Temporary exhibitions at the British Museum 1838–2012

Chronology of Temporary Exhibitions at the British MuseumJoanna Bowring

British Museum Research Publication no. 189

PublishersThe British MuseumGreat Russell StreetLondon WC1B 3DG

EditorJosephine Turquet

Chronology of Temporary Exhibitions at the British MuseumJoanna Bowring

isbn 978 086159 189 3issn 1747 3640

© The Trustees of the British Museum 2012

Foreword This Chronology lists the many hundreds of special exhibitions at the British Museum between 1838 and 2012, from early displays of material in a few dedicated cases documented by a slim handlist of objects, to later blockbuster exhibitions accompanied by fully illustrated catalogues.

The Chronology also reflects the increasing professionalization of exhibition design at the Museum. Until the early 1960s, academics on the Museum staff mounted displays of material according to their own taste, with the help of the Museum’s carpenters and painters. Changes to the galleries were actually the responsibility of the Property Services Agency, a division of the Department of the Environment. However, in 1964 the Museum took the then innovative step of appointing a professional designer, Margaret Hall obe, who forged a new Museum department, the Design Department, which eventually took over responsibility for almost all of the design of permanent galleries and special exhibitions. In 1972 the Museum’s first blockbuster exhibition, Tutankhamun, was designed in-house. The current Department of Exhibitions, now consisting of planners, project managers, designers, technicians and production experts and led by Carolyn Marsden-Smith, specializes in temporary exhibitions.

A delightful aspect of working on the Chronology has been the opportunity to reveal, for the first time, the British Museum’s poster archive. Unsigned, anonymous, the posters vividly reflect the Zeitgeist and are a real tribute to the Museum’s designers over the years.

The Museum’s archive holds posters for a great many, but not all, of the temporary exhibitions and it is hoped that a result of publishing this work will be that other posters come to light in their respective departments and may be included in later revised editions. Similarly I acknowledge that any list of this nature will require additions or corrections and these, and details of missing posters should be sent to Stephanie Clarke, the Museum Archivist, who will update the chronology annually.

I was prompted to compile this chronology, while Head of Libraries and Information at the British Museum, because of the many queries from members of the public about exhibitions at the British Museum and the need for one easily accessible source of information. I found details of the exhibitions in a variety of sources: minutes of the meetings of the Museum’s Trustees, annual and triennial reports of the Museum, the British Museum Quarterly and various staff magazines, partial handlists drawn up by various Museum departments and by the British Library, the Central Library Ephemera Collection, published sources such as the introduction to The Department of Prints and Drawings: users guide by Antony Griffiths and Reginald Williams (1987), various library catalogues and reviews in The Times newspaper.

Readers wishing to research British Museum exhibitions further will find information in the Museum’s Central Archive and in the departmental archives.

Each entry includes the dates and title of the exhibition, the Museum department largely responsible, and the details of any accompanying publication (usually the exhibition

catalogue). Where the information has been available, I have also included some further details on content, the exhibition’s location in the Museum and visitor numbers.

When the Museum’s library departments became part of the British Library in 1973, I intended to stop listing their exhibitions except when they were collaborations with the British Museum. However some post-1973 British Library exhibitions do appear in the Chronology during the transition period.

Many people have helped with advice, information and more, and I wish to thank them here.

The staff of the Paul Hamlyn Library at the British Museum assiduously sorted, filed and catalogued the posters for the archive: Charles Hoare, Nigel Grimmer, Maurizio Cinquegrani, Abigail Thomas, Philip Roe, Ashvini Sivakumar, Barbara Canepa, Peter Borowiec, Eva Nueno, Joshua Price, Julia Flood and Deepa Bhandari.

The Museum photographers, John Williams, Ivor Kerslake, Dudley Hubbard, David Agar, Stephen Dodd, Kevin Lovelock, Claudio Maru, Saul Peckham and Michael Row photographed the entire poster collection.

Nick Newbery and Jon Ould contributed the Design Office posters to the archive.

Ann Lumley and Nisha Patalia regularly contributed the latest posters from the Marketing Department.

Geoff Pickup from Capital Planning & Estates contributed images of some missing posters.

Stephanie Clarke, Museum Archivist and Lyn Rees from Legal Services have taken responsibility for the future care and upkeep of the Poster Archive and have provided much valuable information from the Museum’s Central Archive. Also, extra thanks to Stephanie for agreeing to produce future updates of the Chronology.

From the British Library, John Hopson who contributed a handlist of British Museum Library and British Library exhibitions, and Peter Barber who gave advice on map exhibitions.

Pam Smith helped list the exhibition catalogues.Fiona Grisdale and Harry Persaud from the Department

of Africa, Oceania & the Americas provided lists of Museum of Mankind exhibitions and advice on changes of departmental name.

And last, but definitely not least, I thank Josephine Turquet the editor of this work for encouragement, wise advice, much hard work on the layouts and making publication possible.

I am very grateful to all.

Joanna Bowring, College LibrarianExeter College, Oxford OX1 3DPEmail [email protected] 2012

Table of changes in departmental names

1807Department of Antiquities

1836Prints & Drawings

1866British & Medieval Antiquities (incl. Ethno)

1921–33Ceramics & Ethnography

1933Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

1946Ethnography

2004Africa, Oceania & the Americas

2003Asia

2002Prehistory & Europe

1984Japanese Antiquities

2000Medieval & Modern Europe

2000Prehistory & Early Europe

1946Oriental Antiquities

1969Medieval & Later Antiquities

1969Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

2001Ancient Egypt & Sudan

2000Ancient Near East

2006Middle East

1985Scientific Research

1985Conservation

1955Egyptian Antiquities

1955Western Asiatic Antiquities

1982Scientific Research & Conservation

1921British & Medieval Antiquities (exd. Ethno)

1975Research Laboratory

1975Conservation & Technical Services

1886Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

1930Research Laboratory

1860Oriental Antiquities

1860Coins & Medals

2007Greece & Rome

1800Greek & Roman Antiquities

Chronology of Temporary Exhibitions at the British Museum | 6

Chronology 1838118 portraits hung above the cases in the Long Gallery above the King’s Library (then called the Minerals Gallery) Portraits of benefactors, trustees and staff of the British Museum, kings and queens, literary figures and others.Dept of Prints & DrawingsIn Synopsis of the contents of the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1838.

1858Printed books exhibited to the public in the Grenville Library and King’s Library Specimens of block-books, incunabula, books with autographs, books in fine bindings etc.Dept of Printed Books A guide to the printed books exhibited to the public in the Grenville Library and King’s Library /John Winter Jones. London: British Museum, 1858

1858–1862 Work of the Continental schools145 drawings and 263 prints hung on screens, and a series of niello plates, casts and prints housed in three table-cases. Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing’s Library

A guide to the drawings and prints exhibited to the public in the King’s Library. London: British Museum, 1858.



1862Art in England from the 16th to the mid-18th centuryDept of Prints & DrawingsA guide to the drawings and prints exhibited to the public in the King’s Library. London: British Museum, 1862.


1869Prints bequeathed by the Late Felix SladeDept of Prints & Drawings

A guide to that portion of the collection of prints bequeathed to the nation by the Late Felix Slade. London: British Museum, 1869.

A guide to that portion of the collection of prints bequeathed to the nation by the Late Felix Slade. 2nd edition. London: British Museum, 1874.

1879Medals on display in King’s LibraryDept of Coins & Medals

1880Selected items from the Crace CollectionDept of Printed Books

1881English medals Dept of Coins & MedalsKing’s LibraryA Guide to the English medals exhibited in the King’s Library / Herbert A. Grueber. London: British Museum, 1881.

Italian medalsDept of Coins & MedalsKing’s LibraryA Guide to the Italian medals exhibited in the King’s Library / C.F. Keary. London: British Museum, 1881.

1883Luther Exhibition Printed books, manuscripts, portraits, and medals illustrating the life of Martin Luther.Dept of Printed Books Grenville LibraryThe British Museum Luther Exhibition, 1883, in the Grenville Library / George Bullen. London: British Museum, 1883

Stowe manuscriptsDept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryCatalogue of a selection from the Stowe manuscripts exhibited in the King’s Library in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1883.


1901Alfred the Great Millenary ExhibitionDept of Printed BooksAlfred the Great Millenary Exhibition 1901. London: British Museum, 1901.

Anglo-Saxon coins illustrating the age of Alfred the Great Dept of Coins & Medals

Exhibition in the King’s Library illustrating the history of printing, music-printing and bookbindingDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryGuide to the Exhibition in the King’s Library illustrating the history of printing, music-printing and bookbinding. London: British Museum, 1901.

Drawings and sketches by old masters and deceased artists of the English School: principally acquired between 1895 and 1901Dept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of drawings and sketches by old masters and deceased artists of the English School: principally acquired between 1895 and 1901 / Laurence Binyon. London: British Museum, 1901.

1902Coronation Exhibition: manuscripts, printed books, prints, drawings and medals exhibited in the King’s Library of the British MuseumDept of Printed BooksCoronation Exhibition: manuscripts, printed books, prints, drawings and medals exhibited in the King’s Library of the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1902.

Selection of electrotypes illustrating the development of the Roman bronze coinage from the 4th century to 88 BCDept of Coins & Medals

1903Selection of electrotypes illustrating the coinage of ancient and medieval India from the 4th century BC down to the Muhammadan ConquestDept of Coins & Medals

Series of English Accession and Coronation medals from Edward VI to VictoriaDept of Coins & MedalsKing’s Library

Drawings and sketches by the Old Masters, principally from the Malcolm Collection, and of engravings of the early German and Italian schools.Dept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of drawings and sketches by the Old Masters, principally from the Malcolm Collection, and of engravings of the early German and Italian schools. London: British Museum, 1894.

1895Henry Purcell (1659?-1695)Dept of Printed Books

1896British GuianaDept of Printed Books

1897Books relating to AmericaDept of Printed Books

English ChurchDept of Printed Books

Early printed books of Germany, Italy, France, Holland, and England exhibited in the King’s LibraryDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryFacsimiles from early printed books of Germany, Italy, France, Holland, and England exhibited in the King’s Library. London: British Museum, 1897.

1899Exhibition of drawings and etchings by Rembrandt and etchings by other masters in the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of drawings and etchings by Rembrandt and etchings by other masters in the British Museum / Sidney Colvin. London: British Museum, 1899.

1900ChaucerDept of Printed Books

1887Jewish materialDept of Printed BooksCatalogue of the Anglo-Jewish historical exhibition, 1887, Royal Albert Hall: and of supplementary exhibitions held at the Public Record Office, British Museum, South Kensington Museum. London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, 1887.

ShorthandDept of Printed Books

1887–1892Art of engraving c. 1480–c. 1850Dept of Prints & DrawingsNorthern GalleriesA guide to the historical collection of prints exhibited in the Second Northern Gallery. London: British Museum, 1887.

A guide to the historical collection of prints exhibited in the Second Northern Gallery. 2nd edition. London: British Museum, 1890.

1888The StuartsDept of Printed Books

Chinese and Japanese paintingsDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to the exhibition of Chinese and Japanese paintings. London: British Museum, 1888.

1890Tudor ExhibitionDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

1891Drawings and sketches by continental and British masters in the Prints and Drawings GalleryDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to the exhibition of drawings and sketches by continental and British masters in the Prints and Drawings Gallery. London: British Museum, 1891.

189412–26 November 1894Edward Gibbon (1737–1794)An exhibition of manuscripts, book, portraits and relics to commemorate the death of Edward Gibbon.Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

Drawings, prints and illustrative works exhibited in the Second Northern GalleryDept of Prints & DrawingsNorthern GalleriesA guide to drawings, prints and illustrative works exhibited in the Second Northern Gallery. London: British Museum, 1883.A guide to drawings, prints and illustrative works exhibited in the Second Northern Gallery. 2nd edition. London: British Museum, 1885.

1884Wycliffe exhibitionDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryWycliffe exhibition in the King’s Library / Edward Maunde Thompson. London: British Museum, 1884.

1885Manuscripts and Printed Books illustrating the progress of musical notation, exhibited in the Dept of Manuscripts and the King’s LibraryDept of Printed BooksA guide to the Manuscripts and Printed Books illustrating the progress of musical notation, exhibited in the Dept. of Manuscripts and the King’s Library / ed. Sir Edward Maunde Thompson. London: British Museum, 1885

1886Chinese and Japanese illustrated booksDept of Printed Books

Domesday SurveyDept of Printed Books

1886 & 1887Autograph letters, manuscripts, original charters and royal, baronial and ecclesiastical sealsDept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryA guide to the autograph letters, manuscripts, original charters and royal, baronial and ecclesiastical seals exhibited to the public in the Department of Manuscripts and in the King’s Library. London: British Museum, 1887.


19181918 (opened 1 August)Temporary war-time exhibitionDept of Printed BooksExhibition of casts and electrotypes of the Museum’s greatest treasures, and maps, documents and books of patriotic interestGrenville Room, Graeco-Roman Galleries, Elgin RoomA short guide to the temporary war-time exhibition of the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1918.

1920Masterpieces of English LiteratureExhibition arranged to coincide with a conference of professors of EnglishDept of Printed Books

Italian LiteratureDept of Printed Books

Italian, French, Flemish and German drawings, XV–XVIIIcDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings by British artists acquired since 1914, including war drawings by Muirhead BoneDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Selection of prints 1780–1820 from the gift of Lady Lucas in 1917Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Select prints illustrating the processes of engravingDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

1921Three small shows of the work of Meryon, Tiepolo and Frank ShortDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

19141914–1939Exhibition of Select PrintsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesA guide to the processes and schools of engraving represented in the exhibition of select prints, with notes of some of the most important masters. London: British Museum, 1914.

Exhibition of drawings and sketches by Old Masters and by artists of the British School acquired between 1912 and 1914.Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesExhibition of drawings and sketches by Old Masters and by artists of the British School acquired between 1912 and 1914. London: British Museum, 1914.

Woodcuts and metal cuts of the XVth century chiefly of the German SchoolDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesGuide to an exhibition of woodcuts and metal cuts of the XVth century chiefly of the German School / Campbell Dodgson. London: British Museum, 1914.

Chinese and Japanese prints principally from the Arthur Morrison collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesChinese and Japanese prints principally from the Arthur Morrison collection. London: British Museum, 1914.

1914–1915Recent acquisitionsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

1915Exhibition of selection of fans presented by Lady Charlotte SchreiberDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Exhibition of watercolours from the Sale collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

1904Shakespeare exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Selections from the Reeve collection of works by artists of the Norwich SchoolDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite Wing

Selection of electrotypes illustrating the coinages of the various Muhammadan dynasties from the 7th century of the Christian era down to the present timeDept of Coins & Medals

Fifty-nine fine proof mezzotints belonging to the Cheylesmore collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsKing’s Library

1905Battle of Trafalgar / Naval Exhibition: Nelson CentenaryDept of Printed BooksA guide to the manuscripts, printed books, prints and medals exhibited on the occasion of the Nelson Centenary. London: British Museum, 1905.

Mezzotint engravings from the Cheylesmore collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of mezzotint engravings from the Cheylesmore collection. London: British Museum, 1905.

19081908–1909John MiltonDept of Printed Books

1909Drawings, engravings and woodcuts by Albrecht DürerDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite Wing

1910MedicineDept of Printed Books

Exhibition of drawings bequeathed to the British Museum by the late Mr George SaltingDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingExhibition of drawings bequeathed to the British Museum by the late Mr George Salting. London: British Museum, 1910.

1910–1911Exhibition of Chinese and Japanese paintings IV–XIX centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of Chinese and Japanese paintings IV–XIX c. London: British Museum, 1910.

1911–1912Authorized version of the BibleCelebration of tercentenary of the authorized version of the English BibleDept of Printed BooksBritish Museum Bible Exhibition 1911: guide to the manuscripts and printed books exhibited in celebration of the Tercentenary of the Authorized version / A.W.Pollard and H.I. Bell. London: British Museum, 1911.

1912Exhibition of drawings and sketches by Old Masters and by artists of the English School principally acquired between 1904 and 1912Dept of Prints & DrawingsWhite WingGuide to an exhibition of drawings and sketches by Old Masters and by artists of the English School principally acquired between 1904 and 1912. London: British Museum, 1912.

Drawings by D.G. Rosetti (presented by Mrs Gillum and J.M. Swan) Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing’s Library

1913Medical ManuscriptsIn connection with the meeting of the International Medical CongressDept of Manuscripts

An exhibition in the King’s Library illustrating the history of printing, music-printing and bookbinding.An exhibition in the King’s Library illustrating the history of printing, music-printing and bookbinding. London: British Museum, 1913.


1925AccessionsDept of Printed Books

Old Master engravings and woodcuts purchased from the Albertina and elsewhereDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Italian drawings of the XVIIth centuryDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

French line-engravings from Louis XIV–XVI, including the ‘Monument du Costume’Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Japanese paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Indian wall frescoes at BāghDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Objects brought by Sir Aurel Stein from his third expedition to Central AsiaDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Books and manuscripts illustrating the history of the English printed BibleDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

1926Drawings of Claude Lorrain and artists influenced by himDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesCatalogue of the drawings of Claude Lorrain: preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings with special reference to an exhibition including other masters of classical landscape / A.M. Hind. London: British Museum, 1926.

French drawings acquired since 1919 through the H.L. Florence FundDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Historical prints and portraits illustrating the Napoleonic EraDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Japanese coloured prints and screensDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Chinese paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

1924Exhibition of historical medalsDept of Coins & MedalsGuide to the exhibition of historical medals in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1924.

July 1924English Law BooksExhibition to coincide with visit to London by members of the American BarDept of Printed Books

29 March 1924–28 January 1925ByronCentenary of the death of ByronDept of Printed Books

Early maps of British overseas dominions for visitors to the British Empire ExhibitionMap Room

Drawings, engravings and colour prints by William BlakeDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Etchings, colour prints and lithographs by Theodore RousselDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Modern prints and drawings presented by the Contemporary Art SocietyDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Summer 1924Chinese paintings and Japanese screensDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Autumn 1924Hokusai printsDept of Ceramics & EthnographyReviewed in The Times 6 February 1925

192216 January–13 March 1922Molière exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Chess BooksDept of Printed Books

Royal Music (including special bindings)Dept of Printed Books

Japanese coloured printsDept of Ceramics and Ethnography

Drawings by Crome, Cotman and other artists of the Norwich SchoolDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings by GirtinDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings by J.R. CozensDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Indian and Persian paintingsDept of Ceramics & EthnographyGuide to an Exhibition of Indian and Persian Paintings and Illuminated MSS; with specimens of the art of Eastern Turkestan, Tibet, Burma and Siam / R.L. Binyon. London: [s.n.], 1922.

Exhibition of Greek and Latin papyri from Oxyrhyncus presented to the British Museum by the Egypt Exploration Fund 1900–1914Guide to a special exhibition of Greek and Latin papyri presented to the British Museum by the Egypt Exploration Fund 1900–1914. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1922.

1923February–April 1923Christopher WrenBicentenary exhibitionDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

23 April–end October 1923Shakespeare ExhibitionDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsBritish Museum Shakespeare Exhibition 1923: guide to the MSS. & printed books exhibited in celebration of the tercentenary of the first folio Shakespeare / Alfred W. Pollard. London: British Museum, 1923.

July 1923Early Italian engravingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesA guide to the collection of early Italian engravings. London: British Museum, 1923.

Summer 1923Japanese paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Summer 1923Display of principal objects from the Museum’s expedition to MesopotamiaDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Autumn 1923Japanese colour prints 1790–1806Dept of Ceramics & Ethnography

1923–1939Exhibition of Maya sculpturesDept of Ceramics & EthnographyGuide to the Maudslay Collection of Maya Sculptures-casts and originals from Central America, etc. / T.A. Joyce. London: British Museum. Dept of Ceramics & Ethnography, 1923.

Exhibition of medals of the RenaissanceDept of Coins & MedalsA guide to the exhibition of medals of the Renaissance in the British Museum / G.F. Hill. London: British Museum, 1924.

1923–1924UtamaroDept of Ceramics & Ethnography


February 1929–March 1930British & Foreign 20th Century PrintingExhibition held on the occasion of the International Typographic Conference held in London in April 1929Dept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryCatalogue of an exhibition of books illustrating British and Foreign Printing, 1919–29 / Henry Thomas. London: British Museum, 1929.

Prehistoric Egyptian antiquities from the excavations of Mr Guy BruntonDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Japanese screensDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Indian paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Dutch printsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings by RembrandtDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

British drawings and etchings of the XIXth centuryDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings by William Blake for Young’s ‘Night Thoughts’Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

1930Antiquities of UrDept of Egyptian & Assyrian AntiquitiesAntiquities of Ur: an introduction to the eighth temporary exhibition of the joint expedition of the British Museum and of the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania to Mesopotamia / Leonard Woolley. London: British Museum, 1930.

1930–1931Objects from excavations at Nineveh (excavated by Campbell Thompson and Mr. Hutchinson)Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Objects from Campbell Thompson’s excavations at Kuyunjik (Nineveh)Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

April 1928Woodcuts, drawings and engravings of Albrecht Dürer in the Department of Prints and Drawings, exhibited in commemoration of the fourth centenary of the artist’s death on April 6th 1528Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesGuide to the woodcuts, drawings s and engravings of Albrecht Durer in the Department of Prints and Drawings, exhibited in commemoration of the fourth centenary of the artist’s death on April 6th 1528. London: British Museum, 1928.Reviewed in The Times 18 April 1928

Drawings and prints by Francisco GoyaDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings and woodcuts by Thomas BewickDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries


6 July 1929–Antiquities of UrAntiquities of Ur: an introduction to the seventh temporary exhibition of the joint expedition of the British Museum and of the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania to Mesopotamia / Leonard Woolley. London: British Museum, 1929.Reviewed in The Times 6 July 1929

Egerton ManuscriptsCentenary of the death of the Earl of BridgewaterDept of ManuscriptsA guide to the exhibition of some part of the Egerton Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum / J.P.Gilson. London: British Museum 1929.

27 October 1927–28 January 1928Exhibition of manuscripts and printed books illustrating the history of agricultureExhibition arranged at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, on the occasion of the Imperial Agricultural Research Conference 1927Dept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsGuide to an exhibition of manuscripts and printed books illustrating the history of agriculture. London: British Museum, 1927.The antiquities of agriculture: a note on the British Museum exhibition / H.G. Richardson. London: HMSO, 1927.

Chinese frescoesDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Japanese printsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

1927–1928Sumerian antiquities from UrDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Indian paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography


Fine modern foreign printingDept of Printed Books

Chinese woodcutsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Japanese coloured printsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Early maps and manuscriptsTo coincide with the International Geographical CongressMap Room

Gifts from the National Art Collections Fund since its foundation

Antiquities from LubaantunDept of Ceramics & EthnographyReport on the investigations at Lubaantun, British Honduras, in 1926 / T.A. Joyce ... with plates ... reprinted from the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, vol. LVI, etc. London: [Royal Anthropological Institute], 1927.

Antiquities found at Ur 1925–6Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

October 1926Franciscan ManuscriptsDept of ManuscriptsSeptingentenary of St. Francis.Notes on the Exhibition of Franciscan Manuscripts in the British Museum / A.G. Little. London:[s.n.] 1927

Book IllustrationsDept of Printed Books

AccessionsDept of Printed Books


Greek Printing Types 1465–1927 Dept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryGreek Printing Types 1465–1927: facsimiles from an exhibition of books illustrating the development of Greek printing shown in the British Museum; with an historical introduction by Victor Scholderer. London: British Museum, 1927.

Flemish Illuminated ManuscriptsDept of Manuscripts

Flemish drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Flemish miniatures of the XVth and XVIth centuriesDept of ManuscriptsGuide to an exhibition of Flemish miniatures of the XVth and XVIth centuries. London: British Museum, 1927.

Flemish engravings, etchings and woodcutsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Drawings and engravings by William BlakeDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries


French prints and drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

13 January1932–French Illuminated ManuscriptsIn connection with an exhibition of French art at the Royal AcademyDept of Manuscripts

21 September 1932–5 January 1933Sir Walter Scott exhibitionDept of Printed Books

December, 1932–29 January 1933Warren Hastings ExhibitionArranged jointly by the India Office and by the BM trustees to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Warren Hastings (1732–1818)Nimrud Gallery4-page exhibition leafletReviewed in The Times 28 December 1932

1933Recent Accessions including the Cesena Treasure & the Paston lettersAll DeptsEntrance Hall

Exhibition of the more important prints and drawings acquired during the keepership of Mr Campbell Dodgson 1912–1932Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesThe more important prints and drawings acquired during the keepership of Mr Campbell Dodgson 1912–1932. London: British Museum, 1933.

1933–c. 1935Drawings from the Turner BequestDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Sporting prints and drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Japanese colour prints and oriental paintingsDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Japanese prints from the Shannon CollectionDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Galsworthy Manuscript of the Forsyte SagaDept of ManuscriptsGrenville Library

George Smith Memorial Bequest of ManuscriptsDept of ManuscriptsGrenville Library

Objects from Mr Mallowan’s excavations at Tell ArpachiyahDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Codex SinaiticusDept of ManuscriptsEntrance Hall

1934Exhibition of English Art gathered from various departments and held in the Prints & Drawings GalleryDept of Prints & Drawings Prints & Drawings GalleryKing Edward VII GalleriesGuide to an exhibition of English Art gathered from various departments and held in the Prints & Drawings Gallery / George Hill. British Museum, 1934.

