Brain Simpson
@wiseoldelf.bsky.social
Optimist sourpuss | I've t-shirts older than that | not the American contemporary jazz pianist and composer or former Member of the European Parliament
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The Holbein Chamber at Strawberry Hill House and Garden is currently home to 15 portraits of kings and queens that are on loan from the Dulwich Picture Gallery, including this 17th-century portrait of Anne Boleyn. It was wonderful to finally get to see this in the flesh!
September 4, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The Holbein Chamber at Strawberry Hill House and Garden is currently home to 15 portraits of kings and queens that are on loan from the Dulwich Picture Gallery, including this 17th-century portrait of Anne Boleyn. It was wonderful to finally get to see this in the flesh!
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#OnThisDay, 1st September 1532, Henry VIII granted the title of Marquess of Pembroke to his mistress and future wife Anne Boleyn, just 454 years before the broadcast of the first episode of the BBC sitcom Brushstrokes.
youtu.be/kXtq7KVi5SM?...
youtu.be/kXtq7KVi5SM?...
BBC Brush Stokes Opening Credits
youtu.be
September 1, 2025 at 7:30 AM
#OnThisDay, 1st September 1532, Henry VIII granted the title of Marquess of Pembroke to his mistress and future wife Anne Boleyn, just 454 years before the broadcast of the first episode of the BBC sitcom Brushstrokes.
youtu.be/kXtq7KVi5SM?...
youtu.be/kXtq7KVi5SM?...
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The Galloway Hoard was discovered by detectorist Derek McLennan at Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, #OTD in 2014. Deposited around AD 900, it is both Scotland’s earliest Viking-Age hoard and the richest ever found in Britain and Ireland. 📸National Museums Scotland #medievalsky
September 1, 2025 at 6:35 AM
The Galloway Hoard was discovered by detectorist Derek McLennan at Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, #OTD in 2014. Deposited around AD 900, it is both Scotland’s earliest Viking-Age hoard and the richest ever found in Britain and Ireland. 📸National Museums Scotland #medievalsky
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Portrait of Erasmus Writing,
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1528 (Musée du Louvre)
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1528 (Musée du Louvre)
August 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Portrait of Erasmus Writing,
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1528 (Musée du Louvre)
Hans Holbein the Younger, 1528 (Musée du Louvre)
Reposted by Brain Simpson
The Sedgeford and Newark torcs - one from Norfolk, one from Nottinghamshire.
I still can't believe that anyone looked at these and said they were from the same mould...!! They're so clearly not.
1/3
#Archaeology 🏺
I still can't believe that anyone looked at these and said they were from the same mould...!! They're so clearly not.
1/3
#Archaeology 🏺
August 24, 2025 at 6:32 AM
The Sedgeford and Newark torcs - one from Norfolk, one from Nottinghamshire.
I still can't believe that anyone looked at these and said they were from the same mould...!! They're so clearly not.
1/3
#Archaeology 🏺
I still can't believe that anyone looked at these and said they were from the same mould...!! They're so clearly not.
1/3
#Archaeology 🏺
Reposted by Brain Simpson
This gold signet ring is over 3000 years old and measures just 2cm in length.
It shows a man and a woman about to embark on a ship, complete with rowers and even a cox. It was purchased by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who said that it was ‘very probably from the harbour town of Knossos’.
It shows a man and a woman about to embark on a ship, complete with rowers and even a cox. It was purchased by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who said that it was ‘very probably from the harbour town of Knossos’.
August 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
This gold signet ring is over 3000 years old and measures just 2cm in length.
It shows a man and a woman about to embark on a ship, complete with rowers and even a cox. It was purchased by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who said that it was ‘very probably from the harbour town of Knossos’.
It shows a man and a woman about to embark on a ship, complete with rowers and even a cox. It was purchased by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who said that it was ‘very probably from the harbour town of Knossos’.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#OnThisDay, 21st August 1836, John Deane announced that he had rediscovered the Mary Rose.
Shame they then lost it again, meaning we had to start over 125 years later...
Discover more of the story at maryrose.org/discover/his...
Shame they then lost it again, meaning we had to start over 125 years later...
Discover more of the story at maryrose.org/discover/his...
August 21, 2025 at 7:20 AM
#OnThisDay, 21st August 1836, John Deane announced that he had rediscovered the Mary Rose.
Shame they then lost it again, meaning we had to start over 125 years later...
Discover more of the story at maryrose.org/discover/his...
Shame they then lost it again, meaning we had to start over 125 years later...
Discover more of the story at maryrose.org/discover/his...
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Happy Monday!
Here’s an ancient amber bear carved about 10,000 years ago!
This magical find washed up on a beach at Fanø in Denmark from a submerged Mesolithic settlement under the North Sea.
National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Here’s an ancient amber bear carved about 10,000 years ago!
This magical find washed up on a beach at Fanø in Denmark from a submerged Mesolithic settlement under the North Sea.
National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#Archaeology
August 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Happy Monday!
Here’s an ancient amber bear carved about 10,000 years ago!
