Everyday objects and images depicting daily life — inspiring open collections

Everyday objects and images depicting daily life — inspiring open collections can tell a lot about the way people lived in the past. They also help bring memories and ideas to life. Explore this selection of objects from cultural heritage across the world:

1. Everyday objects from the collection of Museo del Objeto del Objeto

Mending Tape from the second half of the 20th century, Museo del Objeto del Objeto, CC BY

2. Vintage toys from the collection of Deventer Musea on Europeana

Textile doll filled with straw, Deventer Musea, CC BY-SA

3. Games for Fun and Relaxation from the collection of The Library of Congress

The mansion of happiness, an instructive, moral & entertaining amusement / Thayer & Co’s. Lithogy., Boston.,

4. Fashion illustrations from the collection of the Malmö museer on Europeana

Advertising cards for fashion, Malmö museer, CC BY

5. Vintage fruit labels from the collection of Covina Public Library via DPLA

Florencia label, Covina Public Library via DPLA, public domain

6. Mobile phones from the collection of Telemuseet on Europeana

Mobile phone, Dancall Radio as, Telemuseet, CC BY-SA

7. Clothes and fashion accessories from the collection of the V & A on Europeana

Set of hand-knitted woollen baby clothes, English, 1800–1849, V&A, CC BY

8. Local history through objects from the collection of Rotterdam Museum on Europeana

Bottle label Oranjeboom Europa Cup Beer 1970, Rotterdam Museum, CC BY

9. Photos of daily life from Lietuvos dailės muziejus / Lithuanian Art Museum on Europeana

Children (second from the top right — Vytis Vaitkus). Radviliškis, 1937, Lietuvos dailės muziejus / Lithuanian Art Museum, public domain

10. Newsreels from the Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision on Europeana

Car soccer, Netherlands Institute of Sound and Vision, CC BY-SA

We hope this content will inspire you to create your own story exploring the past through everyday objects. Submit it for our creative competition, receive feedback from the professional jury and the audience, win prizes!

Do you know other interesting openly licensed collections we should feature? Let us know in the comments!