May–July 1934Flint tools from FarnhamLocal specimens of flint tools from the Museum’s own collection, supplemented by loans from collectors.Head of Main StaircaseReviewed in The Times May 28 1934

9 June 1934–Antiquities from British HondurasArranged in connection with the Anthropological CongressDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Csoma de KörösTo mark the centenary of his deathDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

1931Persian artHeld in connection with the Persian exhibition at Burlington HouseDept of Ceramics & EthnographyPrints & Drawings GalleryGuide to an exhibition of Persian art in the Prints and Drawings Gallery. London: British Museum, 1931.

Display of casts from Persepolis made by Sir Cecil Harcourt-Smith in 1891Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian AntiquitiesAssyrian Basement

Indian paintings and drawingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

c. 21–26 September 1931Michael FaradayDept of Printed Books

May 1931Cotton ManuscriptsTercentenary of Sir Robert Cotton’s DeathDept of ManuscriptsA Guide to a Select Exhibition of Cottonian Manuscripts in celebration of the Tercentenary of the Death of Sir Robert Cotton, 6 May 1931. With six plates. [With an introduction by H. I. Bell.] London: British Museum, 1931.

Anglo AmericaTo coincide with 1931 Anglo-American Conference of HistoriansDept of Printed Books


Exhibition of Egyptian antiquities presented to the British Museum by the Egypt Exploration Society, 1882–1932Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian AntiquitiesGuide to a special exhibition of Egyptian antiquities presented to the British Museum by the Egypt Exploration Society, 1882–1932. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1932.

1930–1931Objects excavated at Badari by Guy BruntonDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

7 April–May 1930Antiquities from ZimbabweDept of Ceramics & EthnographyLoan exhibition of antiquities from Zimbabwe and other ancient sites in Southern Rhodesia. London: British Museum, 1930.

Manuscripts shown in the Grenville Library (including the Luttrell Psalter and the Bedford Hours)Dept of ManuscriptsGrenville LibraryReviewed in The Times 30 December 1929

6 January 1930–Italian Illuminated ManuscriptsIn connection with an exhibition of Italian art at the Royal AcademyDept. of ManuscriptsGrenville LibraryReviewed in The Times 30 December 1929

English Illuminated ManuscriptsIn connection with the exhibition of medieval English art at the Victoria and Albert MuseumDept of Manuscripts

Bindings of manuscripts and printed booksDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscipts

June–December 1930Chinese paintingsDept of Ceramics & Ethnography

Italian drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Italian woodcuts, engravings and etchingsDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

German engravings of the XVth centuryDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries


The Treatment of Water in European and Oriental artDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesJoint catalogue with exhibition ‘From Watteau to Wilkie’

Work of John Constable: on the centenary of his deathDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Flint technique and patinationDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Stone implements from the Bombay districtDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Prehistoric, Roman, and Saxon finds from UpminsterDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Excavations on Eddisbury Hill, CheshireDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Photographs of Saxon sculptureDept of British & Medieval AntiquitiesIron Age Gallery


Ben JonsonTercentenary of Jonson’s deathDept of Printed Books

PapyriHeld in connection with the Fifth International Congress of PapyrologyDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Medical and NursingIn connection with the International Nursing ConferenceDept of Printed Books

1 May–18 December 1937Coronation Exhibition Manuscripts, printed books, medals and prints and drawings, shown in the King’s Library of the British Museum (to mark coronation of George VI)Dept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryCoronation Exhibition: manuscripts, printed books, medals and prints and drawings, shown in the King’s Library of the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1937

Palaeolithic flint implements from Warren Hill in Suffolk (mainly from the Sturge Collection)Dept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Prehistoric and medieval gold work lent from the Royal CollectionsDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Stole and pectoral cross from St Cuthbert’s Tomb, lent by the Dean and Chapter of DurhamDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Collection of Ordos Bronzes lent by Mrs Dagny CarterDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Finds from Sir Leonard Woolley’s North Syrian ExpeditionDept of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities

Important acquisitions of coins and medals made in the last 25 yearsIn connection with the International Congress of Numismatics, 30 June–3 July.Dept of Coins & Medals

1936–1938Temporary exhibition of ancient Egyptian sculpture lent by C.S. Gulbenkian, Esq.Dept of Egyptian & Assyrian AntiquitiesTemporary exhibition of ancient Egyptian sculpture lent by C.S. Gulbenkian, Esq. / Sidney Smith. London: British Museum, 1937.

1937From Watteau to Wilkie: conversation, portrait and genre in the XVIII and early early XIX centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesGuide to the exhibitions in the Prints & Drawings Gallery 1937: From Watteau to Wilkie (conversation, portrait and genre in the XVIII and early XIX centuries) and The treatment of water in European and Oriental Art. London: British Museum, 1937.


Persian ManuscriptsTo mark the thousandth anniversary of FirdausiDept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

Drawings by George du MaurierDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries


Maps of the British Dominions and ColoniesIllustrating the growth of the British Empire during past 300 yearsMap Room

Lope de VegaTo mark the tercentenary of his deathDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

MaimonidesTo celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Hebrew philosopher’s birthDept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

Welsh Poetical Manuscripts centred on Dafydd ap GwilymDept of Manuscripts

Objects from Yorkshire Long Barrows, the Long Barrow at Skendleby, Lincs, the Fenland Research Association’s excavations, and the finds of the Roman Period from the site of the Bank of EnglandDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

His Late Majesty King George VHis death marked by the temporary exhibition of the King’s ‘Message to his people on recovery from illness in 1929’Dept of Manuscripts

Rudyard KiplingHis death marked by the display of the autographs of ‘Kim’ and a volume of Kipling’s poemsDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Alexandrinus, early Pentateuch and other Biblical TreasuresDept of Manuscripts

Handel exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Exhibition of the past hundred years: 1835–1934Dept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryGuide to an exhibition of the past hundred years 1835–1934 / A.M. Hind. London: British Museum, 1935.

Exhibition of the processes of printmakingDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries


From Canaletto to ConstablePrints and drawings of landscape, topography and architectureDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

Select prints, English and foreign drawings, and water-colours from the Turner BequestDept of Prints & Drawings

The Sligo Collection of engraved British portraits from altered platesDept of Prints & Drawings

Prints and drawings presented by the Contemporary Art SocietyDept of Prints & Drawings

ErasmusDept of Printed Books

Tyndale Quatercentenary exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Historical ManuscriptsIn association with the Anglo-American Historical ConferenceDept of Manuscripts

Gilbert and SullivanDept of Printed Books

Palaeolithic antiquities from Caves of Cresswell Crags found by Mr A.L. ArmstrongDept of British & Medieval Antiquities


Drawings and etchings by RembrandtDept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII GalleriesBritish Museum: summary list of the drawings and etchings by Rembrandt in the department of prints and drawings British Museum, [introduction A. M. Hind]. London: British Museum, 1938.

1939Caricature: from Leonardo da Vinci to 1939Dept of Prints & DrawingsKing Edward VII Galleries

All exhibition galleries closed on the declaration of the national emergency on 24 August 1939.

19401940–May 1941Display of fans from the Schreiber collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsManuscripts Saloon

1940–May 1941Display of gifts from the Contemporary Art SocietyDept of Prints & DrawingsFront Hall

23 February–September 1940Temporary exhibition in the Entrance Hall of photographs, drawings, plans and models of the Sutton Hoo excavation.On same date other temporary exhibitions set up in the Grenville Library, the Manuscript Saloon and the Bible Room – all of printed books, manuscripts and objects from the collections of secondary importance.Reviewed in The Times 23 February 1940

August 1940: a small exhibition of antiquities in the Prehistoric Room and the Central Saloon at the top of the Main Staircase was almost entirely destroyed in an incendiary raid on 10 May 1941 (British Museum Annual Report).

FlowersDept of Printed Books

May–November 1949400th anniversary of the Book of Common PrayerDept of Printed BooksCatalogue of an exhibition commemorating the four hundredth anniversary of the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer. London: British Museum, 1949.

June–September 1949Colonial exhibitionAn exhibition of colonial maps, views and postage stamps in connection with Colonial MonthDept of Printed Books and the Map Room

Drawings by Peter de WintDept of Prints & Drawings

Prints and drawings of the French landscapeDept of Prints & Drawings

1949–1950Beginnings of English topographical and landscape drawingDept of Prints & DrawingsThe beginnings of English topographical and landscape drawing: an exhibition held in the Department of Prints & Drawings, British Museum, 1949–1950. London: British Museum, 1949.

1946Exhibition of Antiquities and works of art in the King Edward VII Gallery April, 1946.Display of smaller objects from all the departments of antiquities and ethnography, together with the Magna Carta and a selection of other historical documents and illuminated manuscripts (British Museum Annual Report).

1947Yates Thompson Manuscripts exhibited in the Bible RoomDept of Manuscripts

1947–1948Masterpieces of the Print RoomDept of Prints & Drawings

1948Loan collection of bronzes from IfeDept of Ethnography

New acquisitions of British and Italian drawings, 1939–47Dept of Prints & Drawings

Hokusai 1760–1849Exhibition to mark the centenary of the death of HokusaiDept of Oriental AntiquitiesThe work of Hokusai: woodcuts, illustrated books, drawings and paintings: a catalogue of an exhibition held on the centenary of his death / Basil Gray. London: British Museum, 1948.

1949Special colonial exhibition of traditional craftsDept of Ethnography

1949–1950GoetheDept of Printed Books

May 1937PushkinTo mark the centenary of Pushkin’s deathDept of Printed Books

July–August 1937ShorthandIn connection with the International Shorthand ConferenceDept of Printed Books

1938Accessions (Kelmscott Press)Dept of Printed Books

English bookbindingsDept of Printed Books

January–February 1938SwedenborgDept of Printed Books

23 March–31 December 1938Bible Room ExhibitionMarked 400th anniversary of Thomas Cromwell’s injunction that the English Bible should be made available in every churchDept of Printed Books

John WesleyBicentenary of Wesley’s conversionDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

Buddhist paintingsDept of Oriental Antiquities & Ethnography

Antiquities from the Saxon cemeteries at Horton Kirby and Howletts, KentDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Methods of hafting prehistoric stone and bronze axesDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

The Swanscombe ManDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

Mesolithic dwellings at Farnham, KentDept of British & Medieval Antiquities


Webster Plass Collection of West African artDept of EthnographyKing Edward VII GalleriesThe Webster Plass Collection of African Art: the catalogue of a memorial exhibition held in the King Edward VII Galleries of the British Museum 1953 / William Buller Fagg. London: British Museum, 1953.

National Art Collections FundExhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the National Art Collections FundDept of Printed Books

Drawings from the collection of Sir Hans SloaneDept of Prints & Drawings

Prints and drawings acquired by, or with the aid of, the National Art Collections Fund (NACF)Dept of Prints & Drawings

To celebrate the Bicentenary of the British Museum (12 exhibitions each illustrating one aspect of the Library’s collections held at monthly intervals):

1–31 January 1953German booksDept of Printed Books King’s Library

1–28 February 1953Italian booksDept of Printed Books King’s Library

3–31 March 1953French booksFrench manuscripts, printed books and bindings dating from the 9th to the 20th centuries in the British Museum’s collectionsDept of Printed Books King’s Library

1–30 April 1953Maps exhibitionAn exhibition of early maps, globes and surveying instruments.Dept of Printed Books, Dept of Manuscripts, and five other British Museum departmentsKing’s Library

1952Dutch prints and drawings from the XVI-XVIIIth centuriesDept of Prints & Drawings

Jose Toribio Medina: 1852–1930 centenary exhibitionDept of Printed BooksJose Toribio Medina: 1852–1930 centenary exhibition. London: British Museum, 1952.

Leonardo da Vinci 1452–1952A quincentenary exhibitionDept of Printed Books

July–September 1952Sir Walter Raleigh and Richard Hakluyt: an exhibition held in King’s Library, British Museum, July–September 1952. Raleigh-Hakluyt Quatercentenary exhibitionDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

July–September 1952An exhibition of books designed, illustrated or printed in Great Britain for Mr. George Macy of New York.Dept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryAn exhibition of books designed, illustrated or printed in Great Britain for Mr. George Macy of New York. London: British Museum, 1952.

Weapons and armour from the PhilippinesDept of Ethnography

195315 April–28 June 1953Drawings by Michelangelo belonging to HM the Queen, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and other English collectionsDept of Prints & DrawingsSummary catalogue of an exhibition of drawings by Michelangelo belonging to HM the Queen, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and other English collections. London: British Museum, 1953.

Canaletto and English draughtsmenDept of Prints & DrawingsCanaletto and English draughtsmen: an exhibition held in the Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, August, 1953. London: British Museum, 1953

1950

July–September 1950J.S. Bach 1685–1750A bicentenary exhibitionDept of Printed Books

The Oldman Collection of African artDept of Ethnography

Wordsworth 1770–1850Dept of Printed Books

Exhibition of one of the Dead Sea Scrolls lent by the Hebrew University of JerusalemDept of Oriental Printed Books & Manuscripts

Italian drawings of the XIVth and XVth centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsIItalian drawings of the XIVth and XVth centuries / A.E. Popham and Philip Pouncey. London: British Museum, 1950.

1951

Anniversary Exhibition 1931–1951Friends of the National LibrariesDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryFriends of the National Libraries

Anniversary Exhibition 1931–1951 in the King’s Library of the British Museum. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1951

Special display of illuminated manuscripts in the Bible Room (contribution to Festival of Britain)Dept of Manuscripts

Watercolours by J.M.W. Turner his predecessors and contemporariesDept of Prints & Drawings

Prints and drawings acquired from the bequest of Campbell DodgsonDept of Prints & Drawings

Emilian drawings of the 16th centuryDept of Prints & DrawingsEmilian Drawings of the XVI Century, etc. [A catalogue.]. London: British Museum, 1951.

Loan collection of Nigerian artDept of Ethnography

May–July 1951Handel’s Messiah Arranged in connection with performances given by the London Choral Society for Festival of BritainDept of Printed BooksBritish Museum Handel’s Messiah: catalogue of an exhibition held May-July 1951 / A. Hyatt King. London: British Museum, 1951.

September 1951Treasures from the Hirsch Music LibraryDept of Printed Books


Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1–31 December 1953Oriental books and manuscriptsGeneral exhibition of oriental books and manuscripts as part of the Museum’s bicentenary celebrationsDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsKing’s Library

CottonDept of Manuscripts Bible Room

HarleyDept of Manuscripts Bible Room

SloaneDept of Manuscripts Bible Room

Royal ManuscriptsDept of Manuscripts Bible Room

CoronationsDept of Manuscripts Bible Room

Indian paintings received through the National Art Collections Fund from the P.C. Manuk and Coles CollectionsDept of Oriental Antiquities

1953–1954Utamaro bicentenaryDept of Oriental Antiquities

1954John WilsonDept of Printed Books

John SeldenDept of Printed Books

Special German exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Flemish drawingsDept of Prints & Drawings

Classical exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Special Whitman exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Special cricket exhibitionDept of Printed Books

Anglo-Flemish art under the TudorsDept of Prints & Drawings and Dept of ManuscriptsAnglo-Flemish art under the Tudors: an exhibition held in the Department of

Garnits CollectionDept of Printed Books

April and June 1955Charlotte Bronte 1816–1855Dept of Printed Books

September–October 1955Christopher PlantinDept of Printed Books

1955–1956Portuguese – Lisbon Earthquake 1755Dept of Printed Books

1955–1956‘Western influence in Japan from the 16th century to 1881’Dept of Oriental Antiquities

1955–1956Aspects of 18th-century artDept of Prints & DrawingsReviewed in The Times 20 December 1954

Watercolours and colour prints by William BlakeDept of Prints & Drawings

195618 January–February 1956Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790An exhibition of books and manuscripts held in connection with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin.Dept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts King’s Library

January–9 April 1956Mozart in the British MuseumAn exhibition of manuscript and printed music held in the King’s Library to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Mozart. The autographs exhibited from the collection of Stefan Zweig remained on view in the King’s Library until the end of June 1956.Dept of Printed BooksMozart in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1956

25th Anniversary of the British School of Archaeology in IraqDept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesAssyrian Basement

Heinrich HeineAn exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the death of Heine consisting of books, manuscripts, watercolours and engravings.Dept of Printed Books

Prints and Drawings, British Museum, 1954. London: British Museum, 1954.

Maldive Island lacquer work (deposited on loan from HM the Queen)Dept of Ethnography

September–October 1954Officina Bodoni VeronaDept of Printed BooksOfficina Bodoni Verona: catalogue of books printed on the hand press MCMXXIII–MCMLIV. London: British Museum, 1954.

26 October–31 December 1954‘From the Land of the Bible’: an archaeological exhibition at the British MuseumA loan exhibition from the Dept of Antiquities, Israel also shown in the United States and the NetherlandsDept of Egypt and Assyrian AntiquitiesFrom the Land of the Bible: guide to the exhibition: 26 October–31 December 1954. London: Office of the Exhibition From the Land of the Bible, 1954.

November–December 1954Oscar WildeTo commemorate the centenary of the birth of Oscar WildeDept of Printed Books

1954–1955Italian drawings and prints acquired during the keepership of Mr A.E. PophamDept of Prints & Drawings

1955Indian art Dept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

Japanese block books Dept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

‘Art under the Mongol dynasties of China and Persia’Dept of Oriental Antiquities

Theatrical materialDept of Prints & Drawings

Mihály Vörösmarty (1800–1855)Dept of Printed Books

Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855)Dept of Printed Books

Walt Whitman Dept of Printed Books

1–31 May 1953Commonwealth books and AmericanaAn exhibition of books written or printed in the Commonwealth outside the British Isles, and also of books about the Commonwealth wherever printed, and a few manuscripts. The American section of the exhibition was devoted to the history and literature of the United States.Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1 June–1 July 1953Coronation exhibitionExhibition illustrating the history of the coronation including manuscripts, books, drawings and other printed and illustrated matterDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1–31 July 1953The British Museum Library 1753–1953Exhibition of books, manuscripts and other objects illustrating the history of the British Museum LibraryDept of Printed Books King’s LibraryBritish Museum library, 1753–1953: special exhibition, July, 1953. London: [s.n.], 1953.

1–31 August 1953English Literature: 1000 years of English literatureExhibition of works ranging from the MS of Aelfric’s Lives of the Saints to the first edition of T.S. Eliot’s Waste LandDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1–30 September 1953Spanish booksDept of Printed Books King’s Library

1–31 October 1953Music exhibitionAn exhibition to illustrate the history of western music during the last 700 yearsDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1–30 November 1953Russian and Eastern European, Scandinavian, and Dutch material from the collections of the British MuseumIncluded a selection of maps illustrating the growth of information about Russia brought to Western Europe by early travellers.


30 August–12 October 1959Classical Exhibition An exhibition held to coincide with the Third International Congress of Classical Studies. Included loans from the Departments of Oriental Books and Manuscripts, Prints & Drawings and Eton College.Dept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s Library

Chinese paintings and prints acquired since 1950Dept of Oriental Antiquities

22 November 1959–31 January 1960Kenneth Grahame 1859–1932Centenary of the birth of Kenneth GrahameDept of Printed Books

1959–1960Seven centuries of portrait drawing in EuropeDept of Prints & Drawings

October 1959–April 1960Bow Porcelain: Exhibition of porcelain from the Bow factory (1744–1776)Dept of British & Medieval AntiquitiesBow Porcelain, 1744–1776: a special exhibition of documentary material to commemorate the bicentenary of the retirement of Thomas Frye, manager of the factory and inventor and first manufacturer of porcelain in England / Hugh Tait. London: British Museum, 1959.

1960Recent acquisitionsDept of Prints & Drawings

Bicentenary of William Beckford (1760–1844)Dept of Prints & Drawings

Turner drawings from the R.W. Lloyd BequestDept of Prints & Drawings

Drawings from the Sir Hans Sloane CollectionDept of Prints & Drawings

8 April–23 May 1960Count István Széchenyi 1791–1860Dept of Printed Books

1959The R.W. Lloyd BequestDept of Prints & Drawings

Recent acquisitions 1954–1958Dept of Prints & Drawings

January–March 1959Robert BurnsDept of Printed Books

March–April 1959Abraham Lincoln (coins and medals of Abraham Lincoln)Dept of Printed Books and Dept of Coins & Medals

10 April–May 1959Exhibition of Art Treasures Bought Through the Brooke Sewell FundExhibition to mark the bequest of P.T. Brooke Sewell to acquire Indian works of art and other Oriental antiquities.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesAsiatic SaloonReviewed in The Times 10 April 1959

7 May–20 August 1959Henry Purcell 1659 (?)–1695, George Frideric Handel 1685–1759Dept of Printed BooksHenry Purcell 1659 (?)–1695, George Frideric Handel 1685–1759: catalogue of a commemorative exhibition. London: British Museum, 1959

July 1959Arts Council of Great BritainDept of Printed Books

1958Recent discoveries at Ife, southern Nigeria (loan collection Nigerian Government)Dept of Ethnography

Exhibition of 8th-century silver treasure from St. Ninian’s Isle in the ShetlandsDept of British & Medieval Antiquities

May–June 1958Hazor: a biblical city excavatedA loan exhibition from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, IsraelArranged by the Anglo-Israel Exploration Society at the British MuseumDept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesHazor: excavation of a biblical city: an archaeological exhibition / J.A. de Rothschild. London: [s.n.], 1958.

April 1958–1959Eight centuries of landscape and natural history in European watercolours 1180–1920Dept of Prints & Drawings and Dept of ManuscriptsEight centuries of landscape and natural history in European watercolours 1180–1920. [London]: British Museum, Department of Prints and Drawings, 1958.

1958–1959Hiroshige centenaryDept of Oriental AntiquitiesCentenary exhibition of designs and woodcuts by Hiroshige (1797–1858). London: British Museum, 1958.

Indian paintings and drawings from the J.C. French CollectionDept of Oriental Antiquities

Ethnography of the Kazaks of Russian TurkestanDept of Ethnography

July–August 1956SwedenborgDept of Printed Books

July–September 1956Bible (Modern designs)Dept of Printed Books

September–October 1956George Bernard ShawDept of Printed Books

1956–1957Rembrandt and his successionDept of Prints & DrawingsRembrandt and his succession. Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, 1956 to commemorate the three hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Rembrandt. London: British Museum, 1956.

1956–1957IbsenDept of Printed Books

1957Material excavated at Las Cuevas, British Honduras (British Museum excavation)Dept of Ethnography

Twenty-five years of Mesopotamian discoveries A loan exhibition, British School of Archaeology, IraqDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

Strawberry Hill PressDept of Printed Books

Centenary of the opening of the Round Reading Room in 1857Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

1957–1958William Blake and his circle: a bicentenary exhibitionDept of Prints and Drawings

1957–1958Bicentenary of the Old Royal Library and the Royal Music LibraryDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library Old Royal Library / T. Julian Brown. London: British Museum, 1957.


10 June–8 July 1963Exhibition of books, manuscripts and antiquities from Ethiopia, held in connection with the Second International Congress of Ethiopian Studies at ManchesterOriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryThe exhibition of books, manuscripts and antiquities from Ethiopia. London: British Museum, 1963.

July–September 1963Printing and the Mind of Man Organized in connection with the Eleventh International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition (IPEX))Exhibition held at Earl’s Court and Olympia (of printing machinery) and at the British Museum King’s Library (examples of fine printing)Dept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryPrinting and the Mind of Man: catalogue of an exhibition of fine printing at the British Museum London. London: British Museum, 1963.

September 1963Famous Old BooksDept of Printed Books

18 October–30 November 1963Alpine prints from the R.W. Lloyd CollectionDept of Prints & Drawings

8 November 1963–April 1964Exhibition of accessions to the collections of oriental paintings and antiquities 1933–1963Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesGallery of Oriental ArtBritish Museum exhibition of accessions to the collections of oriental paintings and antiquities 1933–1963: catalogue of exhibits. London: British Museum, 1964.

Thirteen oil sketches c. 1820–30 by J.M.W. TurnerDept of Prints & Drawings

Drawings by Raphael and his circleDept of Prints & DrawingsItalian Drawings in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: Raphael and his Circle / Philip Pouncey and J. A. Gere. London: British Museum, 1962.Reviewed in The Times 4 December 1962

August Strindberg 1849–1912Dept of Printed Books

February 1962Postage stamps of Queen Elizabeth II, 1952–1962Dept of Printed Books

17 May–1 July 1962Book of Common PrayerDept of Printed Books

September 1962Lope de Vega 1562–1635Dept of Printed Books King’s LibraryLope de Vega 1562–1635: catalogue of an exhibition held in the King’s Library: September, 1962. London: British Museum, 1962.

Cockin Collection of African art (loan exhibition, Mr. Barclay)Dept of Ethnography

Exhibition of the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch from the National Museum, Dublin. Dept of British & Medieval Antiquities

1963‘Layard and his successors’ A retrospective exhibition for the 12th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, held in LondonDept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesLayard and his Successors: Assyrian explorations and discovery in the XXth century in the Assyrian basement. London: British Museum, 1963.