This magical find washed up on a beach at Fanø in Denmark from a submerged Mesolithic settlement under the North Sea.
National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Here’s an ancient amber bear carved about 10,000 years ago!
This magical find washed up on a beach at Fanø in Denmark from a submerged Mesolithic settlement under the North Sea.
National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Real ship timbers!
Dated 953-65 and from an English ship built in the south-east. Reused in the walling of a Viking-era house on Hungate, York.
Currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum.
Dated 953-65 and from an English ship built in the south-east. Reused in the walling of a Viking-era house on Hungate, York.
Currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum.
August 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Real ship timbers!
Dated 953-65 and from an English ship built in the south-east. Reused in the walling of a Viking-era house on Hungate, York.
Currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum.
Dated 953-65 and from an English ship built in the south-east. Reused in the walling of a Viking-era house on Hungate, York.
Currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Historical hottie du jour: man with a Roman coin, painted in 1472 by Hans Memling of Bruges. His day is today.
August 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Historical hottie du jour: man with a Roman coin, painted in 1472 by Hans Memling of Bruges. His day is today.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
A 6th or 7th century grave marker for #StandingStoneSunday
Dedicated to Iudnne.. [Iudnnerth?] son of Qui.. [Quintus?]
Carved into a Romano British column (from a villa?)
Found during the demolition of an 8th century church in 1841
Now in Lady St Mary church Wareham #Dorset
📷 May 2025
Dedicated to Iudnne.. [Iudnnerth?] son of Qui.. [Quintus?]
Carved into a Romano British column (from a villa?)
Found during the demolition of an 8th century church in 1841
Now in Lady St Mary church Wareham #Dorset
📷 May 2025
August 10, 2025 at 8:12 AM
A 6th or 7th century grave marker for #StandingStoneSunday
Dedicated to Iudnne.. [Iudnnerth?] son of Qui.. [Quintus?]
Carved into a Romano British column (from a villa?)
Found during the demolition of an 8th century church in 1841
Now in Lady St Mary church Wareham #Dorset
📷 May 2025
Dedicated to Iudnne.. [Iudnnerth?] son of Qui.. [Quintus?]
Carved into a Romano British column (from a villa?)
Found during the demolition of an 8th century church in 1841
Now in Lady St Mary church Wareham #Dorset
📷 May 2025
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Happy 350th birthday to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich! the foundation stone was laid at 3:14 pm on 10 August 1675 (OS). We know because the astronomer there, John Flamsteed, drew up a horoscope. See more here teleskopos.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/a... #histSTM #histsci
August 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Happy 350th birthday to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich! the foundation stone was laid at 3:14 pm on 10 August 1675 (OS). We know because the astronomer there, John Flamsteed, drew up a horoscope. See more here teleskopos.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/a... #histSTM #histsci
Reposted by Brain Simpson
10 Aug 1628: Watched by hundreds from the shore, the #Swedish warship ‘Vasa’ sinks in #Stockholm harbour #otd 20 minutes into the maiden voyage (Bengt Nysen/Javier Kohen)
August 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
10 Aug 1628: Watched by hundreds from the shore, the #Swedish warship ‘Vasa’ sinks in #Stockholm harbour #otd 20 minutes into the maiden voyage (Bengt Nysen/Javier Kohen)
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Artists have always loved to sketch!
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used small flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used small flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
August 8, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Artists have always loved to sketch!
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used small flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used small flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Æthelwald Moll, king of the Northumbrians, did battle against Oswine #OTD in 761, and after three days Moll prevailed and slew his rival. The battle took place at Ædwinesclif (Edwin’s Cliff), apparently below the Eildon Hills near Melrose, Scottish Borders. 📸Iain Russell #medievalsky
August 6, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Æthelwald Moll, king of the Northumbrians, did battle against Oswine #OTD in 761, and after three days Moll prevailed and slew his rival. The battle took place at Ædwinesclif (Edwin’s Cliff), apparently below the Eildon Hills near Melrose, Scottish Borders. 📸Iain Russell #medievalsky
Reposted by Brain Simpson
We’re going to hell in a handcart, but some 2500 years ago someone in what is now modern eastern Italy made this kyathos to mix wine in and it’s still an object of deep joy
August 5, 2025 at 12:41 PM
We’re going to hell in a handcart, but some 2500 years ago someone in what is now modern eastern Italy made this kyathos to mix wine in and it’s still an object of deep joy
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Wheat Field Near Fridaythorpe, painting by David Hockney, 2005. #NorthernArt
August 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Wheat Field Near Fridaythorpe, painting by David Hockney, 2005. #NorthernArt
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Castellum of Aardenburg: The village of Aardenburg (Zeeland) was part of the Roman Empire from at least 27BCE until 289CE. #RomanSiteSaturday
This part of western Europe was the home of the Menapii, a Celtic tribe, until the Romans came. The Romans and Celts mingled.
This part of western Europe was the home of the Menapii, a Celtic tribe, until the Romans came. The Romans and Celts mingled.
