The Historical Pulley of William George Keith Elphinstone

The Historical Pulley of William George Keith Elphinstone
This rare 18th-century artifact, originating from West Africa, entered the collection of William George Keith Elphinstone—renowned English adventurer and collector—during the height of the colonial era. Though best known for his expeditions in India and Afghanistan, Elphinstone held a deep fascination for African craftsmanship and its symbolic power.
The pulley’s journey is marked by illustrious hands and minds gifted to Mary Shelley, and later preserved in Bavaria. Each passage added a layer of meaning, transforming the object into a vessel of cultural memory and literary resonance.
Now part of my private collection, the pulley stands as a testament to centuries of exchange, admiration, and preservation. It is not merely a mechanical relic—it is a bridge between continents, disciplines, and imaginations. To acquire it is to inherit a story that continues to inspire.
 
Doktor Lazarus Archaeologist, Historian, Collector, Independent Curator