March–April 1963British Postage StampsStamps range from 1900–1963Dept of Printed Books

Books from the East (showing the wide range of languages and scripts used in Asia, as well as outstanding examples of manuscript illumination and miniature painting)Dept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts King’s LibraryBooks from the East: an exhibition of oriental manuscripts and printed books held in the King’s Library. London: British Museum, 1960.

July–August 1960The Royal SocietyMarks the tercentenary of the Royal SocietyDept of Printed Books

September–October 1960Prince Henry the Navigator and Portuguese maritime enterpriseDept of Printed BooksPrince Henry the Navigator and Portuguese maritime enterprise / R.A. Skelton. London: British Museum, 1960.

Yoruba art (collected by Mr. Fagg)Dept of Ethnography

King Charles IIMarking the Restoration of Charles IIDept of Printed Books

Ramsden BindingsDept of Printed Books

English BookbindingDept of Printed Books

1960–1962 Fifty years agoA selection of books published in 1910–1912Dept of Printed Books

1961Rabindranath Tagore centenary exhibition, 1861–1941 Dept of Oriental Printed Books & Manuscripts

Forgeries and deceptive copiesA loan exhibition from private owners, other institutions and all departments of the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsAn exhibition of forgeries and deceptive copies held in the Department of Prints and Drawings. London: British Museum, 1961.

July–September 1961The political scene 1901–14. 50th anniversary of the Parliament Act 1911Dept of Printed BooksThe political scene 1901–14: an exhibition to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Parliament Act, 1911: King’s Library 1961. London: British Museum, 1961.

1961–1962Islamic art in India of the 16th and 17th centuriesDept of Oriental Antiquities

14 December 1961–30 January 1962The Prince Consort Albert of Saxe-Coburg 1819–1861A small exhibition consisting of books, manuscripts, medals, prints and drawings, music and bindings, to commemorate the death of the Prince Consort on 14th December 1861.King’s LibraryThe Prince Consort Albert of Saxe-Coburg 1819–1861: an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of his death, December 14,1861: King’s Library 1961–62. London: British Museum, 1961.

1962German Gothic and Renaissance printsDept of Prints & Drawings

July–August 1962Oriental bookbindings and book coversAn exhibition of 240 bindings and book covers in leather, silk, lacquered and painted wood, silver, gold and ivory, ranging from 8th century leather bindings of Coptic Egypt to publishers’ bindings of the present dayDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryOriental bookbindings and book covers. London: British Museum, 1962.

Sketch books and albums of drawingsDept of Prints & Drawings

Drawings from the Iolo Williams (1890–1962) BequestDept of Prints & Drawings


196520 April–June 1965Dante Alighieri, 1265–1321Exhibition to mark the seventh centenary of the birth of Dante AlighieriDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsDante Alighieri, 1265–1321: exhibition to mark the seventh centenary of the poet’s birth. London: British Museum, 1965.

Magna Carta: 750th AnniversaryDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

W.B. Yeats 1865–1939Dept of Printed Books

4 May, 1965–19 February 1966Henry Christy: a pioneer of anthropology (centenary exhibition)Dept of Ethnography King Edward VII GalleryExhibition pamphlet: Henry Christy: a pioneer of anthropology / Adrian Digby. London: British Museum, 1965

23 September–31 October 1965Bookbindings from the library of Jean GrolierDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryBookbindings from the Library of Jean Grolier: a loan exhibition, 23 September–31 October 1965 / H.M. Nixon. London: British Museum, 1965.

24 September 1965–History of the Library (early years)Dept of Printed Books

24 September–5 December 1965English Book Illustrations c. 1481–1846An exhibition held to mark the occasion of the Fourth International Congress of Bibliophiles (London, 1965)Dept of Printed Books King’s Library

30 October 1964–March 1965Harunobu and his age: bicentenary of the perfection of colour printingAn exhibition of Japanese woodcut colour printing up to the perfection of the art in 1764Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admissionHarunobu and his age: the development of colour printing in Japan / D.B. Waterhouse. London: British Museum, 1964

19 December 1964–2 May 1965William Hogarth 1697–1764An exhibition of prints and drawings in honour of the bicentenary of the death of HogarthDept of Prints & DrawingsReviewed in The Times 12 January 1965

7 April–31 May 1964The Virginia of Sir Walter Raleigh and John White: an exhibition of the Elizabethan artist’s drawings and related materialDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission

Michelangelo Buonarrotti, 1475–1564An exhibition to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his deathDept of Prints & Drawings

Recent acquisitions 1960–1964Dept of Prints & Drawings

Exhibition of Masterpieces of Prehistoric Europe and Roman BritainDept of British & Medieval Antiquities Early Christian Room

12 December 1963–29 February 1964The Graphic work of GoyaIncluding loans from the PradoDept of Prints & DrawingsThe Graphic work of Goya: an exhibition of etchings and lithographs held in the Department of Prints & Drawings of the British Museum 12 December 1963 to 29th February 1964. London: British Museum, 1964.

196415 February–19 April 1964Scientific discovery 1543–1963Dept of Printed BooksAn exhibition to illustrate the part played by books and periodicals in disseminating scientific knowledgeDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

23 April–12 July 1964William Shakespeare 1564–1616 and Christopher Marlowe 1564–1593An exhibition of books, manuscripts and other illustrative material held in the King’s Library of the British MuseumDept of Printed BooksWilliam Shakespeare 1564–1616 and Christopher Marlowe 1564–1593: an exhibition of books, manuscripts and other illustrative material held in the King’s Library of the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1964.

17 July–30 August 1964 The mapping of Britain 13th to 19th centuries (organized to mark the International Geographical Congress held in London)Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

Scare-devils from the Nicobar IslandsDept of Ethnography


13 May–26 June 1966Swedish Gold / Swedish Art and Craftsmanship in the Gold and Viking AgesDept of British & Medieval AntiquitiesFree admission

May–August 196610 British prime ministersDept of Manuscripts

June–November 1966The Charles Francis Bell BequestCharles Francis Bell 1871–1966Dept of Prints & Drawings

5 July–5 September 1966Asian ScriptsDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsA handbook of Asian Scripts / edited by R.F.Hosking and G.M. Meredith-Owens. London: British Museum, 1966.

July–December 1966Sir Arthur Sullivan MSSDept of Manuscripts

September–December 1966Spanish MappingDept of Manuscripts

19661 January 1966–February 1967Masterpieces from the Print RoomDept of Prints & Drawings

January–April 1966AgincourtDept of Manuscripts

February 1966Turner watercolours from the R.W. Lloyd BequestDept of Prints & Drawings

21 February–11 April 1966The mapping of Britain, 13th to 19th centuries This exhibition was supplemented by a display of ‘thematic’ or ‘special’ maps in the North Entrance of the MuseumMap RoomKing’s Library

History and Romance in Mughal IndiaDept of Oriental Antiquities

Scandinavian acquisitionsDept of Printed Books

31 March 1966–The Central Highlands of New Guinea(material collected by Mr. Cranstone, British Museum Ethnographical Expedition)Dept of EthnographyEdward VII GalleryNew Guinea: the Sepik head-waters, 1963–4 / B.A.L. Cranstone. London: British Museum, 1966.

29 April–25 September 1966 Screen painting (from Japan, China and Korea)Dept of Oriental Antiquities

15 October 1965–March 1966The State of Asia in the 16th century on the eve of the European impactDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

16 December 1965–29 January 1966The Dead Sea Scrolls (an exhibition of Dead Sea scrolls lent by the Government of Jordan, with a selection of objects used in daily life by the desert community of QumranDept of Oriental Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsScrolls from the wilderness of the Dead Sea: a guide to the exhibition ‘The Dead Sea Scrolls of Jordan’ arranged by the Smithsonian Institution in cooperation with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestine Archaeological Museum. London: British Museum, 1965

7 May–26 September 1965The Lion in AsiaAn exhibition of sculpture, paintings, and other representations of the lion in oriental art.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

17 July 1965–10 January 1966Masterpieces from the Print RoomAn exhibition selected from the permanent collections of prints and drawings covering the XVth to the XIXth centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission


1 December 1967–28 January 1968Gilbert White of SelborneExhibition of material from the Selborne Society, the Natural History Museum and the Dept of Manuscripts to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the meeting between Gilbert White and Thomas PennantDept of ManuscriptsKing’s Library

15 December 1967–3 June 1968Campbell Dodgson, his Keepership and his Bequest 1867–1949Dept of Prints & Drawings

July–November 1967Artists working in Parma in the Sixteenth Century (including Parmigianino and Corregio)Dept of Prints & DrawingsArtists working in Parma in the Sixteenth Century: Correggio, Anselmi, Rondani, Gatti, Gambara, Orsi, Parmigianino, Bedoli, Bertoja / A.E. Popham. London: British Museum, 1967.

15 September 1967 onwardsClassic art of Japan (7th to early 17th century)Dept of Oriental Antiquities

14 September–29 October 1967Karl Marx in EnglandDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryKarl Marx in England: an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the publication of Das Kapital, 14 September 1867. London: Printed by Just & Co., 1967.

September–November 1967The History of PaperDept of Printed Books

September–December 1967Calais 1500–1558Dept of Manuscripts

6 November–4 December 1967The Literature of the Turkish PeoplesDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsThe literature of the Turkish peoples: catalogue of an exhibition, 6th November to 4th December 1967. London: British Museum, 1967.

5 May–7 June 1967Oskar Kokoschka: word and vision 1906–1966Dept of Prints & DrawingsWord and vision 1906–66: an exhibition of graphic work by Oskar Kokoschka illustrating literary works, his own, his contemporaries and the classics / Doris Winny. London: British Museum, 1967.

May–August 1967ChessHeld in Grenville LibraryDept of Manuscripts

June–July 1967Lithographs by Bonnard, Vuillard, and Toulouse-LautrecDept of Prints & Drawings

30 June–10 September 1967Europe in Canada: an exhibition to commemorate the Dominion of CanadaDept of Printed Books King’s Library

October 1966–January 1967Netherlandish block booksDept of Printed Books

4 November 1966–4 January 1967Music printingDept of Printed Books

November–December 1966Recent acquisitions: 1964–66Dept of Prints & Drawings

1967Masterpieces of the Print RoomDept of Prints & Drawings

20 January–17 February 1967Vinland Map A loan from Yale University with material from Department of ManuscriptsDept of Manuscripts and Map RoomKing’s Library

13 January–2 April 1967John Galsworthy: 1867–1933An exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the birth of John GalsworthyDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s Library

January–April 1967French Renaissance Illuminated MSSDept of Manuscripts

8 March–2 April 1967‘The Evergreen Tree’: libraries for the people in Britain before 1850An exhibition of books and prints drawn from the collections of the British Museum to mark National Library WeekDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

17 March–3 September 1967Chinese painting: the last 300 yearsDept of Oriental Antiquities

28 April–25 June 1967Poetry in the making: manuscripts of modern British poets acquired through the Arts CouncilDept of ManuscriptsPoetry in the making: catalogue of an exhibition of poetry manuscripts in the British Museum / Jenny Lewis. London: Turret Books for the Arts Council of Great Britain and the British Museum, 1967.


26 June–11 August 1968Sedgwick Bequest of Chinese art to four museumsDept of Oriental Antiquities

June 1968Sir Charles John Holmes 1868–1936Dept of Prints & Drawings

May–August 1968The TrumpetDept of Manuscripts

29 March–2 June 1968Felix Slade collector and benefactor 1790–1868 An exhibition to mark the centenary of his death and his generous bequests to the British MuseumDept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

22 March–16 June 1968Art of the Panjab HillsDept of Oriental Antiquities

2 February–3 March 1968Czech IncunabulaDept of Printed Books Czech incunabula: an exhibition to commemorate 500 years of printing in Czechoslovakia: King’s Library 2 February to 3 March 1968 / British Museum. London: British Museum, 1968.

January–April 1968Greeks and FranksDept of Manuscripts

1968Recent archaeological discoveries in East YorkshireDept of British & Medieval Antiquities


20 September 1968–23 March 1969The Origins of the landscape print ... the growth of landscape into a major form in the Japanese woodcut printDept of Oriental Antiquities

September–December 1968The Album AmicorumDept of Manuscripts

30 August–27 October 1968The Surveyor’s craftAn exhibition celebrating the twelfth meeting of the International Federation of SurveyorsDept of Printed Books

19 July–27 October 1968Captain Cook’s first voyage round the worldAn exhibition to commemorate the bicentenary of first voyage of Captain Cook in 1768Dept of Manuscripts and Dept of EthnographyKing’s LibraryAn exhibition to commemorate the bicentenary Captain Cook’s first voyage round the world. London: British Museum, 1968.

12 July–29 September 1968Recent acquisitions 1967–1968Dept of Prints & Drawings

12 July–29 September 1968The César Mange de Hauke BequestDept of Prints & DrawingsThe César Mange de Hauke Bequest / P.H. Hulton. London: British Museum, 1968.

12 July–29 September 1968Manuscripts and drawings from Bequest of Dr Eric George MillarDept of Manuscripts and Dept of Prints & DrawingsThe Eric George Millar Bequest of manuscripts and drawings 1967: a commemorative volume. London: British Museum, 1968 (offprinted from the British Museum Quarterly).

5 July–29 November 1968Masterpieces of glass in the British Museum (2000 BC to 1862 AD)British & Medieval AntiquitiesMasterpieces of glass: a selection / Donald B. Harden. London: British Museum, 1968.


9–23 February 1969Turner water-colours from the R.W. Lloyd BequestDept of Prints & Drawings

1 February–13 April 1969Wilkes and Liberty: bicentenary of the expulsion of John Wilkes from House of CommonsDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryWilkes and Liberty: an exhibition to commemorate the bicentenary of the expulsion of John Wilkes from House of Commons and the subsequent constitutional struggle. London: British Museum, 1969.

1 February–13 April 1969The Lullingstone wall plasterAn aspect of Christianity in Roman BritainDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

January–April 1969Flemish Renaissance Illuminated ManuscriptsDept of Manuscripts

1969500th anniversary of Guru Nanak, founder of the SikhsDept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

13 December 1968–26 January 1969Children’s Books from the 17th to the 19th century Includes material lent by Publishers’ Association and Children’s Book Centre KensingtonDept of Printed BooksChildren’s books: an exhibition of early children’s books. London: British Museum, 1968.

27 November 1968–31 January 1969Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720–1778), his predecessors and his heritageDept of Prints & DrawingsGiovanni Battista Piranesi: his predecessors and his heritage. London: British Museum, 1968.

16 October–30 November 1968Egypt Exploration Society’s recent discoveries in Egypt and the Sudan (British Museum in conjunction with the Society)Dept of Egyptian AntiquitiesExhibition of recent discoveries in Egypt and the Sudan. London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1968.


6 June–31 August 1969Desiderius Erasmus 1469–1536Dept of Printed Books

May–August 1969Love lettersDept of Manuscripts

12 May–8 June 1969The Arts of the First FarmersBalkan Neolithic material loaned by the National Museum of BelgradeDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British AntiquitiesThe arts of the first farmers / Colin Renfrew. Sheffield: Sheffield City Museums, 1972.

2 May–21 September 1969Chinese paintings acquired through the Brooke Sewell FundDept of Oriental Antiquities

10 April–29 June 1969Greek gods and heroesDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities3rd Vase RoomGreek gods and heroes: guide and catalogue /Ann Birchall and P.E. Corbett. London: British Museum, 1969.

April–June 1969Trans Atlantic flightsDept of Printed Books

20 March–11 May 1969The Late Etchings of Rembrandt: an Arts Council ExhibitionDept of Prints & DrawingsThe Late Etchings of Rembrandt: a study in the development of a print / catalogue notes and introduction by Christopher White. London: [Arts Council], 1969.

20 March–20 April 1969The Dexter Collection of the Works of Charles DickensDept of Printed Books


1 November 1969–January 1970High LodgeThe British Museum excavation and the earliest pre-history in East AngliaDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

22 October–18 November 1969Recent Acquisitions 1969Dept of Prints & Drawings

10 October 1969–February 1970Persian painting in the seventeenth centuryDept of Oriental Antiquities

15 September–26 October 1969Mahatma Gandhi: a hundred years An exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the birth of GandhiDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryThe British Museum exhibition: Mahatma Gandhi: a hundred years: King’s Library. [London]: British Museum, [1969]

1 September 1969–18 January 1970Uses of statistics: political arithmetic, statistics and archaeologyAn exhibition to celebrate the 37th session of the International Statistical Institute, London, 1969Dept of Printed Books and Dept of Prehistoric & Romano-British AntiquitiesNorth Entrance hallFree admission

September–December 1969AstrologyDept of Manuscripts

13 June–28 September 1969Royal Academy Draughtsmen 1769–1969Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoyal Academy Draughtsmen 1769–1969 / Andrew Wilton. London: British Museum, 1969.

June–August 1969 and all of 1970Selection of maps from collection of Royal United Service InstitutionDept of Manuscripts and Map Room


28 November 1970–28 February 1971Beethoven 1770–1827: a bicentenary exhibition at the British MuseumDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsFree admissionBeethoven 1770–1827: catalogue of an exhibition held in the King’s Library 28 November 1970 to 28 February 1971 / Alexander Hyatt King. London: British Museum, 1970.

25 September–8 November 1970Comenius, the teacher of nations 1592–1670Dept of Printed BooksComenius, the teacher of nations: a guide to the exhibition commemorating the tercentenary of Comenius’ death / Dalibor B. Chrastek. London: British Museum, 1970.

September–December 1970St Thomas Becket c. 1118–1170Dept of Manuscripts

5 June–13 September 1970Charles Dickens 1812–1870Material exhibited from the Depts of Printed Books, Manuscripts and Prints & Drawings and included a display of stamps issued to mark the centenary of Dickens’ deathDept of Printed Books

May–August 1970Codes and ciphersDept of Manuscripts

6 March–26 May 1970Dutch Clandestine Printing 1940–1945: a commemorative exhibitionDept of Printed Books

March–May 1970LeninDept of Printed Books

1970January–April 1970The Englishman AbroadDept of Manuscripts


15 December, 1970–August 1971Javanese Shadow Puppets: the Raffles Collection in the British Museum.Dept of EthnographyJavanese shadow puppets / Jeune Scott-Kemball. London: British Museum, 1970.

15 December, 1970–August 1971The Raffles Gamelan: a Javanese orchestraDept of EthnographyThe ‘Raffles Gamelan’: a historical note / ed. William Fagg with a biographical note by Douglas Barrett. London: British Museum, 1970.

15 December, 1970–August, 1971The Tribal Image: wooden figure sculpture of the worldDept of EthnographyThe Tribal Image: wooden figure sculpture of the world / William Fagg. London: British Museum. 1970.

15 December, 1970–27 January, 1973Turquoise Mosaics from MexicoDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindTurquoise Mosaics from Mexico / Elizabeth Carmichael. London: British Museum, 1970.

15 December, 1970–May, 1973Spinning and Weaving in PalestineDept of EthnographySpinning and Weaving in Palestine / Shelagh Weir. London: British Museum, 1970.

15 December, 1970–May, 1973Arab Costumes of PalestineDept of Ethnography

15 December, 1970–August, 1972Sir Hans Sloane and EthnographyDept of EthnographySir Hans Sloane and ethnography /the late H.J. Braunholtz; with a note by Sir Gavin de Beer; edited with a foreword by William Fagg. London: British Museum, 1970.

November 1970–January 1971Christmas stampsDept of Manuscripts


5 March–26 June 1971Pre-Columbian art from El SalvadorDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

January–April 1971Portugal and the OrientDept of Manuscripts

15 January–28 March 1971Treasures from RomaniaLoan from BucharestDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesTreasures from Romania: a special exhibition held at the British Museum January–March 1971. London: British Museum, 1971.

1971Recent acquisitionsDept of Printed Books

15 December, 1970–27 January 1974Hunters and gatherers: the nomadic Hadza of East AfricaDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindHunters and gatherers: the nomadic Hadza of East Africa / James Woodburn. London: British Museum, 1970.

See previous entry15 December, 1970–14 October 1973Divine Kingship in AfricaDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindDivine Kingship in Africa / William Fagg. London: British Museum, 1970.

15 December, 1970–November 1976The Potter’s Art in AfricaDept of EthnographyThe Potter’s Art in Africa / William Fagg. London: British Museum, 1970.


23 September–8 October 1971Art Treasures from the Japanese Imperial CollectionsA selection of paintings and calligraphy lent by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan to mark his state visit to Great Britain in October 1971.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II

July–October 1971Marcel ProustDept of Printed Books

30 July–3 October 1971Classical Sites and MonumentsAn exhibition of drawings of classical sites and monuments in Italy, Greece, and the Near EastFree admissionDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities and Dept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionClassical Sites and Monuments / Andrew Wilton. London: British Museum, 1971.

30 July–3 October 1971Maya sculpture and pottery from MexicoThe Manuel Barbachano Ponce CollectionDept of EthnographyMaya sculpture and pottery from Mexico: the Manuel Barbachano Ponce Collection: a loan exhibition arranged with the collaboration of the Mexican National Tourist Council. London: British Museum, 1971.

8 July–3 October 1971Stanley Morison 1889–1967: a portraitDept of Printed BooksFree admissionStanley Morison: a portrait: catalogue of an exhibition. London: British Museum, 1971.

May–August 1971Renaissance handwritingDept of Manuscripts

April 1971The Art of BurmaDept of Oriental Printed Books & Manuscripts

19 March–23 May 1971The Siege of Paris and the Commune 1870–71: a centenary exhibitionDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryThe Siege of Paris and the Commune 1870–71: a centenary exhibition: the King’s Library, the British Museum 19 March–23 May 1971. London: British Museum, 1971.


January–April 1972Baroque Illuminated ManuscriptsDepartmental displayDept of Manuscripts

1972

21 January–5 March 1972 Chinese art from the collection of HM Gustaf VI Adolf of SwedenDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II40,000 visitorsChinese art from the collection of HM Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden / Bo Gyllensvard. [London]: British Museum, 1972.

19 November 1971–July 1972Village arts of RomaniaAn exhibition lent by the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, BucharestVillage arts of Romania: an exhibition lent by the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Bucharest / Gheorghe Focsa. London: British Museum, 1971.Dept of Ethnography

12 November 1971–30 January 1972Cooking in the OrientAn exhibition of books and utensilsDept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

29 October 1971–30 January 1972Royal Persia: a commemoration of Cyrus the Great and his successors2500th anniversary of the Iranian MonarchyDepts of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts, Oriental Antiquities, and Coins & MedalsKing’s LibraryRoyal Persia: a commemoration of Cyrus the Great and his successors. London: British Museum, 1971.

15 October 1971–29 February 1972The Graphic Work of Albrecht DurerAn exhibition of prints and drawings and related material in celebration of the five hundredth anniversary of the master’s birth in 1471Dept of Prints & DrawingsThe graphic work of Albrecht Durer: an exhibition of drawings and prints in commemoration of the quincentenary of his birth. London: British Museum, 1971.

1 October–31 December 1971Midianite Timna: valley of the biblical copper mines A loan exhibition from IsraelDept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesMidianite Timna: valley of the biblical copper mines: an archaeological exhibition from the excavations in the Timna Valley (Israel) 1964–70. London: Thames & Hudson, 1971.

September–December 1971Francis PlaceDept of Manuscripts


June–July 1972Publication of the first edition of the Portuguese epic poem ‘Os Luciadas’ by CamoensDept of Printed Books and Dept of Manuscripts

4 June–December 1972Five Hundred Years of the Printed MapThis exhibition commemorated the publication in 1472 of the first printed map in the western world.Map RoomNorth Entrance of the British Museum

May–August 1972Early Anglo-Russian RelationsDepartmental displayDept of Manuscripts

19 May–9 July 1972Modern English bindingsDepartmental displayDept of Printed Books

28 April–31 August 1972Modern Prints and Drawings and Other Recent Acquisitions 1967–1972Dept of Prints & DrawingsAn exhibition of modern prints and drawings and other recent acquisitions 1967–1972 / British Museum Dept of Prints & Drawings. London: British Museum, 1972.

25 April–11 June 1972In Pursuit of Antiquity: Chinese paintings of the Ming and Ch’ing dynasties from the collection of Mr and Mrs Earl MorseExhibition included an examination in some detail of the career of the Chinese 17th century painter, Wang Hui (1632–1717)Dept of Oriental Antiquities20,000 visitors

See previous entry

Dept of Egyptian Antiquities1,694,117 visitors Treasures of Tutankhamun: catalogue of an exhibition held at the British Museum 1972 / I.E.S Edwards. London: British Museum 1972.Treasures of Tutankhamun: sponsored by the Trustees of the British Museum, The Times and the Sunday Times: held at the British Museum 1972. London: Rainbird, 1972.

30 March–30 December 1972 (extended)Treasures of TutankhamunExhibition to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by the Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter A loan exhibition from the Department of Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt sponsored by the Trustees of the British Museum, The Times and the Sunday Times.


29 September–15 December 1972Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)Exhibition to mark the centenary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan WilliamsDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryRalph Vaughan Williams 1872–1958: a guide to the centenary exhibition in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1972.

