Skip to navigation Skip to content
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • facebook
Shop Now
House of Books & Friends
My Account
  • £0.00 0
House of Books & Friends
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Resources for Connection
    • News
    • Volunteering
  • Shop
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Coffee & Connections
    • The Loneliness Project
    • The Sunday Letter Project
  • Contact
    • Hire Us
    • Accessibility Information
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Resources for Connection
    • News
    • Volunteering
  • Shop
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Coffee & Connections
    • The Loneliness Project
    • The Sunday Letter Project
  • Contact
    • Hire Us
    • Accessibility Information

Buy Online

A Compendium of Curious Contraptions

£14.99

Guess what some of the most unusual objects from history were used for in this book by archaeologist Anna Goldfield!

In Stock

ISBN: 9781916745032 Category: Children's - Non-Fiction Tags: Children's / Teenage general interest: General knowledge & trivia, Children's / Teenage general interest: Machines & how things work, Educational: Social sciences, social studies
  • Description
  • Additional information
  • Reviews (0)

Description

An illustrated guide to some of the most bizarre objects from history by archaeologist Anna Goldfield, including a guessing game for kids to play!

Each page contains a mystery item from the past, with a set of clues as to what it was used for. Readers can take a guess before unfolding a giant flap to reveal the answer. Without giving too much away, the book contains Inuit snow goggles, designed to protect eyes from the blinding glare of the ice, an ancient Chinese earthquake detector featuring several metal frogs, and err.. the Royal fistula – an item used to perform delicate surgery on the rear end of King Louis XIV of France.

Kids will delight in trying to work out the purpose of the beautiful objects, brought to life by Mexican illustrator Paula Zamudio, and will learn a lot about the cultures that created them – from ancient Rome to Polynesia, and Mesopotamia to Viking Scandinavia.

Additional information

Weight 0.68 kg
Dimensions 28.8 × 23.6 × 1.8 cm
Author

Goldfield, Anna

Publisher

Neon Squid

Imprint

Neon Squid

Cover

Hardback

Pages

64

Language

English

Edition
Dewey

909 (edition:23)

Readership

Children – juvenile / Code: J

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

Related products

  • Journeys of Empire

    £8.99
    Add to basket
  • Feeling words to explain my emotions

    £12.99
    Add to basket
  • Keep smashing it

    £9.99
    Add to basket

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 29



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 17909837037280977


(Not so) breaking news! We've welcomed new bookseller Aemen at HOBAF (quite) a few weeks ago, and what better introduction than some of her favourite reads?!

Have you read any of these books? Do we love them or hate them? Make sure to come in and share your opinions with her! 📚☕

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 28



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 17939334309348877


Velaris is calling... ⭐🌙

You are cordially invited to spend an evening at the Night Court. Leave the mortal realm behind and step through the doors of our grade II listed bookshop, where the shelves become portals and the pages of A Court of Thorns and Roses come alive after dark.

Join us for an enchanting evening celebrating the Midnight Launch of A Court of Splintered Harmony in our historic event space. The perfect place to celebrate with music, crafts and quizzes. Receive your copy of the book as the bell tolls midnight...

Tickets at the link in our bio!

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 27



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18111274907039386


Who doesn't love a spreadge?😍

Look at these beautiful special editions of some of our new books, can you spot any you recognise? Grab these exclusives while stocks last in store or online! 📚

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 26



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18124995703697515


When we think of ‘Women in Translation’, we often gravitate towards fiction. Did you know there are some incredible translated memoirs just waiting for you to discover them?

🖤Things That Disappear -Jenny Erpenbeck (trans. Kurt Beals) is a reflection of what we have known and have lost. Coming from a country once divided, Erpenbeck’s essays cover the demolition of a building once deemed the home of the Eastern German government, to the loss of the skill to darn tights because simply purchasing a new pair was not an option. We are made to question the permanence of all around us, and in doing so see the value they hold to us in the here and now.

⭐Outsider Everywhere - Mercedes Halfon (trans. Rahul Bery)
A biography following Witold Gombrowicz from the day he chose not to return to Poland at the beginning of World War 2, but instead spent 24 years in Argentina. Following a man who would one day be considered ‘one of the greatest writers of our time’, Halfon tells of a bohemian South American country, with vignettes that highlight the author's desire to destabilise and subvert at every possible moment.

💙I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki -Baek Sehee (trans. Anton Hur)
What started as a global phenomenon showing one woman’s conversations with her therapist has evolved into a somber piece of literature following the passing of Baek Sehee in 2025. Baek’s offer of vulnerability has helped so many readers feel understood when facing their own struggles with depression and suicide, while also battling the almost juxtaposing thoughts of still craving comfort foods, going on dates, and being perceived to ‘function’ in the world.

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 26



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 17892865638605263


We have received reports of individuals being contacted by email by someone claiming to be us.⚠️

Please be aware that our offical email address is: bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.pro.

If you are unsure if an email is genuine. Please contact us on the above address!

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Aug 25



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18107873924142661


🎟️SEPTEMBER EVENTS! 🎟️

Get your tickets before they sell out! All events are available to book on our website.


Follow on Instagram

You're here, so you must like reading.... our newsletter is akin to a literary classic! We have so many projects, events and plans for House of Books & Friends all of which we will pack in to our newsletter so you can be among the first to find out about all the latest news. Don't worry, we promise not to bombard you!

SUBSCRIBE
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • facebook

Get in Touch

We love to hearing from fellow Bookworms!

Please drop us a message, find out where we are or get directions via our contact page.
Contact Us

 

© House of Books and Friends 2026 / Website designed by Bookswarm

The House of Books and Friends CIC is a community interest company registration number 13909633, the registered office of which is 53 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ. Trading Address - 81 King Street, Manchester M2 4AH. what3words ///stars.wished.papers

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy and Cookies
  • My Account
  • Search
  • Basket 0