📸 N.15312. Uniformed soldiers, ?United Kingdom. Photographer: Unknown, c. WWI.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/photographs/308584/

We're not sure which figure is poet Rupert Brooke, who was a pupil at Rugby School in 1906 and briefly a Housemaster in 1910. He was one of more than 600 former students who are believed to have been killed during the First World War. 3/3

Looking at pictures of Rugby School appears to confirm the location of this photo as within the old quad, with the arches of the cloisters visible in the background. If you look closely, you can see boys sticking their heads out of the windows above to watch what's going on. 2/3

Entry to the museum and the craft market is free, but tickets will need to be booked for timed entry in advance. Book your place now via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maa-winter... 2/2

Spend time drawing inspiration from and sketching objects cared for by the museum before you start to learn the embroidery techniques of boro and sashiko. You will get the opportunity to make two beautiful winter star themed coasters.

Book now: onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/product-cata...

📸 Z 33423.1-3 Tiger milk mushroom, Kuala Langat District, Malaysia. Collector and donor: Walter Skeat. Image credit: Liana Chua, 2025.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/4835...

📸 Descendants of Kurtachi community, Buka Island, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Image credit: Taloi Havini, 2024.

Taloi Havini is one of the curatorial collective who created 'Fault Lines: Imagining Indigenous Futures for Colonial Collections'. To read more about her insights into the exhibition head over to the IndiGen project blog: www.indigen.eu/blog/convers... 2/2

Unfortunately I don't think we'll be allowed to test that theory...

📸 1922.903.1 Signet ring, England, c1575.
🔗 collections.maa.cam.ac.uk/objects/450626/

The ring's centre rotates to reveal initials which could be those of the owner or someone they wished to remember. Alternatively, the band that entwines them could be a lover's knot instead of a mourning ribbon, so was it used as a betrothal or wedding ring?

What do you think? 3/3

As the ring is made from gold it would have been an expensive piece to make, so its owner must have been wealthy providing the added irony that you cannot take earthly riches into the next life. 2/3

To find out more about Día de los Muertos and this altar visit our website: maa.cam.ac.uk/dia-de-los-m...

Video description: A conservation student uses a brush and vacuum cleaner to remove dust from metal objects displayed in a case.

Tuesday 4 November 2025 is #AskAConservatorDay. If you could ask CeeCee and @camunivmuseums.bsky.social Conservator Steph anything, what would it be? 2/2