September–December 1972The Englishman at HomeDepartmental display Dept of Manuscripts

August 1972Polo miniatures from Persian and Mughal ManuscriptsDept of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts

The Hamilton Collection: a bicentenary exhibition.London: British Museum 1972.

18 August–29 October 1972The Hamilton Collection: a bicentenary exhibitionTo commemorate the acquisition by the British Museum in 1772 of the vast collection of antiquities formed by William Hamilton during his early years as British Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Naples.Dept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesRooms 10 and 11 (Greek & Roman ground floor galleries)

21 July–29 October 1972Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772–1834Exhibition to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Samuel Taylor ColeridgeDept of Printed Books and Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibrarySamuel Taylor Coleridge, 1722–1834: catalogue of an exhibition in the King’s Library, 21 July–29 October 1972. London: British Museum, 1972.

23 June–31 August, 1972Manding: focus on an African civilisation Organized by SOAS to coincide with a conference held in the SOAS of the University of LondonDept of EthnographyManding art and civilisation / ed. Guy Atkins. London: Studio International, 1972.

23 June 1972–28 February 1982The Aborigines of AustraliaDept of EthnographyRoom 10 Burlington GardensThe Australian Aborigines / B.A.L. Cranstone. London: British Museum, 1972.


1973Until 14 October 1973Music in Britain in the Twentieth CenturyAn exhibition of autograph musical scores and letters of composersDept of ManuscriptsBible Room

27 October 1972–31 May 1973 (extended)The Art of Drawing, 11000 BC–AD 1900: man’s achievement as a draughtsman over a period of some 129 centuries Dept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryThe art of drawing. London: British Museum, 1972.

October 1972–January 1973Sir Thomas Phillipps Centenary exhibitionDept of Manuscripts

6 October 1972–June 1973The Raffles Gamelan a Javanese orchestra (re-mounted)Dept of Ethnography

6 October 1972–May 1973 (extended)Malay shadow puppets: the Wayang Siam of KelantanDept of Ethnography

6 October, 1972–January 1975The Tribal Image: wooden figure sculpture of the world(re-mounted)Dept of Ethnography

6 October–10 December 1972Eskimo sculpture: masterworks of the Canadian ArcticDept of EthnographyRooms 4 & 5 Burlington GardensReviewed in The Times 10 October 1972

6 October 1972–4 September 1977Eskimo art in the British MuseumDept of EthnographyRoom 1 Burlington Gardens


May–August 1973The Royal Society 1660–1760Dept of Manuscripts

14 April–30 June 1973The Seligman Collection of Chinese artDept of Oriental AntiquitiesLoan

15 February–25 April 1973Molière, 1622–1673An exhibition to commemorate the death of Molière, displaying a selection of early printed and fine illustrated editions, supplemented by portraits, drawings and engravings showing Molière as a dramatist and as a servant of Louis XIV.Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

2 February–1 May 1973Copernicus and the New Astronomy: a commemorative exhibitionDept of Printed BooksKing’s LibraryCopernicus and the new astronomy: a commemorative exhibition in the British Museum 2 February to 1 May 1973 / Hanna Swiderska and Sarah Tyacke. London: British Museum, 1973.

20 January–31 July 1973George Smith and the Discovery of the Flood LegendDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

January–April 1973Europe’s Carolingian BackgroundDept of Manuscripts

4 January–30 March 1973The Hanoverian Accession in its European ContextDept of Printed Books

Bicentenary of the birth of Thomas Young in 1773Dept of Egyptian Antiquities


28 August, 1973–26 October 1975The Gonds of Central IndiaDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindRooms 2 and 3 Burlington GardensThe Gonds of Central India / Shelagh Weir. London: British Museum Press, 1973

10 August–30 December 1973Oriental cartographyDept of Printed Books

6 July–28 October 1973 Oriental ManuscriptsDept of Oriental Printed Books and ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryOriental Manuscripts: an exhibition of oriental manuscripts in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts in the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1973.

29 June–31 December 1973Netherlandish Prints and Drawings: Van Eyck to BreughelDept of Prints & Drawings

15 June–30 September, 1973Antiquities of LibyaOrganized in collaboration with the Society for Libyan StudiesDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesRoom 11 on mezzanine of Greek & Roman Antiquities’ new galleriesAntiquities of Libya: an exhibition jointly organised by the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities of the British Museum and the Society for Libyan Studies. London: British Museum, 1973

11 June–22 July 1973600 years of the Anglo-Portuguese AllianceA historical exhibition, commemorating the signing of the treaty of alliance on 16 June 1373 and contributing to the programme of events celebrating its sixth centenary in both Portugal and England.Dept of ManuscriptsBible Room600 years of the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance: catalogue of an exhibition at the British Museum. London: British Museum, 1973.

14 May–11 July 1973 Alessandro Manzoni, 1785–1873An exhibition to mark the centenary of Manzoni’s death, including early editions and illustrations of Manzoni’s works.Dept of Printed BooksKing’s Library

4 May–2 September 1973RL 50 – Research Laboratory Golden JubileeAn exhibition to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Museum’s Research LaboratoryResearch LaboratoryBritish Museum North End, former Ethnography Gallery92,894 visitors


24 April–1 September 1974The Iron Brush: Chinese rubbings from engraved stonesDept of Oriental Antiquities

1974

1 February–31 December, 1974Chinese and Japanese MapsDept of Oriental Antiquities and British LibraryChinese and Japanese maps: an exhibition organised by the British Library at the British Museum 1 February–31 December 1974 / Yolande Jones. London: British Museum Press, 1974.

Until 5 March 1974Sir Frederic Madden (1801–1873)To commemorate the centenary of the death of Sir Frederic Madden, Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum from 1837 to 1866.Bible RoomDept of Manuscripts

2 October–2 December, 1973The Garner Collection of Chinese and associated lacquerwareCollection of Chinese and associated lacquer from the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368 ad) to the 19th century formed by Sir Harry and Lady Garner.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIChinese and associated lacquer from the Garner Collection. London: British Museum, 1973.

c. September, 1973–27 September, 1975From the Five ContinentsDept of Ethnography

September–December 1973Robert Curzon 1810–1873Dept of Manuscripts

1 September 1973–30 September 1975The British and the MayaDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindThe British and the Maya / Elizabeth Carmichael. London: British Museum, 1973.

1973–30 September 1975The MayaMaya art and archaeology, demonstrated by the greater part of the Ethnography Department’s Maya collections.Dept of EthnographyMaya hieroglyphs without tears / Eric Thompson. London: British Museum, 1972.


30 July–27 October 1974The Written Word on PapyrusDept of Egyptian Antiquities and the British Library The written word on papyrus: an exhibition held in the British Museum 30 July–27 October 1974 / T.S. Pattie and E.G. Turner. London: British Museum, 1974.

2 July–29 September 1974Modern literary manuscripts: acquired with the aid of the Arts Council of Great BritainBritish Library Dept of ManuscriptsKing’s LibraryModern literary manuscripts: acquired with the aid of the Arts Council of Great Britain / catalogue compiled by W.H. Kelliher. London: British Museum for the British Library Board, 1974.

14 June–15 September 1974Petrarch: poet and humanist, 1304–74.British LibraryBible RoomPetrarch: poet and humanist, 1304–74: a catalogue of an exhibition held in the Bible Room, British Museum 14 June to 15 September 1974 / organized by the British Library. London: British Museum, 1974.

31 May 1974–31 August 1981Yoruba Religious CultsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

31 May 1974–23 June 1985The Solomon IslandersDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindRoom 11 Burlington GardensThe Solomon Islanders /Dorota Starzecka and B. Cranstone. London: British Museum, 1974.

24 May–1 September 1974English Restoration bookbindings: Samuel Mearne and his contemporariesA celebration of 1660 to 1700 as the golden age of English bookbinding.Exhibits from the British Library and the Henry Davis Gift.British LibraryKing’s LibraryEnglish Restoration Bookbindings: Samuel Mearne and his contemporaries / Howard M. Nixon. London: British Museum Press for the British Library, 1974.

19 May–9 July 1974Modern English bookbindingsBritish Library

24 April–30 June 1974Auden poems / Moore lithographs (mounted in co-operation with the Petersburg Press)Dept of Prints & Drawings and British LibraryPrints & Drawings Gallery33,684 visitorsAuden poems / Moore lithographs: an exhibition of a book dedicated by Henry Moore to W. H. Auden with related drawings. London: British Museum and Petersburg Press, 1974.


14 February–1 June 1975The Painting of the Panjab HillsDept Oriental Antiquities97,037 visitors

Drawings by Michelangelo: in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and other English collections. London: British Museum Press, 1975.

7 February–27 April 1975Michelangelo DrawingsA celebration of the five-hundredth anniversary of the artist’s birth. The exhibition assembled drawings in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and other English collections.Dept of Prints & Drawings250,000 visitors

1975

17 January–16 March 1975The Greek Illyrian Treasures from Yugoslavia from the National Museum, BelgradeDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities46,823 visitors

21 December 1974–29 June 1975Prehistoric flint mines: Grime’s GravesDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities and Dept of Scientific Research135,716 visitors

8 November 1974–19 January 1975John Milton 1608–1674British Library

16 Sept 1974–January 1975The Art of TibetDept of Oriental Antiquities39,059 visitors

2 August–31 December 1974Portrait drawings XV–XX centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery119,444 visitorsPortrait drawings XV–XX centuries: an exhibition held in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, 2nd August to 31st December 1974. London: British Museum, 1974.


6 June–31 August 1975Thomas Mann 1875–1955Marking the centenary of Mann’s birth.British Library King’s LibraryThomas Mann 1875–1955: a British Library Exhibition at the British Museum 6 June–31 August 1975. London: British Library, 1975.

28 May 1975–c. August 1983Turquoise Mosaics from MexicoDept of Ethnography

28 May 1975–20 June 1978The Tribal EyeOrganized in conjunction with BBC 2 series of the same name.Dept of Ethnography

May–July 1975El Dorado: Columbian goldDept of Ethnography

See previous entry9 May 1975–18 January 1976 Turner in the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery585,046 visitorsTurner in the British Museum: drawings and watercolours: catalogue of an exhibition at the Prints and Drawings Department of the British Museum / Andrew Wilton. London: British Museum Press, 1975.

Spring 1975Textiles from Baluchistan Dept of Ethnography

14 February–1 June 1975The Addis Collection of Chinese PorcelainDept of Oriental Antiquities


12 December 1975–c. August 1983Treasures from the Ethnographic CollectionsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

12 December 1975–23 June 1985HawaiiDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

2 December 1975–29 February 1976Jane Austen, 1775–1817British LibraryKing’s LibraryJane Austen 1775–1817: catalogue of an exhibition held in the King’s Library, British Library Reference Division / John Barr and W.H. Kelliher. London: British Museum Press for the British Library, 1975.

25 November 1975–5 January 1976Churchill: the writerAn exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Winston ChurchillBritish Library

17 September–16 November 1975The World of Franklin and JeffersonCommemoration of the Franklin / Jefferson BicentenaryDept of Prints & Drawings / Loan129,240 visitorsThe world of Franklin and Jefferson: an exhibition: designed by the Office of Charles and Ray Eames for the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. [s.l.]: [s.n.], 1975

20 June–5 October 1975Tang Buddhist PaintingA selection from the Aurel Stein collection.Oriental Gallery IIDept of Oriental Antiquities61,730 visitors

26 September 1975–c. January 19862,000 years of coins and medalsDept of Coins and Medals2,000 years of coins and medals /J.P.C.Kent. London: British Museum, 1978

7 November 1975–4 January 1976Sung and Yuan Paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkA loan exhibition of the C.C. Wang CollectionDept of Oriental AntiquitiesSung and Yuan paintings, Wen Fong with catalogue by Marilyn Fu. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973.


16 January–28 March 1976Japanese Paintings and Prints of the Maruyama-Shijo SchoolDept of Oriental Antiquities

1976

8 January–28 March 1976Thracian treasures from BulgariaLoan from Sofia / People’s Republic of BulgariaDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities Special Exhibitions Gallery424,465 visitorsThracian treasures from Bulgaria / I. Venedikov, adapted by R.A. Higgins. London: British Museum, 1976.

6 May–11 July 1976Isfahan, City of LightWorld of Islam FestivalDept of Oriental AntiquitiesIsfahan, city of light: an exhibition guide / organized by the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Iran in association with the World of Islam Festival. Teheran: Ministry of Culture and Arts of Iran, 1976.

13 April–11 July 1976Paintings from the Muslim Courts of India Dept of 16th to 17th centuries ADWorld of Islam FestivalDept of Oriental AntiquitiesReviewed in The Times 21 April 1976Paintings from the Muslim Courts of India: an exhibition held in the Prints and Drawings Gallery, British Museum 13 April to 11 July 1976 / R.H. Pinder-Wilson. London: World of Islam Festival, 1976.

See previous entry10 April 1976–17 September 1978Nomad and City: the Bedouin, the City of Sana’a, the City of FezWorld of Islam FestivalDept of EthnographyCity of San’a: nomad and city exhibition / ed. James Kirkman. Cambridge: World of Islam Festival, 1976.

13 February–28 March 1976Spanish Drawings from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth CenturiesDept of Prints & Drawings

13 February–28 March 1976Recent acquisitionsDept of Prints & Drawings


31 January–February 1978African masksDept of Ethnography

1977

21 January–26 June 1977Claude Lorrain: the Liber VeritatisDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery132,198 visitorsClaude Lorrain Liber Veritatis / Michael Kitson. London: British Museum, 1978.

15 December 1976–31 January 1977Masks from MexicoA loan exhibition from Mexico from the collection of Victor José MoyaDept of EthnographyMasks from Mexico: a loan exhibition by the Mexican Government: from the collection of Victor José Moya. London: British Museum, 1976.

See previous entry

12 November 1976–1 February 1977Jewellery through 7000 yearsInter-departmental227,393 visitors Jewellery through 7000 years. London: British Museum, 1976.

27 August 1976–c. October 1978The Inverarity Collection: Indian art from the North West Coast of AmericaDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

22 June–12 September 1976Netsuke: the miniature sculpture of JapanDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery III

3 June–30 August 1976TolstoiExhibition on loan from Soviet MuseumsBritish LibrarySpecial Exhibitions Gallery of the British MuseumTolstoi: a loan exhibition from Soviet Museums presented by the British Library held in the Special Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum. London: British Museum Press, 1976.


29 July 1977–15 January 1978Chinese Paintings of the Ching Dynasty 1644–1912Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesGallery II

14 July–30 October 1977Rubens Drawings and SketchesDept of Prints & Drawings231,039 visitorsReviewed in The Times 17 August 1977Rubens Drawings and Sketches: catalogue of an exhibition at the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum / John Rowlands. London: British Museum Press, 1977.

15 May 1977The Nimrud IvoriesDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

6 May–24 July 1977A Royal Jubilee ExhibitionBritish Museum & British LibraryFree admittanceA Royal Heritage. London: British Museum, 1977.

1 April–1 October 1977Wealth of the Roman World: gold and silver AD 300–700Inter-departmental & loan exhibitionPaid admission162,180 visitorsWealth of the Roman World: gold and silver ad 300–700 / J.P.C. Kent and. K.S. Painter.London: British Museum, 1977.

18 March 1977–20 August 1979Bulgarian village arts: objects selected from a collection donated by the Bulgarian Committee for Art and CultureDept of EthnographyBulgarian village arts: a temporary exhibition of objects selected from a collection donated by the Bulgarian Committee for Art and Culture. London: Museum of Mankind, 1977.

16 February 1977–2 May 1978The Otavalo Indians of EcuadorDept of Ethnography

4 February–19 June 1977Japanese Paintings and Prints – the Schools of Ganku and BunchoDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II


March–9 June 1978Headdresses from RomaniaDept of Ethnography – loan from Bucharest

9 February–14 May 1978Painting of RajasthanDept of Oriental AntiquitiesGallery II

1978

February 1978 onwardsAfrican textilesDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindMuseum of Mankind Room 13

December 1977–June 1978Slavonic Manuscripts from the British Museum and LibraryBritish Museum and British LibrarySlavonic Manuscripts from the British Museum and Library / Ivan Dujcev. London: British Library, 1978.

9 December 1977–3 December 1978Smoking Pipes of the North American IndiansDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindSmoking Pipes of the North American Indians / J.C.H. King. London: British Museum Press, 1977.

2 December 1977–February 1978Animals in ArtInter-departmental and British Library and World Wildlife FundSpecial Exhibitions Gallery 138,583 visitorsReviewed in The Times 13 December 1977Animals in Art / Jessica Rawson. London: British Museum Press, 1977.

25 November 1977–12 March 1978French Landscape Drawings and Sketches of the Eighteenth CenturySelected by the Cabinet des Dessins of the LouvreDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery 69,753 visitorsFrench Landscape Drawings and Sketches of the Eighteenth Century: catalogue of a loan exhibition from the Louvre and other French museums at the Department of Prints and Drawings. London: British Museum Press, 1977.

25 August–4 December 1977Sir Francis Drake: an exhibition to commemorate Francis Drake’s voyage around the world, 1577–1580British Library, King’s LibrarySir Francis Drake: an exhibition to commemorate Francis Drake’s voyage around the world, 1577–1580 / British Library. London: British Museum Publications for the British Library, 1977.


19 October 1978–11 March 1979 (extended)Gainsborough and Reynolds in the British MuseumDept of Prints & Drawings 114,406 visitorsGainsborough and Reynolds in the British Museum: the drawings of Gainsborough and Reynolds with a survey of mezzotints after their paintings and a study of Reynolds’ collection of Old Master drawing / T. Clifford, A. Griffiths and M. Royalton-Kisch. London: British Museum, 1978

19 October 1978–14 January 1979Myth and ceremony in Islamic PaintingDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admittance43,988 visitorsMyth and ceremony in Islamic Painting / J.M. Rogers. [London]: British Museum, [1978].

18 August–13 November 1978ColossusDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities in connection with the 11th International Congress of Classical Archaeology in LondonSpecial Exhibitions Gallery

9 August–22 October 1978Officina Bodoni: books printed by Giovanni Mardersteig 1923–1977British LibraryKing’s LibraryThe Officina Bodoni, Montagnola, Verona: books printed by Giovanni Mardersteig on the hand press 1923–1977 / John Barr. London: British Library, 1978.

4 August–31 October 1978Art of the Brazilian IndiansDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

8 June–24 September 1978A Dream of Fair Women: Japanese Paintings and Prints of the Ukiyoe SchoolDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIA Dream of fair women: Japanese paintings and prints of the Ukiyoe School: catalogue of an exhibition at the British Museum Oriental Gallery, 8 June–24 September 1978. London: British Museum, 1978.

4 May–27 August 1978Heraldry: British heraldry from its origins to c. 1800British Museum & British LibrarySpecial Exhibitions Gallery262,183 visitorsBritish heraldry from its origins to c. 1800 / Richard Marks and Ann Payne. London: British Museum Publications, 1978.

30 March–1 October 1978From Manet to Toulouse Lautrec: French lithographs, 1860–1900Dept of Prints & DrawingsPrints and Drawings Gallery355,635 visitorsFrom Manet to Toulouse Lautrec: French lithographs, 1860–1900 / Frances Carey and Antony Griffiths, London: British Museum Press, 1978.


21 February–September 1979Art from Ghana: selection of material from the Barclay Armitage CollectionDept of Ethnography

15 February 1979–29 September 1980Captain Cook in the South SeasDept of Ethnography and British Library

17 January 1979–1 October 1982Moche pottery from PeruDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

19791979–1980David Garrick 1717–1779Bicentenary exhibitionBritish Library

The Hull Grundy Catalogue of Medals: a catalogue of the medals and plaquettes presented by Professor and Mrs John Hull Grundy and included in the exhibition of ‘The Jewellers Art’. London: British Museum, 1978.

13 December 1978–16 May 1979The Jeweller’s art: the Hull Grundy GiftDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities167,024 visitorsThe Jeweller’s art: an introduction to the Hull Grundy Gift to the British Museum / Hugh Tait and Charlotte Gere. London: British Museum Publications, 1978.

24 November 1978–October 1979Ashanti GoldweightsDept of Ethnography

16 November 1978–11 March 1979Frozen tombs: the culture and art of the ancient tribes of SiberiaA loan exhibition from the Hermitage Dept of Prehistoric & Romano-British AntiquitiesFrozen tombs: the culture and art of the ancient tribes of Siberia. London: British Museum Press, 1978.


22 November 1979–16 March 1980Cyprus BC: 7,000 years of historyLoaned by the Government of the Republic of CyprusDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesNew Wing Gallery113,701 visitors Antiquities from Cyprus / ed. Veronica Tatton-Brown. London: British Museum Press, 1979.

4 October 1979–13 January 1980; 31 January–27 April 1980 Portraits of the EastDept of Oriental Antiquities85,755 visitorsPortraits of the East. London: British Museum, 1980. [10 page handlist]

27 September 1979–13 January 1980The Century of Rubens and Rembrandt: seventeenth century Dutch and Flemish Drawings from The Pierpont Morgan Library, New YorkDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission77,875 visitorsThe century of Rubens and Rembrandt: seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish drawings from the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York: 27 September 1979 to 13 January 1980. London: British Museum, 1979.

19 September 1979–April 1980Aspects of Siberian designDept of Ethnography

30 August–11 November 1979The Golden age of Venetian glassDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesSpecial Exhibitions GalleryFree admission105,223 visitors The Golden Age of Venetian Glass / Hugh Tait. London: British Museum Publications, 1979.

25 July–26 October 1980Guide Books and Tourism (The British in Italy)British Library

17 May–9 September 1979The Medal: mirror of historyDept of Coins & MedalsNew Wing GalleryFree admission83,342 visitorsArt of the Medal / Mark Jones. London: British Museum, 1979.

10 May–9 September 1979 Flowers in Art from East and WestDept of Oriental Antiquities and Dept of Prints and Drawings142,823 visitorsFlowers in Art from East and West / L.R.H. Smith and Paul Hulton. London: British Museum Press, 1979.


11 June–5 October 1980Varieties of Western woodcutDept of Prints & Drawings

5 June–26 October 1980The Ancient Olympic GamesDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesNew Wing GalleryFree admission334,354 visitorsThe Ancient Olympic Games / J. Swaddling. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

6 April 1980–5 October 1982Facsimile American CodicesDept of Ethnography

27 March–4 May 1980Kiln Sites of Ancient China: recent finds of pottery and porcelainAn exhibition lent by the People’s Republic of China, organized in association with the Oriental Ceramic SocietyDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admissionKiln sites of ancient China: an exhibition lent by the People’s Republic of China / compiled by Penelope Hughes Stanton and Rose Kerr. [London]: Oriental Ceramic Society, [1981].

14 February–20 July 1980 The VikingsDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities465,000 visitorsReviewed in Sunday Times Magazine 10 February 1980The Vikings / James Graham-Campbell and Dafydd Kidd. London: British Museum Press, 1980.Viking artefacts: a select catalogue / James Graham-Campbell. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

7 February 1980–22 August 1983Art made for strangers: Haida argillite carving from British ColumbiaDept of Ethnography

1980

31 January–4 May 1980American prints 1879–1979Dept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission88,863 visitors American prints 1879–1979: a catalogue of an exhibition at the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum 1980 / Frances Carey and Antony Griffiths. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

6 December 1979–13 May 1983African textilesDept of Ethnography


15 November 1980–26 June 1981Asian BladesDept of Ethnography

16 October 1980–20 April 1981British Figure DrawingsDept of Prints & Drawings

16 October 1980–20 April 1981Dutch Landscape Prints of the Seventeenth CenturyDept of Prints & DrawingsDutch Landscape Prints of the Seventeenth Century / David Freedberg. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

16 October 1980–20 April 1981Watteau drawings in the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsWatteau drawings in the British Museum / Paul Hulton. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

16 October 1980–18 January 1981Asian Art – New Acquisitions 1970–80: Part IDept of Oriental Antiquities

9 October–26 November 1980The Epstein Collection: photographs of non-western art formerly owned by Sir Jacob EpsteinDept of Ethnography

11 June–8 August 1980Tangata: the Maori vision of man[photographs by Brian Blake of Maori carving]Dept of Ethnography

11 June–5 October 1980Japanese Prints: 300 Years of Albums and BooksDept of Oriental AntiquitiesPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admissionJapanese Prints – 300 Years of Albums and Books / L.R.H. Smith and Jack Hillier. London: British Museum Press, 1980.


14 May–20 September 1981Turner and the sublimeDept of Prints & Drawings Prints & Drawings Gallery160,230 visitorsTurner and the sublime / Andrew Wilton. London: British Museum Press, 1980.

6 May 1981–1 May 1982The Versatile Calabash of AfricaDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

18 April–13 September 1981The Gauls: Celtic antiquities from FranceIn association with the French Ministry of Foreign AffairsDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities / LoanFree admission127,853 visitorsThe Gauls: Celtic antiquities from France / I.M. Stead. London: British Museum Press, [1981].

6 April–3 May 1981North American IndiansDept of Ethnography – Library Display

20 February 1981–18th March 1984Asante: Kingdom of Gold: the power and splendour of a great 19th century West African KingdomDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

5 February–12 April 1981Prints and Drawings: recent acquisitions since 1976Dept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission

198126 January–12 April 1981Asian art: new acquisitions 1970–1980: Part IIDept. of Oriental Antiquities

11 December 1980–11 February 1981The Cusichaca Archaeological Project PeruDept of Ethnography


22 October 1981–2 May 1982Heritage of TibetDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIHeritage of Tibet / W. Zwalf. London: British Museum Press, 1981.

