The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.

The Invisible Revealed

View Objects
The Powerhouse collection of more than half a million objects tells us much about our material culture but it also inspires many questions. What are our objects made of? How old are they? Is anything hidden inside? Over time, new research and technologies can help us solve these mysteries – and reveal new ones. The Invisible Revealed exhibition is about work done through a partnership between the Museum and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Using their …

154A Ceremonial figures (pair), 'Lokapala' (tomb guardians), earthenware / wood, maker unknown, China, Tang dynasty, c. 700-750
Pair of 'Lokapala' (tomb guardians) ceremonial figures
c. 700-750
2014/132/18 Figure, of Mahasiddha Catrapa, bronze, Tibet, 1400-1599
Figure of Mahasiddha Catrapa from Tibet
1400-1599
K971 Pocket watch, with pouch and key, case no. 13012, rose gold / textiles / metal, maker unknown, France, c. 1810
Pocket watch, pouch and key
c. 1810
A3396 Knife, southern cassowary casque / resin / abrus seed, maker not recorded, location not recorded, Queensland, Australia, made circa 1877–1930, acquired 1941
Australian Aboriginal knife
H1360 Katana (sword), and fittings (4), steel / wood / lacquer, attributed to Sadatsugu, Bitchu (Okayama), Japan, 1346-1370
Katana (sword) with fittings attributed to Sadatsugu
1346-1370
2014/132/41 Figure, of Bodhisattva Manjusri, gilt bronze, Tibet, 1400s-1500s
Figure of Badhisattva Manjusri from Tibet
1400-1599
2004/44/10-2 Miniature camera (1 of 4), 'Mikroma II', metal / plastic / glass / textiles, made by Meopta Company, Prague, Czechoslovakia, 1957
Miniature 'Mikroma II' camera made by Meopta Company
1957
2013/23/15 Boomerang, Indigenous Australian, maker not recorded, New South Wales, Australia, 1520-1795
Boomerang
H5378 Katana (sword), and fittings (3), steel / wood / lacquer / textiles, made by Tsuguhiro, Iwami (Shimane) Japan, 1661-1673
Katana (sword) with fittings made by Tsuguhiro, Japan
1661-1673
D7269 Textile fragment, linen, Egypt, about 550-650 CE
Linen fragment from ancient Egypt
550-650
2010/1/199 Mechanical calculator with case, 'Curta', System Curt Herzstark, metal, made by Contina Ltd, Mauren, Liechtenstein, c. 1954
'Curta' mechanical calculator and case made by Contina Ltd
c. 1954
On display
H7994 Alarm clock, 'Alert', hand-wound with alarm, metal / glass / paint, made by Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1945-1950
'Alert' alarm clock by Colton, Palmer and Preston Ltd
1945-1950
H4839 Katana (sword) and scabbard, copper / gold / silver / tape / iron / lacquer / leather, made by Yokohama Sukenaga of Bizen, Japan, c. 1880
Katana (sword) and scabbard by Yokohama Sukenaga of Bizen, Japan
c. 1880
A6167 Textile fragment, Coptic, plain and tapestry weave, linen / wool, Egypt, 350-440 CE
Coptic textile fragment from Egypt
350-440
A6413 Figurine, 'Artemis', Hellenistic style, marble, maker unknown, Greece, 200 BCE
Figurine of Artemis from Greece
200 BC
H6856 Katana (sword) and scabbard, wood / steel / iron / textile / shagreen, maker unknown, Japan, Koto period 987-1596
Katana (sword) and scabbard from Japan
987-1596
A6168 Textile fragment, from clavus band, Coptic, hand woven, linen / wool, maker unknown, Egypt, 550-610 CE
Coptic textile fragment from Egypt
550-610
A6017 Wine vessel (jue), bronze, China, Shang Dynasty, c. 1600BCE-1046BCE
Ritual bronze wine vessel (jue) from the Shang Dynasty
c. 1600BCE-1046BCE
2014/132/26 Sculpture, of a kadampa chorten (stupa), bronze, Tibet, 1200s
Kadampa chorten (stupa) sculpture from Tibet
1200s
2008/153/1 Fragment of medallion carpet, knotted wool pile / felt, Ushak, Turkey, c. 1500-1650
Fragment of medallion carpet from Turkey
1500-1650
94/106/1 Coin, Stater, gold, Sardis, Lydia, c.505-500 BCE
Lydian Stater coin
555-546 BCE