Masterpieces of the British Museum

The British Museum’s stunning collection reveals cross-cultural themes and remarkable craftsmanship across eras.

The British Museum’s collection is one of the world’s finest and broadest; ranging from prehistoric times to the present in ancient and modern cultures around the globe. This new and updated edition includes many recent acquisitions and new discoveries; such as Picasso’s stunning Vollard Suite and the intriguing Vale of York Viking hoard; and showcases a selection of more than 250 of the most beautiful and important objects drawn from across the Museum. Each object is presented with its own fascinating story and is strikingly illustrated in full colour.
From the Warren Cup to Dürer’s Rhinoceros; the Lewis Chessmen to the Aztec turquoise serpent and the Gayer-Anderson Cat; the iconic objects of the British Museum are presented here in an exciting and accessible new way; highlighting the superb craftsmanship and ingenuity of those who created each of these splendid pieces. Grouped into sections based on cross-cultural themes; such as rulers; mythical beasts; dress and the human form; the resulting juxtapositions offer intriguing new insights into these widely varied masterpieces.

J.D. Hill is Research Manager in the British Museum and specializes in the Iron Age. Contributors include curatorial experts drawn from the whole range of the British Museum’s collection.