23 October 1981–24 January 1982Goya’s prints: the Tomas Harris Collection in the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission90,012 visitorsGoya’s prints: the Tomas Harris Collection in the British Museum / Juliet Wilson-Bareau. London: British Museum Press, 1996.

2 October 1981–1 February 1982Bulgarian CraftsDept of Ethnography

22 September–29 October 1981Images of Mexico[photographs]Dept of Ethnography

1 August–14 September 1981Peoples of Southern SudanDept of Ethnography

17 June 1981–1 February 1982North West Coast Items from the Wellcome Collection: recent acquisitionsDept of Ethnography

30 May 1981–20 August 1989The Image of AugustusDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesRoom 70Free admissionThe Image of Augustus / Susan Walker. London: British Museum Press, 1981.

16 May–6 September 1981Princely paintings from Mughal India A travelling exhibitionDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIFree admission


6 March–2 May 1982Australian Art of the Western DesertDept of Ethnography

18 February 1982–9 January 1983 (extended)Excavating in Egypt: the Egypt Exploration Society 1882–1982Dept of Egyptian AntiquitiesNew Wing GalleryFree admission285,736 visitors

11 February–2 May 1982Eighteenth-century Venetian drawingsDept of Prints & Drawings

11 February–2 May 1982Francis Towne and John Warwick-SmithDept of Prints & Drawings

11 February–2 May 1982Prints of the School of FontainebleauDept of Prints & Drawings

19828 February–22 February 1982Recent AcquisitionsDept of Ethnography

6 November 1981–4 January 1982Turkish Folk Embroideries[Loan – Ataturk centennial exhibition]Dept of Ethnography

30 October 1981–30 January 1982Medieval Limoges: masterpieces of enamel from the Keir CollectionDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities / LoanRoom 42


July–December 1982Recently translated cuneiform textsDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

10 June–12 September 1982A century of modern drawing from the Museum of Modern Art, New YorkDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery and Oriental Gallery IIPaid admission66,902 visitors A century of modern drawing from the Museum of Modern Art, New York / Bernice Rose. London: British Museum Press, 1982.

28 May–2 July 1982The Tarahumara of MexicoDept of Ethnography

5 May–5 September 1982From village to city in Ancient IndiaFestival of India ExhibitionDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIFree admission34,062 visitors

10 April–9 June 1982Photographs of IndiaDept of Ethnography

8 April 1982–9 January 1984Vasna: inside an Indian villageDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindFestival of India Exhibition

15 March–30 June 1982Recent Acquisitions from the Andes of PeruDept of Ethnography

8 March–2 May 1982The Azande of Central AfricaDept of Ethnography


198316 January–16 February 1983Our Kinsmen: portraits of the Campa-Ashaninka people of the Peruvian RainforestDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

5 November 1982–10 April 1983Edo: art of Japan 17th to 19th centuriesDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II91,427 visitors

28 October 1982–21 April 1983Afro-Portuguese ivoriesDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

7 October 1982–23 January 1983Masterpieces of Printmaking from the 15th century to the French RevolutionDept of Prints & Drawings64,970 visitors

10 September 1982–9 January 1983Great Moravia: the archaeology of ninth-century CzechoslovakiaLoan exhibition from the Czechoslovak Socialist RepublicDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesFree admission60,277 visitorsGreat Moravia: the archaeology of ninth-century Czechoslovakia / Susan Beeby, David Buckton, Zdenĕk Klanica. London: British Museum Press, 1982.

2 September–18 December 1982The Other America: native artefacts of the New WorldDept of Ethnography

2 September 1982–12 December 1984Codex facsimiles from Mexico and the Maya areaDept of Ethnography

1 July 1982–11 January 1987Thunderbird and Lightning: Indian life in North-Eastern North America, 1600–1900 Dept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindThunderbird and Lightning: Indian life in North-Eastern North America 1600–1900 / J.C.H. King. London: British Museum Press, 1982.


11 June–18 September 1983Cycladic art: ancient pottery and sculpture from the N. P. Goulandris CollectionDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesNew Wing GalleryFree admission63,473 visitorsCycladic art: ancient pottery and sculpture from the N. P. Goulandris Collection / Christos Doumas. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

2 June–18 September 1983Industry and idleness: Hogarth and the moral printDept of Prints & Drawings

2 June–18 September 1983Sporting life: an anthology of British sporting prints and drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admissionSporting life: an anthology of British sporting prints and drawings / Paul Goldman. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

31 March–8 May 1983Please touch: animal sculpturePlease touch: an evaluation of the ‘Please touch’ exhibition at the British Museum. Fife: Carnegie Trust, 198332,752 visitors Please touch: animal sculpture / Anne Pearson. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

24 February–19 June 1983Mantegna to Cezanne: master drawings from the Courtauld. A fiftieth anniversary exhibitionDept of Prints & Drawings 83,642 visitorsMantegna to Cezanne: master drawings from the Courtauld. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

17 February–15 May 1983Wenceslaus Hollar: prints and drawingsExhibition organized by the National Gallery, Prague and the British Museum and held in London and PragueDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission75,445 visitors Wenceslaus Hollar: prints and drawings from the collections of the National Gallery, Prague, and the British Museum / A. Griffiths and G. Kesnerova. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

17 Febrary–15 May 1983Italian drawings from the Frits Lugt CollectionOrganized with the assistance of the Institut Néerlandais Paris and to coincide with the publication of the catalogue of the collection by J. Byam ShawDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admissionItalian drawings from the Frits Lugt Collection / James Byam Shaw. Paris: Institut Néerdlandais, 1983.

Until 5 September 1983African Pipes and ParaphernaliaDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


4 November–26 November 1983Beyond the Great Wall: photographs of minorities in North China by Robert ForresterDept of Ethnography

14 October 1983–15 January 1984Arts of Islam in the 16th and 17th centuriesDept of Oriental Antiquities

13 October 1983–15 January 1984Drawings by Raphael from the Royal Library, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum, Chatsworth and other English collectionsDept of Prints & Drawings / LoanPrints and Drawings GalleryPaid admission43,030 visitorsDrawings by Raphael from the Royal Library, the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum, Chatsworth and other English collections / John Gere & Nicholas Turner. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

23 September–21 October 1983In the Buddhist Himalayas: photographs by Richard RavensdaleDept of Ethnography

20 July 1983–30 June 1985Bemba: raiders of the Central African PlateauDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

14 July–23 October 1983Lachish: a Canaanite and Hebrew city: the Wellcome-Marston Excavations 1932–1938Dept of Western Asiatic Antiquities77,257 visitors

23 June–11 September 1983 and 13 October 1983–15 January 1984The Japanese print since 1900: old dreams and new visionsDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery IIFree admission102,120 visitors The Japanese print since 1900: old dreams and new visions / Lawrence Smith. London: British Museum Press, 1983.

17 June 1983–19 February 1984Tears of the moon: Spanish American Colonial silverLatin American silverwork of the Colonial and Republican periods. An exhibition in association with the bicentenary celebrations for Simon Bolivar (1783–1830)Dept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


16 February–13 May 1984Treasures from Korea: art through 5000 yearsDept of Oriental Antiquities c. 49,934 visitorsTreasures from Korea: art through 5000 years / Roderick Whitfield and Soon-Taek Choi-Bae. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

9 February–29 April 1984German drawings from a private collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsGerman drawings from a private collection / John Rowlands. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

9 February–29 April 1984Landscape in Italy: drawings of the 16th and 17th centuriesDept of Prints & Drawings

9 February–29 April 1984Rembrandt and the PassionDept of Prints & DrawingsRembrandt and the Passion: prints and drawings [in-house catalogue] / Martin Royalton-Kisch. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

1984

23 February–8 April 1984Buddhist art of Central Asia: paintings and textiles from the Stein CollectionDept of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II17,841 visitors

16 December 1983–29 June 1986Pattern of islands: Micronesia yesterday and todayDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

15 December 1983–14 January 1985Himalayan rainbow: a Nepalese textile traditionDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

17 November 1983–19 February 1984Islamic art and design 1500–1700Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesSpecial Exhibitions GalleryFree admission54,207 visitors Islamic art and design 1500–1700 / J.M. Rogers. London: British Museum Press, 1983.


26 July–15 October 1984The Palau Islands of Micronesia:a photographic exhibition by Harvey ReedDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

12 July–2 September. 1984Treasury of San Marco, Venice[exhibition organized by Olivetti’s Cultural Relations Department]Dept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesPaid admission41,220 visitors Treasury of San Marco, Venice / photography Mario Carrieri; ed. David Buckton with Christopher Entwistle and Rowena Prior. Milan: Olivetti, 1984.

24 May–27 August 1984Master drawings and watercolours in the British Museum: Fra Angelico to Henry MooreDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission125,858 visitorsMaster drawings and watercolours in the British Museum / John Rowlands. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

24 May–19 August 1984Chinese ivories from the Shang to the QingDet of Oriental AntiquitiesOriental Gallery II62,832 visitors Chinese ivories: from the Shang to the Qing: an exhibition / organized by the Oriental Ceramic Society jointly with the British Museum. London: The Oriental Ceramic Society, 1984.

18 May–2 September 1984Masterpieces of Wedgwood in the British MuseumDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesMasterpieces of Wedgwood in the British Museum / Aileen Dawson. Bloomington: Indiana University Press and British Museum Press, 1984.

18 May–2 September 1984The Ancient Olympic Games Dept of Greek & Roman Antiquities118,505 visitors

May–August 1984Early German EngravingsDept of Prints & Drawings

9 April–1 November 1984Argonauts of the Western Pacific: an exhibition to mark the centenary of the birth of Branislaw MalinowskiDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


7–23 December 1984The Anatolian Civilisations: a photographic loan exhibition from TurkeyDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities – Loan

29 November 1984–5 May 1985Chinese ornament: the lotus and the dragonDept of Oriental Antiquities & British LibraryRoom 49Chinese ornament: the lotus and the dragon / Jessica Rawson. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

9 November 1984–10 March 1985The Golden Age of Anglo-Saxon art: 966–1066Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities & British LibraryNew Wing Gallery 62,069 visitorsThe Golden Age of Anglo-Saxon art: 966–1066 / ed. Janet Backhouse, D.H. Turner and Leslie Webster. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

October 1984–February 1985Prints by Goltzius and his CircleDept of Prints & Drawings

20 September 1984–20 January 1985Japanese painting from the Harari Collection Part IDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission111,876 visitors (Parts I & II)

20 September 1984–20 January 1985The Print in Germany 1880–1933Dept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission116,445 visitors The Print in Germany 1880–1933: the age of expressionism: prints from the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum / Frances Carey and Antony Griffiths, with a section of illustrated books from the British Library [compiled by] David Paisey. London: British Museum Press, 1984.

August–October 1984Italian Renaissance EngravingsDept of Prints & Drawings

August–16 December 1984The Trade DollarDept of Coins & Medals


22 March 1985–13 July 1987The Hidden peoples of the AmazonDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindThe Hidden peoples of the Amazon / Elizabeth Carmichael, Stephen Hugh-Jones, Brian Moser, Donald Taylor. London: British Museum Press, 1985.

February–June 1985Odilon Redon lithographsDept of Prints & Drawings

Japanese Paintings from the Harari Collection (Part II)Dept of Oriental Antiquities/Loan

7 February–5 May 1985British landscape watercolours 1600–1860: nature into art through the eyes of Cozens, Turner, Constable, Cotman and othersDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings GalleryFree admission151,463 visitorsBritish landscape watercolours 1600–1860: nature into art through the eyes of Cozens, Turner, Constable, Cotman and others / Lindsay Stainton. London: British Museum Press, 1985.7 February–5 May 1985

19852 February–May 1985Tokens of Love: for St Valentine’s DayDept of Coins & Medals

20 December 1984Woolley at Ur 1922–1934Dept of Western Asiatic Antiquities – photographic exhibition

17 December 1984–1 February 1985The Halfpenny 866–1984: farewell to the halfpennyDept of Coins & Medals

14 December 1984–29 June 1986Inuit/Eskimo: people of the North American ArcticDept of EthnographyExhibition handlist


31 October 1985–26 January 1986A Tour in Finland: folk costumes from Finnish KareliaLoan exhibition from FinlandDept of Ethnography /Museum of Mankind

18 October 1985–28 January 1986Prints by Jules de BruyckerDept of Prints & Drawings

3 October–17 November 1985The Acropolis at Athens: conservation, restoration and research 1975–1983Dept of Greek & Roman Antiquities /Loan77,380 visitorsThe Acropolis at Athens: conservation, restoration and research 1975–1983 / M. Casanaki, F. Mallouchou. Committee for the Acropolis Monuments, 1986.

22 August–November 1985Badges old and newDept of Coins & Medals

25 July 1985–5 January 1986Buddhism: art and faithDept of Oriental Antiquities & British LibraryPrints & Drawings Gallery & Oriental Gallery IIFree admission223,370 visitorsBuddhism: art and faith / W. Zwalf. London: British Museum Press, 1985.

12 June–16 December 1985Aztec Treasures from MexicoDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindLoan from the National Museum of Anthropology Mexico

June–18 October 1985Walter Richard Sickert EtchingsDept of Prints & Drawings

28 May–3 July 1985Native American Arts: the living traditionDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


13 February–4 May 1986Ceramics by Keiko Hasegawa: a contemporary Japanese potterDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 74Free admission

13 February–4 May 1986Chinese paintings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuriesDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 74Free admission

13 February–4 May 1986Blanc de Chine: the Donnelly Bequest of Chinese porcelainDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 74Free admission

13 February–4 May 1986Prints and drawings: five years of collectingDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionRoom 6771,134 visitors

10 February–2 August 1986African sculptureDept of Ethnography

1986

6 February–16 March 1986The Human touch: sculpture of the human figureA touch exhibition for visually handicapped and sighted people Inter-departmentalFree admission38,449 visitors

28 November 1985–31 October 1987Lost Magic Kingdoms and Six Paper MoonsCreated by Eduardo Paolozzi at the Museum of Mankind. Displays Paolozzi’s choice of several hundred objects and photographs from the Museum of Mankind collections to express his vision of the realms of the imaginationDept of EthnographyLost Magic Kingdoms and six paper moons from Nahuatl: an exhibition at the Museum of Mankind / Eduardo Paolozzi. London: British Museum Press, 1985.

7 November 1985–5 May 1986Halley’s Comet in HistoryBritish Museum & British LibraryRoom 88Halley’s Comet in History / Hermann Hunger, F. Richard Stevenson, C.B.F. Walker. London: British Museum Press, 1985.


9 July 1986–9 August 1988Kalabari Ijos: faces of the deadDept of Ethnography

3 July 1986–15 February 1987Archaeology in Britain: new views of the pastDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities & Dept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesPaid admission 186,996 visitors Archaeology in Britain: new views of the past / Simon James. London: British Museum Press, 1986.

29 May–26 October 1986Money: from Cowrie shells to credit cardsSponsored by the Nationwide Building SocietyDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 76127,026 visitorsMoney: from Cowrie shells to credit cards / Joe Cribb. London: British Museum Press, 1986.

22 May 1986–11 or 25 January 1987African Seats of AuthorityDept of Ethnography

22 May–17 August 1986Contemporary Japanese craftsDept of Oriental Antiquities / Loan51,736 visitors

22 May–17 August 1986Florentine drawings of the 16th centuryDept of Prints & Drawings105,165 visitorsFlorentine drawings of the 16th century / Nicholas Turner. London: British Museum Press, 1986.

19 May–17 August 1986British Trade Union BadgesDept of Coins & Medals

March–18 May 1986Ronald Searle: designs for medalsDept of Coins & Medals


20 November 1986–11 January 1987Modern Chinese prints from the Central Academy of Fine Arts PekingDept of Oriental Antiquities/LoanRoom 74Free admission13,874 visitors

9 October 1986–29 March 1987Claudius James Rich 1786–1821: diplomat, archaeologist and collectorA bicentennial exhibition organized by the British Library and the British Museum Depts of Western Asiatic Antiquities, Oriental Antiquities, and Coins & Medals

4 September–26 October 1986Contemporary Japanese prints: symbols of a society in transition: Part IDept of Oriental Antiquities

4 September 1986–11 January 1987Two recent gifts: modern Czechoslovak prints and prints by Jean Morin 1590–1650Dept of Prints & DrawingsPrints & Drawings Gallery67,319 visitors

20 August–18 November 1986Coin of the RealmDept of Coins & Medals

15 August 1986–23 April 1987Pottery from Casas Grandes, MexicoDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

6 August–28 September 1986Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, Jordan: the first two seasons of excavations 1985–1986Dept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

28 July 1986–24 February 1987The Obsequial Print: baroque catafalques and obsequiesDept of Prints & Drawings


24 February–17 August 1987 (extended)Contemporary drawings in BritainGifts from the British Museum Society 1983–1986Dept of Prints & Drawings

February–May 1987Nationwide Building Society Schools Money Project: Competition WinnersDept of Coins & Medals

24 February–15 May 1987 Recent AcquisitionsDept of Coins & Medals

5 February–25 May 1987An A-Z of the Prints and Drawings CollectionDept of Prints & Drawings79,604 visitors

19874 February–31 August 1987Contemporary Japanese Prints: symbols of a society in transition Part IIDept of Oriental Antiquities

13 December 1986–12 January 1987Mexican Nativity ScenesDept of Ethnography

4 December 1986–29 March 1987The New Thracian treasures from Rogozen, BulgariaPresented by the Lyudmila Zhikova International Foundation99,668 visitorsThe New Thracian treasures from Rogozen, Bulgaria / A. Fol. London: British Museum Press, 1986.

27 November 1986–10 October 1988Madagascar: island of the ancestorsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


11 June–20 September 1987Contemporary British medalsDept of Coins & MedalsContemporary British Medals / Mark Jones. London: British Museum Press, 1986.

4 June 1987–21 April 1991Toraja: creating an Indonesian rice barnDept of Ethnography

21 May–31 August 1987The Amarna Letters: Egypt in AsiaDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities and Dept of Egyptian Antiquities.

18 May–16 August 1987Election: politics and politicians in medals and badgesDept of Coins & Medals

7 May–20 September 1987Ceramic art of the Italian RenaissanceDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesFree admission 150,000 visitorsCeramic art of the Italian Renaissance / Timothy Wilson; with the collaboration of Patricia Collins and an essay by Hugo Blake. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1987.

9 April–9 September 1987Workshop 400,000An exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of the London Institute of ArchaeologyDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

3 April–May 1987The Nanking Cargo of Chinese Export PorcelainDept of Oriental Antiquities / Loan

19 March 1987–5 May 1988Bolivian worlds: the art and world-view of an Andean mining communityDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


10 November 1987–22 February 1988Gothic art: the sovereign imageDept of Coins & Medals

6 November 1987–31 July 1998 (extended)The Phoenicians in Sardinia: the cemetery at TharrosDept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesRoom 35Tharros: a catalogue of material in the British Museum from Phoenician and other tombs at Tharros, Sardinia / ed. R.D. Barnett and C. Mendleson with contributions by R.D. Barnett ... [et al.]. London: British Museum Press, 1987.

1 October 1987–21 May 1989Treasures from the Ethnographic CollectionsDept of Ethnography

12 September 1987–17 January 1988The VikingsDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities and Dept of Education

18 August–30 October 1987Roman British hoards and numismatic booksDept of Coins & Medals

17 August–3 November 1987Captain R. F. Scott: a selection of photographs by Herbert Ponting 1910–1913Dept of Prints & Drawings

16 July–29 November 1987As good as gold: 300 years of British banknote designIn association with the Bank of EnglandDept of Coins & Medals100,689 visitorsAs good as gold: 300 years of British banknote design / Virginia Hewitt and John Keyworth. London: British Museum Press, 1987.

18 June–31 August 1987Drawing in England from Hilliard to HogarthDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission67,064 visitorsDrawing in England from Hilliard to Hogarth / Lindsay Stainton and Christopher White. London: British Museum Press, 1987.


14 July 1988–30 May 1989Dreams and the Land: contemporary Aboriginal Australian paintingsDept of Ethnography

16 May–26 August 1988Contemporary Australian Medals: the work of Andor and Michael MeszarosDept of Coins & Medals

12 May–6 November 1988Early Trade in the Indian OceanDepts of Western Asiatic Antiquities, Oriental Antiquities, Egyptian AntiquitiesRoom 88

5 May–14 August 1988Ukiyoe: images of unknown JapanDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRoom 49Paid admission 24,788 visitorsUkiyoe: images of unknown Japan / ed. Lawrence Smith. London: British Museum Press, 1988.

1 March–13 May 1988Richard Boys Lewis Collection: a gift of the National Art Collections FundDept of Coins & Medals

1988

18 February–30 May 1988Süleyman the Magnificent and the splendour of the Ottoman Court Dept of Oriental Antiquities / Loan from TurkeyPaid admission 93,466 visitorsSuleyman the Magnificent / J.M. Rogers and R. Ward. London: British Museum Press, 1988.

3 December 1987–1 July 1990Living Arctic: hunters of the Canadian NorthDept of EthnographyLiving Arctic: report and catalogue / ed. J.C.H. King. London: British Museum Press, 1989.

20 November 1987–6 March 1988Glass of the CaesarsDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities and Dept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities/Loan60,680 visitorsGlass of the Caesars / Donald B. Harden, Hansgerd Hellenkemper, Kenneth Painter, David Whitehouse. Milan: Olivetti, 1987.


17 November 1988–27 August 1989Here today – here tomorrowConservation in the British MuseumDept of Conservation

10 November 1988–12 February 1989Henry Moore: the Shelter DrawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 76Paid admission 10,911 visitorsHenry Moore: a shelter sketchbook / ed. Frances Carey. London: British Museum, 1988

1 November 1988–June 1989The Glorious Revolution in PrintsDept of Prints & Drawings

27 October 1988–26 February 1989Treasures for the nation: conserving our heritageAn exhibition about the work of the National Heritage Memorial Fund sponsored by British Gas Free admission297,837 visitorsTreasures for the nation / National Heritage Memorial Fund. London: British Museum Press, 1988.

29 September 1988–21 April 1991Traffic art: rickshaw painting from BangladeshDept of Ethnography

26 August–17 October 1988Making money: acquisitions since the British Museum Act 1964Dept of Coins & Medals

18 August–31 October 1988Old London BridgeDept of Prints & Drawings

28 July–16 October 1988The Age of Durer and Holbein: German drawings 1400–1550Dept of Prints & DrawingsPaid admission 29,428 visitorsThe Age of Durer and Holbein: German drawings 1400–1550 / John Rowlands and Giulia Bartrum. London: British Museum Press, 1988.


June–31 October 1989William Daniell’s views of London DocksDept of Prints & Drawings

8 June–29 October 1989Chinese bronzes: art and ritualDept of Oriental Antiquities

24 May–29 October 1989Living Buddhism: a photographic portrait by Graham HarrisonDept of Oriental Antiquities

12 May–28 August 1989Money and medals of the French RevolutionDept of Coins & Medals

12 May–10 September 1989The Shadow of the Guillotine: Britain and the French RevolutionDept of Prints and Drawings, Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities, Dept of Coins & Medals / LoanPaid admission 40,842 visitors The Shadow of the Guillotine: Britain and the French Revolution / David Bindman. London: British Museum Press, 1989.

22 April–10 December 1989 (extended)Farming in Celtic BritainDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

198920 April–4 August 1989Celtic Britain: life and death in the Iron AgeDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

15 December 1988–23 May 1989Miniature sculpture from Papua New GuineaDept of Ethnography


19905 February–7 September 1990Anne Seymour Damer, sculptressDept of Prints & Drawings and Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities

12 December 1989–28 February 1990The Medal as art: a retrospective of the Penn State Medallic ProgramDept of Coins & Medals

29 November 1989–29 April 1990‘The Work of Angels’: masterpieces of Celtic metalwork 6th–9th centuries ADDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities / LoanPaid admission42,991 visitors‘The Work of Angels’: masterpieces of Celtic metalwork, 600–900 ad / ed. Susan Youngs. London: British Museum Press, 1989.

15 November 1989–17 December 1991Palestinian Costume at the British Museum Dept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindPalestinian Costume / Shelagh Weir. London: British Museum Press, 1981.

1 November 1989–4 February 1990John Martin MezzotintsDept of Prints & Drawings

21 September 1989–14 May 1990 (extended)Tell es-Sa’idiyeh: excavations in the Jordan Valley 1987 & 1989Dept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

29 August–11 December 1989The Second World War in coins, medals and banknotesDept of Coins & Medals

27 July 1989–July 1990A Victorian Earl in the Arctic: the travels and collections of the Fifth Earl of LonsdaleDept of EthnographyA Victorian Earl in the Arctic / Shepard Krech. London: British Museum Press, 1989.


6 July–4 November 1990Porcelain for palaces: the fashion for Japan in Europe 1650–1750Dept of Japanese Antiquities, Dept of Oriental Antiquities, Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities / LoanIn conjunction with the Oriental Ceramic Society, sponsored by FujitsuRooms 92–94Free admissionPorcelain for palaces: the fashion for Japan in Europe 1650–1750 / John Ayers, Oliver Impey, J.V.G. Mallett. London: Oriental Ceramic Society, 1990.