August 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Castellum of Aardenburg: The village of Aardenburg (Zeeland) was part of the Roman Empire from at least 27BCE until 289CE. #RomanSiteSaturday
This part of western Europe was the home of the Menapii, a Celtic tribe, until the Romans came. The Romans and Celts mingled.
This part of western Europe was the home of the Menapii, a Celtic tribe, until the Romans came. The Romans and Celts mingled.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#SaturdayMorningMood: a #Greek skyphos (a two handled drinking cup), decorated with an adorable #owl.
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
August 2, 2025 at 6:49 AM
#SaturdayMorningMood: a #Greek skyphos (a two handled drinking cup), decorated with an adorable #owl.
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Dating second half of the 5th century BC.
On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.
📷 me
🏺
Reposted by Brain Simpson
This beautiful box dates from 18th century China. It resembles a six-petaled flower, and features a phoenix and eight symbols of Taoist immortals inlaid with turquoise.
July 31, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This beautiful box dates from 18th century China. It resembles a six-petaled flower, and features a phoenix and eight symbols of Taoist immortals inlaid with turquoise.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
St Catherine's Oratory, the Isle of Wight, England, built in the 14th century - making it Britain's only surviving medieval lighthouse.
Originally attached to another building, it is 4 storeys high and has 8 walls on the outside, but only 4 on the inside. A priest used to be paid to tend to it.
Originally attached to another building, it is 4 storeys high and has 8 walls on the outside, but only 4 on the inside. A priest used to be paid to tend to it.
July 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
St Catherine's Oratory, the Isle of Wight, England, built in the 14th century - making it Britain's only surviving medieval lighthouse.
Originally attached to another building, it is 4 storeys high and has 8 walls on the outside, but only 4 on the inside. A priest used to be paid to tend to it.
Originally attached to another building, it is 4 storeys high and has 8 walls on the outside, but only 4 on the inside. A priest used to be paid to tend to it.
Reposted by Brain Simpson
About 25,000 years ago, this small figurine was beautifully carved from mammoth ivory. The ‘Lady of Brassempouy’ is one of the earliest representations of a human face! 🤯
Excavated in 1894 by Edouard Piette at Grotte du Pape, Brassempouy, Landes, France.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Excavated in 1894 by Edouard Piette at Grotte du Pape, Brassempouy, Landes, France.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
July 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
About 25,000 years ago, this small figurine was beautifully carved from mammoth ivory. The ‘Lady of Brassempouy’ is one of the earliest representations of a human face! 🤯
Excavated in 1894 by Edouard Piette at Grotte du Pape, Brassempouy, Landes, France.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Excavated in 1894 by Edouard Piette at Grotte du Pape, Brassempouy, Landes, France.
📷 by me
#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Fantastic hooves on these ‘elephants done by a medieval artist who had never seen one’ - early 15th century, British Library, Royal MS 20 B XX, f. 57r
July 19, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Fantastic hooves on these ‘elephants done by a medieval artist who had never seen one’ - early 15th century, British Library, Royal MS 20 B XX, f. 57r
Reposted by Brain Simpson
#OnThisDay. 19th July 1545, The Mary Rose sank during the Battle of the Solent, just a few miles from the coast of Portsmouth.
Of her 500 crew, only around 30-40 were saved. The Mary Rose Museum is dedicated to those who lost their lives that day.
🖼️ Geoff Hunt PPRSMA
Of her 500 crew, only around 30-40 were saved. The Mary Rose Museum is dedicated to those who lost their lives that day.
🖼️ Geoff Hunt PPRSMA
July 19, 2025 at 6:10 AM
#OnThisDay. 19th July 1545, The Mary Rose sank during the Battle of the Solent, just a few miles from the coast of Portsmouth.
Of her 500 crew, only around 30-40 were saved. The Mary Rose Museum is dedicated to those who lost their lives that day.
🖼️ Geoff Hunt PPRSMA
Of her 500 crew, only around 30-40 were saved. The Mary Rose Museum is dedicated to those who lost their lives that day.
🖼️ Geoff Hunt PPRSMA
Reposted by Brain Simpson
Amber bead necklace, dating 6th c. BC, from Saal a.d.Saale-Waltershausen.
It appears that amber served a dual purpose, enhancing the appearance and protecting the women who wore it during the Hallstatt period. The intriguing material, sourced from the Baltic region, underwent...🧵1/2
📷me
🏺
It appears that amber served a dual purpose, enhancing the appearance and protecting the women who wore it during the Hallstatt period. The intriguing material, sourced from the Baltic region, underwent...🧵1/2
📷me
🏺
July 16, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Amber bead necklace, dating 6th c. BC, from Saal a.d.Saale-Waltershausen.
It appears that amber served a dual purpose, enhancing the appearance and protecting the women who wore it during the Hallstatt period. The intriguing material, sourced from the Baltic region, underwent...🧵1/2
📷me
🏺
It appears that amber served a dual purpose, enhancing the appearance and protecting the women who wore it during the Hallstatt period. The intriguing material, sourced from the Baltic region, underwent...🧵1/2
📷me
🏺