Australia
Hawaii
Period: 1700 - 1800
Theme: Travel - Trade - War
Size: Small
H: 37cm W: 15cm D: 30cm
Colour:
Material: Animal Material
This feather helmet would have been worn by
a Hawaiian chief during a ceremony or in bat-
tle. It is made from wicker basketry and cov-
ered with the red feathers of honeycreepers
and the yellow feathers of honeyeaters. Red
and yellow were the Hawaiians’ most impor-
tant colours and were regarded as tapu - hold-
ing a sacred quality.
Feathers enhanced mana - a spiritual force
that can fill individuals or objects with power.
Birds were regarded in Polynesia as spiritual
messengers.
Print showing the death of Captain
Cook.
This helmet was probably collected in 1778 by
Captain Cook or a crew member of his ship.
They were the first Europeans to ever visit Ha-
waii. The Hawaiian Islands were first settled in
around AD 400 but had probably been isolated
from the rest of Polynesia for 500 years when
Cook arrived.
Portrait print of Captain James Cook from 1784.
HOKUSAI'S "THE GREAT WAVE"
Location: East Asia, Japan
Culture: The Modern World
Period: 1800 - 1900, 1830–1833
Theme: Trade - Art -
Communication
Size: Small
H: 25.8cm W: 37.9cm
Colour:
Material: Paper
‘Under the Wave off Kanagawa’ (‘The Great Wave’) is probably the most iconic Japanese
artwork in the world. It depicts a monstrous wave about to come crashing down on
three fishing boats and their crews. On the horizon is Mount Fuji, dwarfed by the colossal
wave.
The print was created by Hokusai when he was
about seventy years old, as part of his Thirty-six
views of Mount Fuji series. The print was made
using colour woodblock printing and many thou-
sands of impressions were made - each one
sold quite cheaply.
When The Great Wave was first is-
sued, in about 1830, Japan’s contact
with the outside world was strictly
regulated. It was only in 1859 when
Japan, under pressure from America
and other powers, opened a few of
its ports that Japanese prints began
to be exported to Europe. They were
quickly discovered and celebrated by
European and American artists like
Whistler, Van Gogh and Monet. The
Great Wave inspired Debussy’s sym-
phonic sketches La Mer and has be-
come one of the most iconic images
of the power of the sea.
Self portrait as an old man. Original in Louvre.
Hokusai’s signature.
INFORMATION DESK
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TICKET DESK
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COLLECTIONENQUIRIES@BRITISHMU-
SEUM.ORG
SWITCHBOARD
FOR ALL OTHER ENQUIRIES
TEL: +44 (0)20 7323 8000
BRITISH MUSEUM, GREAT RUS-
SELL STREET, WC1B 3DG
HOW TO GET THERE
BY LONDON UNDERGROUNFHOLBORN (500M)RUSSELL SQUARE (800M)GOODGE STREET (800M
BY BUS1, 7, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242STOP ON NEW OXFORD STREET10, 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390STOP ON TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD, NORTHBOUNDSTOP ON GOWER STREET, SOUTH-BOUND59, 68, X68, 91, 168, 188STOP ON SOUTHAMPTON ROW
Location on Map