3 July–4 November 1990Horses in miniature: equine images on coins and medalsDept of Coins & Medals

2 May–27 August 1990 (extended)Recent excavations in AssyriaDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

7 April–3 June 1990Japanese art: masterpieces in the British Museum inaugural exhibitionDept of Japanese AntiquitiesHeld in the new Japanese galleries: Konica Gallery, Main Gallery, Urasenke GalleryFree admission

7 April–27 August 1990Caves of the Thousand Buddhas: Chinese art from the Silk Route (Part I)Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admissionCaves of the Thousand Buddhas: Chinese art from the Silk Route / Roderick Whitfield and Anne Farrer. London: British Museum Press, 1990.

7 April–5 August 1990 (extended)Treasures of the Department of Prints and DrawingsDept of Prints & Drawings

9 March–2 September 1990Fake? The Art of DeceptionSeveral deptsPaid admission77,882 visitors Fake? The Art of Deception / ed. Mark Jones. London: British Museum Press, 1990.

28 February–1 July 1990Treasure on Earth: modern paper money of the worldDept of Coins & Medals


25 October 1990–13 January 1991The Lion of VeniceLoan – sponsored by FiatFree admission

30 November 1990–30 May 1993Images of Africa: Emil Torday and the art of the Congo 1900–1909Dept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindSupported by the Henry Moore FoundationEmil Torday and the art of the Congo 1900–1909 / John Mack. London: British Museum Press, 1990.

19 October 1990–7 April 1991 (extended)Archaeology and the BibleDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities, Dept of Egyptian Antiquities, Dept of Greek & Roman Antiquities, Dept of Coins & Medals /LoanSponsored by Mr and Mrs Leon LevyPaid admission 51,213 visitorsArchaeology and the Bible / Jonathan N. Tubb and Rupert Chapman. London: British Museum Press, 1990.

October 1990–April 1991Deccani PaintingDept of Oriental Antiquities

24 September 1990–10 November 1991 (extended)Board Games of the WorldDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities and other deptsFree admission

14 September–12 December 1990Caves of the Thousand Buddhas: Chinese art from the Silk Route (Part II)Dept of Oriental Antiquities

7 September–4 December 1990Abraham Bosse: 17th century French printmaker extraordinaryDept of Prints & Drawings

14 September 1990–13 January 1991 (extended)Avant-garde British printmaking 1914–1960Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionAvant-garde British printmaking 1914–1960 / Frances Carey and Antony Griffiths. London: British Museum Press, 1990.


25 January–21 April 1991Prints and Drawings: Acquisitions 1986–1990Dept of Prints & Drawings

25 January–18 August 1991Chinese Pottery and Porcelain: from Prehistory to the PresentDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admissionChinese Pottery and Porcelain: from Prehistory to the Present / Sheila J. Vainker. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

199125 January–18 August 1991 and 11 December 1991–continuingKorean Ceramics: a selection from the collectionsDept of Oriental Antiquities

6 December 1990–28 April 1991Coins of the Himalayas: Nepalese and Tibetan coins from the Valdettaro BequestDept of Coins & Medals

6 December 1990–28 April 1991Bankers to the Nation: British paper money from the Chartered Institute of Bankers CollectionDept of Coins & Medals / Loan

Swords of the Samurai / Victor Harris and Ogasawara Nobuo. London: British Museum Press, 1990.

5 December 1990–10 February 1991Swords of the SamuraiDept of Japanese Antiquities / LoanOrganized in association with Asahi Shimbun, supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan, with the co-operation of the Toshiba International Foundation, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords and Japan AirlinesFree admission

4 December 1990–29 July 1991Love, art and the artist: illustrations for 14 poems from C.P. Cavafy by David HockneyDept of Prints & Drawings


4 October 1991–16 February 1992Collecting the 20th CenturyDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesFree admissionCollecting the 20th Century / ed. Frances Carey. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

18 September–24 November 1991Kamakura: the Renaissance of Japanese Sculpture 1185–1333Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesOrganized in association with the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Tokyo, and the Japan Foundation; sponsored in the UK by Asahi Shimbun and Konica CorporationRooms 92–93Kamakura: the Renaissance of Japanese Sculpture 1185–1333 / Victor Harris and Ken Matsushima. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

6 August–24 November 1991Coins of the Bengal SultansDept of Coins & Medals

May–December 1991Safavid PaintingDept of Oriental Antiquities

17 May–18 August 1991Drawings by Guercino in British CollectionsDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionDrawings by Guercino from British collections; with an appendix describing the drawings by Guercino, his school and his followers in the British Museum / Nicholas Turner and Carol Plazzotta. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

15 May–1 September 1991Man and Metal in Ancient NigeriaDept of Ethnography / held in Bloomsbury

30 April–4 August 1991Money and Medals of SwitzerlandDept of Coins & Medals

7 March–4 August 1991Japanese Art: masterpieces in the British Museum (2nd selection)Dept of Japanese Antiquities


26 March–4 August 1992Rembrandt: drawings by Rembrandt and his CircleDept of Prints & DrawingsSponsored by American Express FoundationFree admission c. 220,000 visitorsRembrandt: drawings by Rembrandt and his circle / Martin Royalton-Kisch. London: British Museum Press, 1992.

26 March–10 May 1992Wu Guanzhong: a 20th century Chinese painter Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesSponsored by Mei YinFree admissionWu Guanzhong: a 20th century Chinese painter / Anne Farrer. London: British Museum Press, 1992.

199217 March–6 September 1992God and Mammon: the history of ecclesiastical coinageDept of Coins & Medals

19 December 1991–26 January 1992 and 28 January–1 March 1992Nihonga: traditional Japanese Painting 1900–1940Last major event of the UK Japan Festival 1991; organized in association with the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Yamatane Museum of Art and the Japan Foundation; sponsored in the UK by Asahi ShimbunDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionNihonga: traditional Japanese Painting / Lawrence Smith. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

December 1991–May 1992Arabic CalligraphyDept of Oriental Antiquities

26 November 1991–15 March 1992Gold Coins of the GreeksDept of Coins & Medals

8 November 1991–8 March 1992The Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600–900British Museum and British LibrarySponsored by Robin Symes Limited and British Steel, with additional support from OWL International Ltd, Research Machines plc, the Goldsmiths’ Company and Mercedes-Benz (UK) LtdPaid admissionThe Making of England: Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture ad 600–900 / ed. Leslie Webster and Janet Backhouse. London: British Museum Press, 1991.

1 November 1991–2 November 1993The Skeleton at the Feast: the Day of the Dead in MexicoDept of EthnographySupported by the Barings Group and Commercial Union, Banca Serfin, Banamex (Banca Nacional de Mexico), Bancomer and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of MexicoThe skeleton at the feast: the Day of the Dead in Mexico / Elizabeth Carmichael, Chloë Sayer. London: British Museum Press, 1991.


25 September–29 November 1992 and 1 December 1992–31 January 1993Ukiyo-e Paintings in the British MuseumDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionUkiyo-e Paintings in the British Museum / Timothy Clark. London: British Museum Press, 1992.

11 September–25 October 1992Designs on Posterity: Drawings for MedalsDept of Coins & Medals

11 September–25 October 1992In the Round: Contemporary Art Medals of the WorldDept of Coins & MedalsSponsored by the Royal MintFree admissionFIDEM XXIII: In the Round: Contemporary Art Medals of the World / ed. Philip Attwood. London: FIDEM, 1992.

11 September–6 October 1992The FIDEM Salon des refusés (for the 23rd Congress, Fédération Internationale de la Médaille)Dept of Coins & Medals

10 June–6 September 1992Mexican Painted Books: before and after the Spanish ConquestDept of Ethnography at BloomsburyFree admissionMexican painted books: originals in the United Kingdom and the world they represent / Gordon Brotherston. Colchester: University of Essex, 1992.

7 May–31 August 1992The Ancient Olympic GamesDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities

30 April–29 November 1992Making your mark: 7000 years of sealsRoom 887000 years of seals / ed. Dominique Collon. London: British Museum Press, 1997.Papers presented at a seminar of the Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities in the British Museum from 29 June to 2 July, 1992.

1 April–6 September 1992Japanese Art: masterpieces in the British Museum (3rd selection)Dept of Japanese Antiquities


1 December 1992–13 June 1993‘The Princes of the House of Timur’ and early Mughal paintingDept of Oriental Antiquities

19 November 1992–31 May 1993Howard Carter: Before TutankhamunDept of Egyptian AntiquitiesPaid admission c. 76,000 visitorsHoward Carter: before Tutankhamun / Nicholas Reeves and John H. Taylor. London: British Museum Press, 1992.

13 November 1992–24 January 1993Europeans in Caricature 1770–1830Dept of Prints & DrawingsAn Exhibition for the European Arts FestivalRoom 90Free admission

13 November 1992–24 January 1993Mrs Delaney’s Flower CollagesDept of Prints & Drawings

11 November 1992–21 January 1993Chinese figure and landscape paintingsDept of Oriental Antiquities

5–29 November 1992Drawings from HolkhamDept of Prints & Drawings

10 October 1992–4 April 1993Britain’s First View of China: Lord Macartney’s Embassy to the Peking Court 1792–94Dept of Oriental Antiquities and British LibrarySponsored and supported by the British Taiwan Cultural InstituteFree admission

6 October 1992–14 February 1993The Wealth of the Indies: new Sources for Coinage in Renaissance EuropeDept of Coins & Medals


26 February 1993–28 August 1995Treasures of the AmericasDept of Ethnography

17 February–25 April 1993Japanese Arts in the British MuseumDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94Free admission

5 February–25 April 1993Modern Graphic Art in Britain: gifts from the British Museum SocietyDept of Prints & Drawings

5 February–25 April 1993The Art of Watercolour: the Royal Watercolour Society CollectionDept of Prints & Drawings

4 February–28 February 1993Responses to Ukiyo-e paintings and Japanese masterpiecesDept of Education

22 January–3 May 1993The Armada Silver: a recent acquisitionDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities

199321 January–20 May 1993Chinese New Year PrintsDept of Oriental Antiquities

3 December 1992–24 January 1993Samuel Palmer: visionary printmakerDept of Prints & Drawings


3 June–18 July 1993Medals for the future: designs from the Royal Society of British Sculptors student competitionDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

3 June–4 July 1993La Vie: The works of Yoshida Kenji, Japanese artistDept of Japanese Antiquities

28 May–12 October 1993Prints by Hendrick GoltziusDept of Prints & Drawings

20 May–11 July 1993Twentieth century Chinese printsDept of Oriental Antiquities

14 May–29 August 1993 and 24 September 1993–9 January 1994 Textiles from the East in the British Museum: modern religious textiles from AsiaDept of Oriental Antiquities

14 May–30 August 1993The Paper Museum of Cassiano dal Pozzo (1588–1657)Presented by OlivettiDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionThe Paper Museum of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Milan: Olivetti, 1993.

11 May–4 August 1993The Corbridge LanxDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

1 April–31 May 1993Silk Road coins: the Hirayama Collection: a special loan exhibition from JapanDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admissionSilk Road coins: the Hirayama Collection: a loan exhibition at the British Museum /Katsumi Tanabe. Kamakura: Institute of Silk Road Studies, 1993.


16 August 1993–14 November 1994Sutton Hoo Excavations 1991Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities

20 July–3 September 1993All that glisters...: recent acquisitions by the Department of Coins & MedalsDept of Coins & Medals

16 July 1993–2 July 1995 (extended)Paradise: change and continuity in the New Guinea HighlandsDept of EthnographyParadise: change and continuity in the New Guinea Highlands / Michael O’Hanlon. London: British Museum Press, 1993.

15 July–26 September 1993Nineteenth century Japanese figure prints of the Ukiyo-e SchoolDept of Japanese Antiquities

14 July–15 August 1993Takeda Hideo and the Japanese cartoon traditionDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionTakeda Hideo and the Japanese cartoon tradition at the British Museum / Hideo Takeda. Tokyo: Minato Ishikawa Associates, 1993.

25 June–16 October 1993The British Museum Society and Ethnography: the first twenty five yearsDept of Ethnography

23 June 1993–2 January 1994Medieval Islamic textilesDept of Oriental Antiquities

18 June–25 September 1993The British Museum Society: the first twenty five yearsDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities


13 October 1993–17 February 1994Czech prints 1900–1970: gifts from the British Museum SocietyDept of Prints & Drawings

7 October–7 November 1993Between heaven and earth: paintings by Tachibana TenkeiDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admission

24 September 1993–9 January 1994The Art of the chess pieceInter-departmental

24 September 1993–9 January 1994Old Master Drawings from ChatsworthDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionOld Master Drawings from Chatsworth / Michael Jaffe. London: British Museum Press, 1993.

15 September 1993–11 April 1995 (extended)Digging in Jordan: British Museum excavations at Tell es-Sa’idiyehDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

7 September 1993–16 January 1994The Hoxne Hoard: gold and silver from Late Roman BritainDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

26 August–26 September 1993Kagita Geiun: a modern artist of No masksDept of Japanese Antiquities

26 August–26 September 1993‘The Darkness of War, the Darkness of Peace’: prints and sculptures by Hamada ChimeiDept of Japanese Antiquities Sponsored by Japan AirlinesFree admission


199417 January–19 June 1994Paintings from the ShahnamehDept of Oriental Antiquities

15 December 1993–31 December 1997Great Benin: A West African KingdomDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

1 December 1993–13 February 1994Demon of painting: the art of Kawanabe Kyosai 1831–1889Jointly organized with the Kawanabe Kyosai Memorial Museum and Asahi Shimbun, with financial support from the Japan FoundationDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionDemon of painting: the art of Kawanabe Kyōsai 1831–1889 / Timothy Clark. London: British Museum Press, 1995.

25 November 1993–20 March 1994Iron Age recent excavationsDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

17 November 1993–20 November 1994The Kingdom of Shamba: the Kuba of ZaireDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

17 November 1993–4 May 1994Navajo TextilesDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

8 November 1993–30 January 1994Thai Banner Painting and Manuscript PaintingDept of Oriental Antiquities & British Library

5 November 1993–17 April 1994Deities and devotion: the arts of HinduismSponsored by Bajaj Auto Limited, Birla Technical Services and Mukand Ltd, BSIS matched, and supported by the Peter Moores FoundationDept of Oriental Antiquitiesc. 60,000 visitors


18 February–12 May 1994The Sybil Andrews GiftDept of Prints & Drawings

18 February 1994 (continuing) The Rescue Excavations at Deir ‘Ain Abata 1988–1995Dept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

14 February–9 March 1994Work in Progress: recent acquisitions from KentDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

12 February–24 April 1994Contemporary Korean PrintsDept of Oriental Antiquities

28 January–24 April 1994Victorian Illustrated Books 1850–1870 – the heyday of wood-engraving: the Robin de Beaumont GiftDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionVictorian Illustrated Books 1850–1870 – the Heyday of Wood-engraving: the Robin de Beaumont Gift / Paul Goldman. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

28 January–24 April 1994The Study of Italian Old Master Drawings: the contribution of Philip Pouncey (1910–1990)Dept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission

28 January–17 April 1994Himalayan and Japanese art from the Schmitt-Meade CollectionDepts of Oriental Antiquities & Japanese AntiquitiesFree admission

18 January–15 May 1994Venice Preserv’d: the Greenall Gift of Venetian CoinsDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a


20 May–11 September 1994Printmaking in Germany in the Age of GoetheDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionGerman printmaking in the age of Goethe / Antony Griffiths and Frances Carey. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

19 May–21 August 1994Modern Japanese Prints 1912–1989Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admission

19 May–25 September 1994The Hoxne Hoard: gold and silver from Late Roman BritainDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

17 May–18 September 1994Beauty and the banknote: images of women on paper moneyDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aBeauty and the banknote: images of women on paper money / Virginia Hewitt. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

12 May–11 September 1994Prints by Anthony Gross (1905–1984)Dept of Prints & Drawings

31 March–5 June 1994Yemeni PotteryDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindYemeni pottery / Sarah Posey. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

21 March–18 October 1994The Pomaks of BulgariaPhotographs by Atanas KanchevDept of Ethnography

10 March–17 April 1994Treasured miniatures: contemporary netsukeSupported by the Organising Committee for the Exhibition of Contemporary Netsuke, Tokyo, the Japan Foundation and Japan AirlinesDept of Japanese AntiquitiesJapanese GalleriesFree admissionTreasured miniatures: contemporary netsuke. London: British Museum, 1994.


25 July–24 September 1994Towards the 21st century: selecting a consultant architect for the British MuseumBritish Museum Design Office

30 June 1994–8 Jan 1995The Maldive Islands: thriving on a reefSponsored by Cable and WirelessDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

22 June–23 October 1994Greek Gold: Jewellery of the Classical WorldMasterpieces of ancient craftsmanship from the State Hermitage St. Petersburg, the Museum of Modern Art New York and the British MuseumSponsored by CartierDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesPaid admissionc. 70,000 visitorsGreek Gold: Jewellery of the Classical World / Dyfri Williams and Jack Ogden. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

20 June 1994–8 January 1995Animals in Islamic paintingDept of Oriental Antiquities

9 June–9 September 1994Chinese ceramics from the Meiyintang CollectionDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33bFree admission

27 May–29 August 1994Indian paintings and drawings from the collection of Howard HodgkinDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

25 May–23 October 1994Merina textiles from MadagascarDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

20 May–11 September 1994 (extended)The Woodcut Series of William NicholsonSponsored by Reed ElsevierDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90


30 September 1994–8 January 1995Chinese Tea Ware: the Art of the Yixing potterFrom the K.S. Lo Collection, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong Museum of ArtDept of Oriental Antiquities Room 91

23 September 1994–15 January 1995 (extended)Artistic Circles: the medal in Britain 1880–1918Dept of Coins and Medals and Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Artistic Circles: the medal in Britain 1880–1918 / Philip Attwood. London: British Museum Press, 1992.

23 September 1994–15 January 1995Shadow of the Forest: Prints of the Barbizon SchoolDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Shadow of the forest: prints of the Barbizon School. London: British Museum, 1993.

23 September 1994–15 January 1995 (extended)Pre-Raphaelite drawings in the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Pre-Raphaelite drawings in the British Museum / J.A. Gere. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

22 September–9 October 1994The Conservation of Eastern Pictorial Art in the British Museum: the Hirayama StudioDepts of Oriental Antiquities and ConservationRoom 33b

21 September 1994–15 January 1995Japanese Imperial Craftsmen and the West: art of the Meiji Period from the Khalili CollectionDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionJapanese Imperial Craftsmen and the West: art of the Meiji Period from the Khalili Collection / Victor Harris. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

20 September 1994–20 January 1995Money under the microscope: the application of science to numismaticsDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

11 September–7 November 1994Inuit prints from the Ethnographic collectionsDept of Ethnography at Bloomsbury


8 November 1994–21 August 1995Israeli prints from the Burston GiftDept of Prints & Drawings

5 November 1994–29 January 1995The Bronze Age: the first Golden Age in EuropeDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

4 November 1994–17 April 1995Balkan costume from the Waller CollectionDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

2 November 1994–28 August 1995Wooden sculpture from Easter IslandDept of Ethnography

27 October 1994–27 April 1997Smashing Pots: Feats of Clay from AfricaDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindSmashing Pots: feats of Clay from Africa / Nigel Barley. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

26 October 1994–22 September 1995Katherine Scoresby Routledge and the Mana Expedition to Easter Island in 1914–15Dept of Ethnography

22 October–25 October 1994Andy Galsworthy InstallationA giant sand sculpture by Andy Galsworthy in connection with the exhibition ‘Time Machine’Dept of Egyptian Antiquities

17 October–30 November 199416th century Chinese porcelain from the British Museum and the Oriental Ceramic SocietyDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b


27 January–23 April 1995Drawings by Adriaen and Isack van Ostade and their followersDept of Prints & Drawings

27 January–23 April 1995The Rumbustious World of Thomas Rowlandson: the prints 1774–1822Dept of Prints & Drawings

24 January–17 April 1995High profiles: portraits of the Italian RenaissanceDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

18 January 1995–31 July 1996The Power of the Hand: African Arms and ArmourDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

199516 January–16 June 1995Contemporary Middle Eastern prints: taste and techniqueDept of Oriental Antiquities

15 December 1994–15 February 1995 (extended)Chinese arms and armourDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b

9 December 1994–23 April 1995Byzantium: treasures of Byzantine art and culture from British collectionsDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesRooms 27/28 Paid admission58,785 visitorsByzantium: treasures of Byzantine art and culture from British collections / David Buckton. London: British Museum Press, 1994.

1 December 1994–26 February 1995Time machine: Ancient Egypt and contemporary artIn collaboration with the Institute of International Visual ArtsDept of Egyptian AntiquitiesRoom 25Free admittanceTime machine: Ancient Egypt and contemporary art / ed. James Putnam and W. Vivian Davies. London: British Museum & Institute of Visual Arts, 1994.


10–23 April 1995Capital: an installation by the artist Terry Smith

4 April–1 October 1995Medieval enamelled and gilded glassDept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic GalleryFree admission

21 February–10 May 1995The Art of Zhu Qizhan: contemporary Chinese paintingDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b

17 February 1995–3 March 1996 (extended)The Ainu of JapanDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

15 February 1995The Oxborough Dirk: a recent acquisitionDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

2 February–23 April 1995Japanese art and antiquities: recent acquisitions 1990–95Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94

27 January–23 April 1995East meets West: Chinese trade porcelainDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 91

27 January–23 April 1995‘The life of an artist’ by Bonaventura GenelliDept of Prints & DrawingsPrints and Drawings Galleries


16 June–22 October 1995German Renaissance Prints 1490–1550Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionGerman Renaissance Prints 1490–1550 / Giulia Bartrum. London: British Museum Press, 1995.

15 June–13 August 1995Classic art of Japan: from the British Museum’s collectionsDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94

8 June–17 September 1995Chinese jade from the Neolithic to the QingDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRooms 27–28Free admission132,000 visitorsChinese jade from the Neolithic to the Qing / Jessica Rawson. London: British Museum Press, 1995.

1 June–29 October 1995Textiles from MasadaSponsored by Marks and SpencerRoom 88

22 May–4 June 1995Photographs of Mohenjo-DaroDept of Oriental Antiquities

26 April–3 September 1995Social fabrics: recent textile acquisitions from IndonesiaDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

19 April–9 July 1995Receive our prayers: the Steve Cribb Collection of Catholic medalsDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

April 1995–February 1998The Great Court: the British Museum’s Millennium Project


31 August–24 September and 27 September–22 October 1995The Passionate Art of Kitagawa UtamaroOrganized with the Chiba City MuseumDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 91 and 92–94Paid admission 32,013 visitorsThe Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro / Shūgo Asano and Timothy Clark. London: British Museum Press, 1995.

31 August 1995–10 February 1996Treasures from the Ethnography collectionsDept of Ethnography

23 August–30 October 1995Ke-Ke-In – the printmaking of Ron Hamilton: Creativity and designDept of Ethnography

11 July–8 October 1995A nation’s wealth: paper money in Scotland 1695–1995Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

21 June 1995–4 January 1996Persian paintings from India on loan from the British LibraryDept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic GalleryFree admission

21 June–15 October 1995Chinese snuff bottles from the Mary and George Bloch CollectionDept of Oriental Antiquities Sponsored by Société GénéraleRoom 33b

16 June–22 October 1995Renaissance medals and plaquettes of Northern EuropeDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 90

16 June–13 August 1995Europe in India: Indian paintings and their European prototypesDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 91


1 November 1995–3 March 1996The tide flows on: Maori drawings by John Bevan FordDept of Ethnography

18 October 1995–19 April 1996Benefactor in Focus: John Henderson (1797–1878)Dept of Oriental Antiquities

10 October–19 November 1995Food for all: coins and medals of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture OrganizationDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

3 October 1995–9 February 1997Display and Modesty: North African TextilesDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

3 October 1995–4 August 1996Secular and Sacred: Ethiopian TextilesDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

28 September 1995–14 July 1996Play and Display: Masquerades of Southern NigeriaSculpture by Sokari Douglas-CampAn exhibition for the Africa ’95 SeasonDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

28 September 1995–28 January 1996Made in Africa: Africa and the National Art Collections FundDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

25 September 1995–26 September 1996Twenty-five FansDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


19 February 1996–31 December 1997Treasures from the Ethnographic CollectionsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

199618 January–13 June 1996Shaykhs and DervishesDept of Oriental Antiquities

23 November 1995–28 April 1996Textiles of Highland Burma from the Ethnography CollectionsDept of Ethnography

21 November 1995–3 March 1996After Marathon: war, society and money in fifth century GreeceDept of Coins & MedalsAfter Marathon: war, society and money in fifth century Greece / Ute Wartenberg. London: British Museum Press, 1995.

