The following objects are displayed on the lower shelf of  the painting:

8. Terrestrial globe; showing the edge of recently discovered America.

9.  Arithmetic book

10. Set-square

11. Divider

12. Lutheran hymn-book; at that time of division between Catholics and Protestants, the presence of the Lutheran book was very controversial. As both ambassadors were Catholics, the most plausible interpretation is that the book was included in the painting to signal a call for reconciliation between the Catholics and Protestants. Their diplomatic mission in London was to avoid a split between the Vatican and the Tudors.

13. Case of fluters

14. Lute: one string is broken symbolising disunity in the Christian world

Source: Susan Fosister, Ashok roy and Martin Wyld | Holbein's Ambassadors, Making & Meaning | National Gallery Company, London | 2001 | p. 30

On the upper shelf of the painting the following objects are displayed:

1. Celestial globe

2. Cylindrical or shepherd's dial

3. Quadrant

4. Quadrant

5. Small dial

6. Polyhedral sundial

7. Torquetum

Source: Susan Fosister, Ashok roy and Martin Wyld | Holbein's Ambassadors, Making & Meaning | National Gallery Company, London | 2001 | p. 30

The scull in the painting is a reminder of human mortality. Skulls were common in the paintings of that era, usually placed in the background. Holbein puts the skull in front of the ambassadors. The skull is also distorted which was considered an artistic 'innovation' at that time. Interestingly, when the skull from the Ambassador was 'normalised' in reverse, the result was a perfectly drawn skull.