17 November 1995–14 January 1996 and 17 January–14 April 1996Maruyama-Okyo and Kyoto painting 1770–1910An exhibition in two partsDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

10 November 1995–April 1996Images of the Western Lake: the Revival of the Colour Print in Contemporary ChinaDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

10 November 1995–21 April 1996Prints & Drawings recent acquisitions 1991–95Dept of Prints & DrawingsFree admission

1 November 1995–14 January 1996Westminster Kings and the Medieval Palace of WestminsterDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesFree admissionc. 72,000 visitorsWestminster Kings and the Medieval Palace of Westminster / John Cherry and Neil Stratford. British Museum Occasional Paper no. 115, London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1995.


26 April–20 September 1996Islamic Ceramics of EphesusDept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic GalleryFree admission

25 April 1996–31 December 1997Stairways to the Sky: Rice and Life in the PhilippinesPresented in association with the Embassy of the Republic of the PhilippinesDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

19 March–27 October 1996Beirut: Uncovering the PastSponsored by Banque Audi sal-Lebanon and the Albert Abela Corporation. Official Carrier–British Mediterranean AirwaysDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

13 March–14 July 1996Vases and Volcanoes: Sir William Hamilton and his collectionArchaeological material from the Hamilton collection, also paintings and drawings in their historical context, and material relating to Hamilton’s interest in volcanology.Sponsored by Pirelli. Dept of Greek & Roman Antiquities26,000 visitorsVases and Volcanoes: Sir William Hamilton and his Collection / Ian Jenkins and Kim Sloan. London: British Museum Press, 1996.

7 March–8 September 1996Commemorating the 19th Century: Coins and Medals by the Wyon FamilyDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

7 March–28 July 1996Modern graphic art: gifts from the British Museum SocietyDept of Prints & Drawings

28 February–April 1996Responses to ‘Utamaro’: An Education Service DisplaySupported by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

26 February–September 1996A Zapotec Ceremonial Urn (loan from Mexico)Dept of Ethnography


24 May–15 September 1996The Grotesque: Ornamental Prints from the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsThe Grotesque: Ornamental Prints from the British Museum. London: South Bank Centre, 1995.

24 May–15 September 199619th-century French Drawings from the British MuseumDept of Prints & Drawings

24 May–28 July 1996 and 10 October 1996–12 January 1997‘Like a Stream of Gold’: Painting and Sculpture from South IndiaSponsored by Guardian Royal Exchange Group and Andersen ConsultingDept of Oriental Antiquities

23 May–15 September 1996David Le Marchand (1674–1726): ‘An Ingenious Man for Carving in Ivory’Supported by the Henry Moore FoundationDept of Medieval & Later AntiquitiesFree admissionDavid Le Marchand (1674–1726): ‘An Ingenious man for Carving in Ivory’ / Charles Avery. Farnham: Lund Humphries, 1996.

16 May 1996–31 December 1997The Gilded Image: Pre-Columbian Gold from South and Central AmericaSponsored by British PetroleumDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

16 May 1996–16 April 1997Qing MonochromesDept of Oriental Antiquities

15 May–30 June 1996Oriental Antiquities: Recent Acquisitions

15 May–14 July 1996Kayama Matazo: New Triumphs for Old Traditions Organized by the British Museum and Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc. under the auspices of the Japanese Embassy in the UK and supported by Hourin Country Club, Japan Airlines, Nihon Keizai Shimbun Europe Ltd and Torres Inc.Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionKayama Matazo: new triumphs for old traditions: [Tokyo]: Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 1996.


13 September 1996–5 January 1997Mysteries of Ancient China: New Discoveries from the Early DynastiesSponsored by The Times. The first major loan exhibition of antiquities from the People’s Republic of China to be seen in London for 20 years. Covering the period 4500 bc–ad 200, the display presented recent archaeological discoveries important to the perception of China’s early history. Paid admission162,000 visitorsMysteries of Ancient China: new discoveries from the early dynasties / Jessica Rawson. London: British Museum Press, 1996.

10 September 1996–31 January 1997 Excavation in Nubia and the SudanDept of Egyptian Antiquities

10 September 1996–18 May 1997The Rev. Ernest S. Box: An Englishman’s collection of Chinese coinsDept of Coins & Medals

September 1996–January 1997Modern Graphic Art: gifts from the British Museum SocietyDept of Prints & Drawings

September 1996–June 1997Imagining the Arctic: the native photograph in Alaska, Canada and GreenlandA small exhibition to accompany the conference of the same name (18–20 April 1996), sponsored by Mr and Mrs Morton Sosland, including materials from the departmental archives, as well as contemporary prints by Simeonie Keenainak.Dept of EthnographyImaging the Arctic / eds J.C.H. King and Henrietta Lidchi. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

1 August–29 September 1996Japanese Paintings and Prints: A New SelectionDept of Japanese Antiquities

26 July–29 September 1996Twentieth-Century Chinese Painting: Tradition and InnovationJointly presented by the British Museum and the Urban Council, Hong KongDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

20 June 1996–8 January 1997Women in Islamic PaintingDept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic GalleryFree admission


1997January–April 1997Contemporary Australian Prints: a gift from the Australian Print WorkshopDept of Prints & Drawings

20 December 1996–31 March 1997Mexican Textiles from the Everts CollectionDept of Ethnography BP Ethnography ShowcaseRoom 35

16 October–9 December 1996Buddhist Art in the HimalayasDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

16 October 1996–12 January 1997Japanese Arts: Samurai swords, older traditions of painting, and prints and photographs from the Hacker-Vernarelli GiftDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94

10 October 1996–12 January 1997An exhibition for the Festival of India’s SouthDept of Oriental Antiquities

4 October 1996–6 October 1997Benefactor in Focus: Frederick DuCane Godman (1834–1919)Dept of Oriental Antiquities

27 September 1996–6 April 1997‘Rain’: Native American Peoples of the Desert SouthwestAn exhibition from the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona Sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal NationDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

27 September 1996–5 January 1997Old Master Drawings from the Malcolm CollectionDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionOld master drawings from the Malcolm Collection / Martin Royalton-Kisch, Hugo Chapman and Stephen Coppel. London: British Museum Press, 1996.


14 March–13 April 1997Drawings from KyrgyzstanDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

24 January–20 April 1997Heirs of Rome: The Shaping of Britain AD 400–900Organized in collaboration with the British Library, as part of a European Science Foundation Research Programme With the support of the European UnionDept of Prehistoric & Romano-British AntiquitiesVoluntary admission charge

24 January–20 April 1997Modern Scandinavian PrintsDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionModern Scandinavian prints / Frances Carey. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

24 January–20 April 1997Jacques Bellange (c. 1575–1616), printmaker of LorraineDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionJacques Bellange (c. 1575–1616), printmaker of Lorraine / Antony Griffiths and Craig Hartley. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

22 January–20 April 1997The Shibata Gift of Arita Porcelain and other Recent Acquisitions of Japanese ArtDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94 and 33b

22 January–20 April 1997Japanese Prints: Recent AcquisitionsDept of Japanese Antiquities

15 January–15 June 1997Shirazeh Houshiary: prints and drawings 1988–1992Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic GalleryFree admission

January–May 1997African Hairdressers’ SignsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


15 May–7 September 1997The Ceramic Art of Sawada ChitojinOrganized by the British Museum and the Imari Toen CompanyDept of Japanese AntiquitiesKonica Gallery, British MuseumThe Ceramic Art of Sawada Chitojin. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

3 May–13 July 1997Far Eastern and Near Eastern green-waresOrganized in co-operation with the Oriental Ceramic SocietyDept of Oriental Antiquities

May–August 1997Blake’s Book of JobDept of Prints & Drawings

25 April–31 December 1997Malaita: A Pacific Island at the Museum of MankindDept of Ethnography

April–October 1997Striking Tents: Central Asian Nomad Felts from KyrgyzstanA display to coincide with the above Museum of Mankind exhibition of the same nameBP Ethnography Showcase

20 March–31 December 1997Striking Tents: Central Asian Nomad Felts from KyrgyzstanSponsored by British PetroleumThe collection of nomad felts was acquired with the support of the British Museum SocietyDept of Ethnography

Morris Bierbrier. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

14 March–20 July 1997Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman EgyptPresented in association with the Fondazione Memmo. Funerary portraits of the people of Roman Egypt, with an examination of their archaeological context and demonstration of scientific and forensic techniques used in analysis. Paid admission75,000 visitorsAncient faces: mummy portraits from Roman Egypt / Susan Walker and


21 July 1997–10 January 1998Turkish Works on PaperDept of Oriental Antiquities

21 July–31 August 1997Japanese Painting and Prints: Images of Kyoto and OsakaDept of Japanese Antiquities

11 July 1997–continuingArts of KoreaSupported by the Samsung Foundation of CultureDept of Oriental Antiquities

3 July–31 December 1997Pottery in the Making: world ceramic traditionsSupported by the British Museum SocietyDept of Ethnography / Museum of MankindPottery in the making: world ceramic traditions / ed. Ian Freestone and David Gaimster. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

23 May–14 September 1997Modernism in French Medal DesignDept of Coins & Medals

23 May–14 September 1997Printmaking in Paris: Picasso and his contemporariesDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionPrintmaking in Paris: Picasso and his Contemporaries / Stephen Coppel. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

20 May–14 September 1997Coin jewellery: ancient, medieval and modernDept of Coins & Medals

15 May–7 September 1997Styles of Japanese Pottery and PorcelainDept of Japanese Antiquities


26 September 1997–4 January 1998The Schilling Bequest of Old Master DrawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

25 September 1997–4 January 1998Japanese Calligraphy, 17th–19th CenturiesDept of Japanese Antiquities

25 September 1997–4 January 1998The Calligraphic Art of Ogawa ToshuOrganized by the British Museum and Fukushi SakamotoDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94Free admissionThe Calligraphic Art of Ogawa Toshu / ed. Nakano Sosui. Sapporo: Sapporo International University, 1997.

18 September–31 December 1997Patagonia: Natural History, Prehistory and Ethnography at the Uttermost End of the EarthJointly sponsored by the Governments of Argentina and Chile, with additional support from CMPC, Aerolineas Argentinas, LanChile and PROCHILEDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind

16 September–6 December 1997From Persepolis to the Punjab: Coins and the Exploration of the EastDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

6 September 1997–15 February 1998Modern Chinese CalligraphyDept of Oriental Antiquities

September 1997–January 1998Etchings by Anish KapoorDept of Prints & Drawings

30 July–31 December 1997Count and Capture: Mancala game-boardsDept of Ethnography / Museum of Mankind


9 December 1997–1 March 1998Writing ArabicThe exhibition included the Derek J. Content Collection of Islamic rock crystal seals and work by Sudanese calligrapher Osman WaqiallaDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 69aFree admission

28 November 1997–28 February 1998Bethlehem 2000: a travelling photographic exhibitionIn association with the Palestine Exploration Fund and supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeDept of Western Asiatic Antiquities

10 November 1997–23 February 1998Stanway, Colchester ‘Doctor’s Grave’Dept of Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities

10 November 1997–end February 1998Earliest known surgical kit from Britain on display in Weston Gallery of Roman Britain

29 October 1997–18 January 1998Zulu BeadworkBP Ethnography Showcase

Cartier 1900–1939 / Judy Rudoe. London: British Museum Press. 1997.

3 October 1997–15 February 1998 (extended)Cartier 1900–1939 Organized by the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it was shown first. The exhibition examined in particular the individual creations in the Egyptian, Indian, Chinese and Japanese styles, and the use of museum collections as a source of inspiration. Paid admission 124,000 visitors

26 September 1997–4 January 1998Hogarth and his Times: Serious ComedySupported by the Parnassus FoundationDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionHogarth and his times: serious comedy / David Bindman. London: British Museum Press, 1997.


6 March–29 June 1998The Return of the Museum of Mankind: a Display of the Arts of Africa, the Americas and OceaniaBP Ethnography Showcase

3 March–6 May 1998Humphrey Cole: Mint, Measurement and Maps in Elizabethan EnglandDept of Coins & MedalsHumphrey Cole: mint, measurement and maps in Elizabethan England / ed. Silke Ackermann. British Museum Occasional Paper no. 126, London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1998.

1 March–31 May 1998Nepal: A World of its OwnSponsored by the Colt Group Ltd, Veedon Fleece Ltd, the O’Hea Charitable Trust, Bright Sun Travel, the Britain-Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Robert Fleming and Co LimitedThis exhibition was to celebrate ‘Visit Nepal Year 1998’Dept of Oriental Antiquities

February–June 1998Monotypes by Anish KapoorDept of Prints & Drawings

2 February–15 July 1998Princes, Poets and Paladins: related works from the British MuseumDept of Oriental Antiquities

23 January–13 April 1998Princes, Poets and Paladins: Islamic and Indian Paintings from the Collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga KhanSupported by Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan and the Altajir World of Islam TrustDept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admissionPrinces, Poets and Paladins: Islamic and Indian Paintings from the Collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan / Sheila R. Canby. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

23 January–12 April 1998Padua in the 1450s: Marco Zoppo and his Contemporaries Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Padua in the 1450s: Marco Zoppo and his contemporaries / Hugo Chapman. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

1998

20 January 1998–18 April 1999Arts of Japan: selections from the British Museum’s CollectionDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94


27 June–1 November 1998MaoriDept of Ethnography (at Bloomsbury)Paid admission Maori: art and culture / ed. Dorota Starzecka. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

15 June–13 September 1998 Persian and Indian manuscripts and paintings: from the collection of the Royal Asiatic SocietyBritish Museum in collaboration with the Royal Asiatic SocietyDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33bFree admission

29 May–29 November 1998A sense of form: Henry Moore at the British MuseumTo mark the centenary of Moore’s birth. The Tate Gallery lent to the British Museum Moore’s sculpture ‘King and Queen’ (1953) which was particularly influenced by the seated Egyptian couple in Room 25.

13 May–26 July 1998Rimpa art: from the Idemitsu Collection, TokyoDept of Japanese AntiquitiesFree admissionRimpa art: from the Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo / Yūzō Yamane, Masato Naitō, Timothy Clark. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

8 May 1998–10 January 1999Making history: English medals and numismatics 1600–1740Dept of Coins & Medals

8 May–20 September 1998 The print in Stuart BritainDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Paid admission The print in Stuart Britain / Antony Griffiths. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

8 May–20 September 1998 Turner watercolours from the RW Lloyd BequestDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Paid admission Turner watercolours from the RW Lloyd Bequest / Kim Sloan. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

13 April–5 October 1998Living Egypt: pharaonic, Mamluk and modern household objectsDept of Egyptian Antiquities


12 October 1998–1 April 1999Medieval Trading Cities of the Niger: Gao and TimbuktuSupported by St John’s College, CambridgeLoan display from MaliDept of EthnographyRoom 34

9 October 1998–10 January 1999Mantegna to Rubens: drawings from Liverpool’s Weld-Blundell CollectionDept of Prints and DrawingsMantegna to Rubens: drawings from Liverpool’s Weld-Blundell Collection / Xanthe Brook. London: Merrell Holberton, 1998.

9 October 1998–10 January 1999Claude Lorrain: drawings from the collection of the British Museum and the Ashmolean MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsClaude Lorrain: drawings from the collections of the British Museum and the Ashmolean Museum / J. Whiteley. London: British Museum Press, 1998.

1 October 1998–3 January 1999Minakar: spun gold and woven enamelDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b

23 September 1998–10 January 1999Earlier Monetary UnionsDept of Coins & Medals

18 August–15 November 1998Japanese Buddhist Arts of the Edo Period (1600–1868) from the British Museum collectionsDept of Japanese Antiquities

20 July 1998–5 January 1999Fifty years on: the Eckstein, Manuk and Coles BequestsDept of Oriental Antiquities

9 July–11 October 1998Miao Costumes from South West ChinaDept of Ethnography


16 January–2 May 1999Edward Falkener: a Victorian OrientalistDept of Oriental Antiquities and Dept of Western Asiatic AntiquitiesRoom 33a

See previous entry

1999

13 January–11 April 1999Leaden Hearts: 19th century convict love tokensEngravings on coins, many from the collection of Timothy Millett, evoking the world of transportation.Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

19 December 1998–18 April 1999The Golden Sword: Stamford Raffles and the East: adventures, travels and collecting in Southeast AsiaSponsored by Standard Chartered Bank plcDept of Oriental AntiquitiesPaid admission The Golden Sword: Stamford Raffles and the East / ed. Nigel Barley. London: British Museum Press, 1998

1 December–18 April 1999The Fascination of Nature by Xie Chufang, 1321A recently acquired 14th-century Chinese painting purchased with the assistance of the National Art Collections FundDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 93

1 December 1998–18 April 1999Arts of JapanDept of Japanese Antiquities

16 November 1998–June 1999A glimpse of the universe: scientific instruments from Renaissance GermanyDept of Medieval & Later Antiquities

22 October 1998–14 February 1999Artists and Artisans: Perspectives on Tunisian CultureBP Ethnography ShowcaseDept of Ethnography


8 May–30 August 1999Kagura: the Oka Gift of Japanese ritual masksDept of Japanese Antiquities A gift to the Museum of 82 masks mainly connected with Shinto Kagura festivalsPaid admission

13 April–3 October 1999Rebels, pretenders and imposters: political fictions on coins and banknotesDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a

11 April–3 October 1999Heavenly housesExhibition featuring two astrolabes (from the British Museum and the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford) made by Abd al-Karim al-Misri in Northern Iraq in the early 13th century and displayed together for the first time.Dept of Medieval & Later Antiquities and Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 34

4 March–9 July 1999Creative solutions: conservation of the Ethnography collectionsBP Ethnography ShowcaseRoom 35

15 February–5 July 1999Painted poetry: illustrations from the works of Nizami and JamiPersian and Indian illustrations from the 15th to 18th centuries.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 34

1 February–28 May 1999 (extended)Ronald Searle’s ‘Father of Caricature’Drawings donated by the artist for a series of medalsDept of Prints & Drawings

23 January–18 April 1999Building the British MuseumExhibition to mark the first anniversary of the start of the Great Court construction programmeRoom 90Paid admissionBuilding the British Museum / Marjorie Caygill and Christopher Date. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

23 January–18 April 1999Roman Baroque DrawingsAn exhibition of the Baroque style which dominated the city of Rome from the beginning of the 1620s to the close of the century.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Paid admissionRoman Baroque Drawings c. 1620–c. 1700 / Nicholas Turner and Rhoda Eitel Porter. London: British Museum Press, 1999.


August 1999–16 January 2000 Bukhura and beyond: artefacts of Uzbekistan and photographs by Edgar KnoblochDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b

10 July 1999–16 January 2000Cracking codes: the Rosetta Stone and deciphermentExhibition to celebrate the bicentenary of the discovery of the Rosetta Stone on the banks of the Nile in July 1799Dept of Egyptian AntiquitiesPaid admissionCracking codes: the Rosetta Stone and decipherment / Richard Parkinson. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

8 July 1999–14 February 2000Later Persian paintings and lacquerAn installation of the Museum’s collection of Qajar painting and lacquer. Held in association with the exhibition ‘Royal Persian paintings: the Qajar Epoch, 1785–1925’ at the Brunei GalleryDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 34

18 May 1999–Great Court ExhibitionModels and a video showing the design and concept of the Great Court, together with archaeological material excavated prior to site works.

15 May–29 August 1999Image and narrative: Indian folk bronzes from the Polsky GiftDept of Oriental Antiquities

8 May–30 August 1999Castiglione in contextA display built around Castiglione’s drawing ‘A Procession of Shepherds’ which came from the collection of Sir William Hamilton and was acquired by the Museum in 1997 with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund.Dept of Prints & DrawingsPaid admission

8 May–30 August 1999The Popular Print since 1850Included exhibits from a variety of locations, including Russia and BrazilDept of Prints & DrawingsPaid admission

8 May–30 August 1999Oddities under heaven: the popular print in England 1550–1850Exhibition of a type of print commonplace before the Industrial Revolution; this exhibition was the first attempt at a general study of such material in BritainDept of Prints & DrawingsPaid admission The popular print in England / Sheila O’Connell. London: British Museum Press, 1999.


30 October 1999–30 April 2000 Gifts of the CenturyGifts to the John Addis Islamic GalleryDept of Oriental Antiquities

23 October 1999–20 February 2000Gilded dragons: buried treasure from China’s golden agesSponsored by The Times and PrudentialSpecial loan exhibition on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of ChinaPaid admissionGilded dragons: buried treasures from China’s golden ages / Carol Michaelson. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

5 October–17 December 1999Feelings beyond wordsAin Sakhri figurine and modern interpretation sculpted in marble by Ms Rose Hacker

5 October–5 December 1999The Metal Mirror: coin photography by Stephen SackDept of Coins & Medals

10 September–28 November 1999Landmarks in Print Collecting: connoisseurs and donors at the British MuseumDept of Prints & DrawingsLandmarks in print collecting: connoisseurs and donors at the British Museum since 1753 / ed. Antony Griffiths. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

10 September–28 November 1999The Light of Nature: landscape drawings and watercolours by Van Dyck and his contemporariesOrganized by the British Museum and Antwerpen Open vzw, with the support of the Government of FlandersDept of Prints & DrawingsPaid admissionThe Light of Nature: landscape drawings and watercolours by Van Dyk and his contemporaries /Martin Royalton Kisch. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

7 September 1999–30 January 2000Life and ceremony in urban AlgeriaDept of EthnographyBP Ethnography ShowcaseSponsored by BP AmocoLoan exhibitionRoom 35Life and ceremony in Urban Algeria: an exhibition at the British Museum. London: BP Amoco, 1999–CD-ROM.

2 September–1 December 1999Mezzotint engravings after Allan Ramsay (1713–42)Dept of Prints & Drawings


24 February–1 May 2000Arab cultures: young worldsDept of EthnographySponsored by BP AmocoBP Ethnography Showcase

16 February–17 July 2000 Botanical watercolours from the Pearson AlbumNineteenth century watercolours by Indian artists working for a British clientDept of Oriental Antiquities

January 2000–July 2001 Tibet: life, myth and artBuddhist art from Tibet Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 33b Tibet: life, myth and art / Michael Willis. London: Duncan Baird, 1999.

20002000–2001Christianity in Roman BritainA special display including the head of Christ from the Hinton St Mary PavementDept of Prehistory & Early Europe

17 December 1999–24 April 2000Dance of the DeadDept of Prints & DrawingsEast Stairs

17 December 1999–24 April 2000The Apocalypse: and the shape of things to comeSupported by the Michael Marks Charitable TrustDept of Prints & Drawings, British Library & loan materialPaid admissionThe Apocalypse and the shape of things to come / ed. Frances Carey. London: British Museum Press, 1999.

7 December 1999–9 April 2000Size immaterial: handheld sculpture of the 1990sBritish Museum’s collection of contemporary handheld sculptureDept of Coins & MedalsSize immaterial: handheld sculpture of the 1990s / Luke Syson. London: British Art Medal Society, 1999.

December 1999–Spring 2001European Prints from the 15th to early 19th centuriesDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 1, King’s Library


1 June 2000–January 2001The Observing Eye and the Analyzing Mind: the prints of Bryan InghamDept of Prints & Drawings

19 May–24 September 2000A noble art: amateur artists and drawing masters c. 1600–1800Dept of Prints & DrawingsA noble art: amateur artists and drawing masters c. 1600–1800 / Kim Sloan. London: British Museum Press, 2000.

See previous entry19 May–24 September 2000The prints of Jim Dine and Michael Rothenstein: two recent giftsDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90

12 April–13 August 2000 Paid in Burnt Silver: wealth and power in the Viking AgeA Norwegian-British partnership at the millennium 1999–2000Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

8 April–13 August 2000Visions from the golden land: Burma and the art of lacquerThe exhibition, inspired by the gift of the Isaacs Collection of Burmese lacquer, used the art of lacquer as a means to explore Burmese culture.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesPaid admissionVisions from the golden land: Burma and the art of lacquer / R. Isaacs and T.R. Blurton. London: British Museum Press, 2000.

1 April 2000–15 October 2000Islamic LustrewareDept of Oriental Antiquities

24 March–24 September 2000 Japan TimeClocks, the zodiac and picture calendarsDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRoom 92


14 November 2000–28 January 2001Voices of Southern AfricaDept of EthnographyRoom 36Free admission

4 November 2000–1 April 2001Cobalt and Copper: ceramic techniques of the Islamic WorldDept of Oriental Antiquities John Addis Islamic Gallery

21 October 2000–21 January 2001Gladiators and Caesars: the power of spectacle in Ancient RomeExhibition originally created by the Museum fur Kunst und Gewerbe, HamburgDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesPaid admission71,034 visitorsGladiators and Caesars: the power of spectacle in Ancient Rome / ed. Eckart Köhne and Cornelia Ewigleben; English version ed. Ralph Jackson. London: British Museum Press, 2000.

20 October 2000–14 January 2001Saga: contemporary ceramics from the home of Japanese porcelainDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRoom 92Free admission

6 October 2000–7 January 2001Correggio and Parmigianino: master draughtsmen of the RenaissanceDept of Prints & Drawings

6 October 2000–7 January 2001Picasso: linocuts in the British MuseumDept of Prints & Drawings

17 August 2000–7 January 2001Illegal tender: counterfeit money through the agesDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

21 July 2000–19 February 2001Islamic works on paper: recent acquisitionsDept of Oriental Antiquities


4 April–30 September 2001Silver, gold and brass: metalworking techniques in the Islamic WorldDept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic Gallery

12 April 2001–26 August 2001Cleopatra of Egypt: from history to mythOrganized by the British Museum in collaboration with the Fondazione Memmo, Rome. The myth of Cleopatra traced to the present day through paintings, jewellery, opera and cinema.Dept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesSponsored by BPHotung Exhibition Gallery, Room 35Paid admission163,864 visitorsCleopatra of Egypt: from history to myth / Susan Walker and Peter Higgs. London: British Museum Press, 2000.

20 February–1 September 2001Mughals AdornedIn conjunction with the special exhibition ‘Treasury of the world: jewelled arts of India in the age of the Mughals’, this display focused on jewellery as it appeared in Mughal paintings.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesJohn Addis Islamic Gallery

15 February–27 May 2001Annuraaq: Arctic skin clothing from IgloolikFeatured the work of seamstresses from Igloolik, as well as costume of gut, bird and fish skin from across the north between Alaska and Greenland.Dept of EthnographyBP Ethnography ShowcaseRoom 36

30 January–8 April 2001Arts of JapanA wide range of the British Museum’s Japanese material from prehistoric times through to the 19th century. Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 92–94Free admission

25 January–8 April 2001Rembrandt the PrintmakerOrganized by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. This exhibition revealed Rembrandt as the most original printmaker of all time; in no less than 300 etchings, he covered the full range of styles and subjects for which he is celebrated.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Paid admissionRembrandt the printmaker / Erik Hinterding and Ger Luijten. London: British Museum Press, 2000.

2001

11 January 2001–6 May 2001From Alexander to Mark Antony: images of power on ancient coinsExhibits from the British Museum’s unrivalled collection, supplemented by the C.A. Hersh bequest of 8,000 Greek and Roman coins. Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

7 December 2000–11 February 2001The Human ImageAn ambitious and comprehensive exhibition examining the representation of the body across all human cultures, over 14,000 years.Dept of Ethnography103,850 visitorsThe Human image / Jonathan King. London: British Museum Press, 2000.


5 September–2 December 2001Shinto: the sacred art of Ancient JapanThe exhibition examined the arts that were characteristic of Shinto during the Heian and Kamakura periods and looked at the mysterious ritual beliefs from which Shinto developed, drawing on archaeological evidence from Japanese prehistory.Organized by the British Museum, the Agency for Cultural Affairs Tokyo, and the Japan Foundation.Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesRooms 91–94

22 June–October 2001Exploring the city: the Norman Foster Studio

18 June–29 July 2001Emperors and court ladies: Chinese figure paintingDept of Oriental Antiquities

14 June–13 September 2001Souvenirs in contemporary JapanDept of EthnographyBP Ethnography ShowcaseRoom 36

18 May–2 September 2001Treasury of the world: jewelled arts of India in the Age of the MughalsThe Al-Sabah Collection Kuwait National MuseumBritish Museum in association with The TimesDept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 5 West Wing Exhibition GalleryPaid admission71,548 visitorsTreasury of the world: the jewelled arts of India.London: British Museum Press, 2000.

11 May–29 July 2001100 views of Mount FujiDept of Japanese Antiquities

10 May–7 September 2001Struck on gold: coins of the Mughal emperors of IndiaDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

4 May–16 September 2001Paper assets: collecting prints and drawings 1996–2001Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission


14 November 2001–3 March 2002Light motifs: an Aomori float and Japanese kitesA showing of a giant festival float created by Japanese craftsmen and displayed inside the Museum; it is accompanied by an exhibition of kites.Dept of Japanese AntiquitiesRoom 24Free admission

Room 5Paid admission40,277 visitorsAgatha Christie and archaeology / ed. Charlotte Trumpler; [translated by Anthea Bell]. London: British Museum Press, 2001.

8 November 2001–24 March 2002Agatha Christie and archaeology: mystery in MesopotamiaAn exhibition on Agatha Christie as an amateur archaeologist; combining finds from sites on which she worked, with artefacts, photographs, archival material and films from the Museum’s collections.British Museum in association with The Times.Exhibition originally created by the Ruhrlandsmuseum EssenDept of Ancient Near EastWest Wing Exhibition Gallery,

25 October 2001–1 April 2002Unknown Amazon: culture in nature in ancient BrazilDept of EthnographyHotung Exhibition Gallery, Room 35Paid admission 27,980 visitorsUnknown Amazon: culture in nature in ancient Brazil / Colin McEwan. London: British Museum Press, 2001.

27 September 2001–6 January 2002New Ways of Gravure: the prints of S.W. Hayter 1901–88Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

27 September 2001–6 January 2002The print in Italy 1550–1620An exhibition examining techniques and materials, and assessing the impact of different cities on the kinds of prints produced in Rome, Venice, Sienna and Bologna.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionThe print in Italy 1550–1620 / Michael Bury. London: British Museum Press, 2001.

13 September 2001–17 February 2002Country views: place and identity on British paper moneyFrom country scenes to graceful allegories and national icons, this exhibition looked at the many-faceted picture of Britain presented on three centuries of banknotes.Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a Free admission

Paid admissionShinto: the sacred art of Ancient Japan / Victor Harris. London: British Museum Press, 2001.


Until 17 MarchBirds in Persian and Indian paintingAn exhibition of bird paintings dating from the early 15th to the 19th centuries.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 34 Free admission

9–17 March 2002Medieval machinesA hands-on exhibition; part of Unwrapping Science, activities celebrating science week.Dept of Prehistory & EuropeRoom 86 Free admission

9–17 March 2002Unwrapping scienceNational Science Week 2002

21 February–8 September 2002Brief lives: changing currencies in western EuropeAn exhibition which celebrated the birth of the Euro and the old currencies of the European union.Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69a Free admission

2 February–19 May 2002The poetry of nature: watercolours by John Sell Cotman 1782–1842An exhibition of many of Cotman’s best-known works, accompanied by studies, drawings and prints.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90

2 February–19 May 2002Imaging Ulysses: Richard Hamilton’s illustrations to James JoyceAn exhibition tracing Hamilton’s response over 50 years to Ulysses; the material ranged from watercolour and pencil studies made in the 1940s to etchings made in the 1980s to more recent iris digital prints.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90 Free admission

200231 January–19 May 2002Brushes with surprise: the art of calligraphy in modern ChinaThe exhibits ranged from the elegantly classical poems written by Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese revolution, to beautiful and thought-provoking pieces by leaders of the avant-garde.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 91 Free admission

See previous entry


13 June–22 September 2002Brueghel to Rembrandt: Dutch and Flemish drawings from the Maida and George Abrams CollectionAn exhibition based on one of the world’s outstanding private collections of Dutch 17th century drawings.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90 Free admission

13 June–22 September 2002Reflections of glory: the medallic art of 16th century ItalyThe first exhibition devoted to late Renaissance medals. Included art works by goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini and the sculptor Leone Leoni.Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 90 Free admission

13 June–1 December 2002Vietnam behind the lines: images from the war 1965–75An exhibition of 132 paintings, drawings and hand-painted posters created between 1965 and 1975 by Vietnamese artists of the Vietnam War.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 91Free admissionVietnam behind the lines: images from the war 1965–75 / Jessica Harrison-Hall. London: British Museum Press, 2002.

59,026 visitorsQueen of Sheba: treasures from ancient Yemen / St John Simpson. London, British Museum Press, 2002.

9 June–13 October 2002Queen of Sheba: treasures from ancient YemenExhibition about the legend of the Queen of Sheba; the exhibition incorporated everyday objects from Yemen, Renaissance paintings representing the Queen of Sheba’s visit to the court of Solomon, jewellery, statues, vessels and funerary sculptures. Sponsored by BarclaysDept of Ancient Near EastRoom 35Paid admission

Until 31 March 2002Qasr Ibim: a fortress on the NileAn exhibition focussing on the historical site of Qasr, which has a history spanning the 1st millennium bc to the early 19th century.Dept of Ancient Egypt & SudanRoom 34Free admission

27 March–14 July 2002Arts of JapanDept of Japanese AntiquitiesRoom 92Free admission

18 March 2002–Islamic paintings of the huntPersian and Indian paintings depicting ancient and recent shahs and emperors enjoying the sport of kings.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 34 Free admission


2003

15 January–15 June 2003Celebrating The British Museum: John Maine’s anniversary medalThe medal commissioned to commemorate the Museum’s 250th anniversary formed the centrepiece of an exhibition featuring the work of other medallists.Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree Admission

5 December 2002–23 March 2003Albrecht Dürer and his legacy: the graphic work of a Renaissance artistExhibition examining Durer’s development from his early work in the medieval tradition through his classical education in Italy, to his development of the techniques of woodcut and engraving. Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 5Paid admission87,887 visitorsAlbrecht Durer and his legacy: the graphic work of a Renaissance artist / Giulia Bartrum. British Museum Press, 2002.

15 November 2002–26 January 2003Antony Gormley Field for the British IslesExhibition of Gormley’s ‘terracotta army’ of diminutive clay figures.Arts Council Collection: Hayward Gallery for the Arts Council of EnglandDept of Prints & DrawingsHeld in Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, and throughout the British MuseumFree admissionAntony Gormley: Field for the British Isles: discover Field throughout the British Museum / Colin Renfrew. London: British Museum, 2002.

24 October 2002–21 April 2003Antony Gormley drawingAround 50 drawings by Gormley representing all aspects of his career; to coincide with the installation of Field for the British Isles.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

Until 14 October 2002Solomon and Sheba: the Islamic traditionAn exhibition to coincide with Queen of Sheba: treasures from ancient Yemen; it shows objects from the Islamic collection which relate to the story of Solomon and Sheba or Solomon’s magical powers.Dept of Ancient Near EastRoom 34 Free admission

12 September 2002–9 January 2003Discovering Ancient Afghanistan: the Masson collectionDept of Coins and MedalsRoom 69a

July 2002–Vietnamese blue and white ceramics: heirloom and shipwreckAn exhibition of underglaze blue ceramics dating to the 15th–16th centuries from Vietnam. Several items were acquired from the Hoi An shipwreck.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesFree admission

July 2002–Tran Trung Tin: memories of warAn exhibition to complement the combat art from North Vietnam in ‘Vietnam behind the lines’; it showed 11 oils on newspaper and photographic paper.Dept of Oriental AntiquitiesRoom 61 Free admission


Until 21 April 2003Text and image: German illustrated broadsides of four centuriesAn exhibition of single sheets of paper printed with woodcuts or engravings and text from the 15th to the 18th centuries.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90 Free admission

Until 21 April 2003Sir Hans Sloane’s collection of prints and drawingsAn exhibition concentrating on works reflecting Sloane’s interest in plants and natural historyDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90 Free admission

10 April–7 September 2003The Museum of the Mind: art and memory in world culturesTo celebrate the Museum’s 250th Anniversary. 60 of the Museum’s key objects illustrated the subject of memory across different cultures and time.Joseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, Room 35Free admissionThe Museum of the Mind: art and memory in world cultures / John Mack. London: British Museum Press, 2003.

Until 23 March 2003War in Islamic paintingExhibition of manuscript illustrations and single page paintings revealing the central role that war and warriors play in the historical and epic literature of Turkey, Iran and India.Dept of AsiaRoom 34Free admission

Until 23rd March 2003Aladdin’s caveAn exhibition of hidden finds from the stores of the Petrie Museum– a small Islamic collection.Room 34Free admission

5 February–13 April 2003Kazari: decoration and display in Japan 15th–19th centuriesExhibition exploring kazari, the Japanese art and experience of arranging and displaying decorative objects.Dept of AsiaRooms 91–94 Paid admissionKazari: decoration and display in Japan 15th– 19th centuries / Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere. London: British Museum Press, 2002.

Late January–30 June 2003Grete Marks, artist potter: ceramics of the interwar yearsAn exhibition of 40 pieces given by Marks’ husband and daughter.Dept of Prehistory & EuropeRoom 48Free admission

15 January–13 July 2003Italian medals of the late RenaissanceA display to celebrate the publication of Italian Medals c. 1530–1600 in British public collections by Philip Attwood.Dept of Coins & MedalsOff Weston Great HallFree admission


11 September–23 November 2003Tibetan Legacy: paintings from the Hahn Kwang-ho collectionExhibition devoted to a display of Tibetan religious banner painting, thang-kas, from the private collection of Mr Hahn Kwang-ho.Dept of AsiaRoom 91Free admissionTibetan legacy: paintings from the Hahn Kwang-ho Collection / [catalogue by Kimiaki Tanaka]. Seoul, Korea: Hahn Cultural Foundation, 2003.

17 August–14 December 2003Japanese 20th century printsDisplay of prints including the work of two of Japan’s leading modern printmakers, Onchi Koshiro and Munakata Shiko.Dept of AsiaOff Room 67Free admission

See previous entry26 June–16 November 2003Medicine Man: the forgotten museum of Henry WellcomeThe extraordinary collection of medical exhibits of Henry Wellcome. The exhibition also explored the history of our bodies, in sickness and in health.Room 5Free admission219,818 visitorsMedicine Man: the forgotten museum of Henry Wellcome / Ken Arnold. London: British Museum Press, 2003.

19 June 2003–18 January 2004Cityscapes: panoramic views on European coins and medalsExamples of coinage issued by cities to show their independence and powerDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

23 May–23 November 2003London 1753Exhibition explored London in the mid-18th century, when it became the largest city in the western world.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionLondon 1753 / Sheila O’Connell. London: British Museum Press, 2003.

23 May–17 August 2003Arts of Japan: selections from the permanent collectionDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

Until 21 April 2003The satires of Richard Newton (1777–1798)An exhibition of Newton’s caricatures of greedy aristocrats and pompous politicians.Dept of Prints & Drawings Room 90 Free admission


11 December 2003–April 2004Arts of Japan: a selection from the permanent collectionsDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

11 December 2003–25 April 2004Three great giftsAn exhibition of prints and drawings of three gift collections:Fred Williams: an Australian visionary; Modern British art: the David Brown Bequest;100 Years of the the National Art Collections FundDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

4 December 2003–28 January 2004Birds becoming artefactsAn exhibition of prints and drawings of birds and feather art from the South Pacific by Rebecca Jewell, PhD student, Royal College of Art.Dept of EthnographyClore Centre Foyer

Until December 2003Cities of Iraq: Samarra to BaghdadDisplay focussed on the cultural heritage of Iraq from objects in the British Museum’s collection.Dept of Ancient Near EastRoom 34

Until December 2003Our man in Persia: objects collected by Sir Percy Sykes on his travelsDisplay focussed on Percy Sykes, explorer and historian of IranDept of Ancient Near EastRoom 34, case 7

Until December 2003The British Museum – a 250th anniversary displayDisplay covered time from the Museum’s foundation in 1753 to present dayReading Room

21 November 2003–14 March 2004 Buried treasure: finding our pastBritish Museum in partnership with National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service, the Manchester Museum, Tyne & Wear MuseumsSponsored by Anglo AmericanDept of Prehistory & EuropeJoseph Hotung Great Court Gallery, Room 35Paid Admission

24 October 2003–21 April 2004Piranesi’s PrisonsAn exhibition concentrating on Giovanni Battista Piranesi’s celebrated Carceri (Prisons) series of etchings.Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission


1 July 2004–27 March 2005Mummy: the inside storyBP Special ExhibitionA virtual reality film and accompanying exhibition. The unopened 3,000-year-old mummy of Nesperunnub, priest of Karnak, examined by CAT scan and the latest 3D images.Dept of Ancient Egypt & SudanRoom 35Paid admission388,065 visitorsMummy: the inside story / John Taylor. London: British Museum Press, 2004.

15 June 2004–9 January 2005Matisse to Freud: a critic’s choice. The Alexander Walker BequestThe collection of 20th-century prints and drawings of the film critic and author Alexander WalkerDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionMatisse to Freud: a critic’s choice: the Alexander Walker bequest / Stephen Coppel. London: British Museum Press, 2004.

12 May 2004–Greek Summer: two special displays in the Great CourtOlympia Re-visitedPast, present and future Olympic GamesTroy re-toldStory of Troy re-told from antiquity to the present. Costumes from the film ‘Troy’ directed by Wolfgang Petersen (2004) on display in the Great Court.Dept of Greek & Roman Antiquities

Until 30 April 2004The Queen of the NightTerracotta plaque, made c. 400,000 years ago, moulded in high relief with the figure of a Babylonian goddess from Southern Mesopotamia (now Iraq)Dept of Ancient Near EastReading Room

Until 31 March 2004Guilford PutealMarble monument with carvings commemorating Octavian’s victory over Anthony and Cleopatra at Actium in 31 bcDept of Greek & Roman Antiquities Reading Room

Until 14 March 2004The Armada ServiceThe Armada service: 26 silver dishes engraved with the coat of arms of Sir Christopher Harris of Radford, Devon. Represented his spoils as an admiralty official in Devon during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)Dept of Prehistory & EuropeReading Room

2004

22 January–18 July 2004Public image: portraits on coins and medalsExhibition examining the depiction of some of the most famous figures in world history on coins and medalsDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

Until 18 January 2004Artfund 100To mark the National Art Collections Fund centenary, the British Museum highlighted some of the acquisitions it had made with the help of the Art FundReading Room


Until November 2004Three icons: conserving the national icon collectionThe British Museum houses the National Icon Collection of over 100 Byzantine, Russian and Greek icons.Room 41, case 51

Until 12 September 2004The Silk Road: trade, travel, war and faithIn collaboration with the British Library. Showing treasures excavated by Sir Aurel Stein, it explored the lives of the people who lived 1000 years ago along the Silk Road.The British Library and Dept of AsiaFree admissionThe Silk Road: trade, travel, war and faith / Susan Whitfield. London: British Library, 2004.

See previous entry

Dept of Ancient Egypt & SudanRoom 5Free admittance, but the Museum asked all visitors to make a donation to the work of Oxfam and Save the Children in SudanSudan: ancient treasures / Derek A. Welsby. London: British Museum Press, 2004.

9 September 2004–9 January 2005Sudan: ancient treasuresKingdom of the Nile A centenary exhibition from the National Museum, KhartoumUsing the fruits of recent archaeological research, this major exhibition led the visitor through the fascinating history of the country from the early Stone Age to the 19th century, including the medieval Christian and the Islamic periods.

9 September 2004–8 May 2005Cutting edge: Japanese swords in the British MuseumDept of AsiaRooms 92–94Free admissionCutting edge: Japanese swords in the British Museum / Victor Harris. London: British Museum Press, 2004.

22 July 2004–16 January 2005Status symbols: identity and belief on modern badgesAn exploration of the symbolic power of badges and other similar objects to express identity and belonging, belief and dissentDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

5 July–3 September 2004The Budda ShakyamuniShowing of a statuette of the Budda Shakyamuni, dating from 7 ad.Dept of AsiaReading RoomFree admission


8 May–4 September 2005Africa Garden

Until 3 April 2005Modernism in Sudanese artDept of Ancient Egypt & SudanMontague Place entranceFree admission

Until April 2005Feasts and picnics: eating and drinking in Islamic paintingRoom 34 Free admission

10 February–28 August 2005Tree of life: contemporary sculptureGreat CourtFree admission

9 February–5 June 2005Ferdinand Columbus: Renaissance Collector Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Ferdinand Columbus: Renaissance collector / Mark P. McDonald. London: British Museum Press, 2005.The print collection of Ferdinand Columbus (1488–1539) / Mark McDonald. London: British Museum, 2004.

27 January–3 April 2005Made in Africa: ancient hand toolsPart of Africa 05 programme of events.The Asahi Shimbun DisplaysFree admission

January–July 2005Sasanian coinage: religion and propagandaDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

200520 January–26 June 2005Wealth of Africa: 4,000 years of money and tradeDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69AFree admission


14 October–28 November 20051980–2005 National Treasures: Icons to mark 25 years of the National Heritage Memorial Fund

See previous entry9 September 2005–8 January 2006Forgotten Empire: the world of Ancient PersiaBritish Museum in association with the Iran Heritage FoundationDept of Ancient Near EastBP Special Exhibition 2005Room 5Paid admission Forgotten empire: the world of ancient Persia / eds John Curtis and Nigel Tallis with contributions by Béatrice André-Salvini ... [et al.]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005.

Until 28 August 2005Mountains and water: Chinese landscape paintingDept of Asia

Tovell, and Carol Troyen. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario; Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005.

7 July to 25 September 2005David Milne watercolours: “painting toward the light”Organized and supported by the Art Gallery of Ontario with the assistance of the Canadian High Commission, LondonDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionDavid Milne watercolours: “Painting toward the Light” / Katharine Lochnan; with contributions by John O’Brian, Dennis Reid, David P. Silcox, Rosemarie L.

30 June 2005–8 January 2006Iran before Islam: Propaganda and Religion AD 224–652Dept of Asia

30 June–11 September 2005Kabuki Heroes on the Osaka Stage 1780–1830Dept of AsiaRooms 92–94Free admissionKabuki Heroes on the Osaka Stage 1780–1830 / C. Andrew Gerstle, with Timothy Clark and Akiko Yano. London: British Museum Press, 2005.


29 June 2006–7 January 2007Avigdor Arikha: from lifeDept of Prints & DrawingsAvigdor Arikha: from life: drawings and prints 1965–2005 / Duncan Thomson and Stephen Coppel. London: British Museum Press, 2006.

18 May–3 September 2006Word into art: Artists of the modern Middle EastDept of the Middle EastRoom 35Free admissionc. 90,000 visitorsSupported by Dubai HoldingsWord into art: artists of the modern Middle East / Venetia Porter; with contributions by Isabelle Caussé; foreword by Saeb Eigner. London: British Museum Press, 2006.

11 May–2 July 2006The Warren Cup: sex and society in Ancient Greece & RomeThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysDept of Greek & Roman AntiquitiesRoom 3 Free admissionThe Warren Cup / Dyfri Williams. London: British Museum Press, 2006.

23 March–25 June 2006Michelangelo drawings: closer to the masterDept of Prints & DrawingsBP Special ExhibitionRoom 5Paid admission160,000 visitorsMichelangelo drawings: closer to the master / Hugo Chapman; with foreword by Neil MacGregor and Marjan Scharloo. London: British Museum Press, 2005.

28 February–23 April 2006Rembrandt: Three CrossesDept of Prints & DrawingsThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admissionc. 57,000 visitors

200612 January–25 June 2006Michelangelo: money and medals Dept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69

15 December 2005–3 February 2006Samurai to Manga: Japan across the centuriesDept of Asia

21 October 2005–22 January 2006Samuel Palmer: vision and landscapeA major retrospective exhibition marking the 200th anniversary of the great English Romantic painterDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 35Paid admissionSamuel Palmer, 1805–1881: vision and landscape / William Vaughan, Elizabeth E. Barker and Colin Harrison; with contributions by David Bindman, David Blayney Brown, Alexandra Greathehead, Majorie Shelly and Scott Wilcox. London: British Museum Press, 2005.


1 February–3 June 2007Italian Prints 1875–1975Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

200711 January–20 May 2007Good impressions: image and authority in medieval seals Room 69aFree admissionGood impressions: image and authority in medieval seals / eds Noel Adams, John Cherry and James Robinson. British Museum Research Publication no. 168, London: Trustees of the British Museum 2008.

16 November 2006–11 February 2007The past from above: through the lens of Georg Gerster: a journey over the world’s greatest archaeological sitesSupported by the Global Partners of the British MuseumRoom 35Paid admissionThe past from above / Georg Gerster; ed. Charlotte Trumpler; [translation from German by Stewart Spencer]. London: Frances Lincoln, 2005.

28 September 2006–3 January 2007Power and Taboo: Sacred objects from the PacificDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 5Free admissionc. 125,000 visitors

14 September 2006–7 January 2007Myths of BengalVoices of Bengal Season at the British MuseumDept of Asia

14 September–12 November 2006Art of peace: Paintings by the poet TagoreVoices of Bengal Season at the British MuseumDept of Asia

12 August–27 September 2006Durga: creating an image of a goddessVoices of Bengal Season at the British MuseumDept of Asia

29 June 2006–7 January 2007French drawings: Clouet to SeuratDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90French drawings: Clouet to Seurat / Perrin Stein; contribution by Martin Royalton-Kisch. London: British Museum, 2005.


5 July–19 August 2007Ikebana: Living Flowers of JapanThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysDept of AsiaRoom 3Free admission

24 May 2007–6 April 2008Inhuman Traffic: The Business of the Slave Trade Room 69aFree admission

3 May–17 June 2007The Caribbean before Columbus: Taíno Icons in the British MuseumPart of the British Museum season on Atlantic Trade & IdentityDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 3Free admission

See previous entry

22 March–13 May 2007La Bouche du Roi: An artwork by Romuald Hazoumé Part of the British Museum season on Atlantic Trade & IdentityRoom 35Free admission

15 March–17 June 2007A New World: England’s first view of America Featured watercolours by John WhiteDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 5Paid admissionA New World: England’s first view of America / Kim Sloan, with contributions by Joyce E. Chaplin, Christian E. Feest and Ute Kuhlemann. London: British Museum Press, 2007.

22 February–10 April 2007The Fabric of a Nation: textiles and identity in modern Ghana To mark the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independencePart of the British Museum season on Atlantic Trade & IdentityDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 3Free admission

8 February–22 July 2007Gods, Guardians and Immortals: Chinese religious paintingsDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission


2008

10 January–5 August 2008Fascination with Nature: Birds, flowers and insects in Chinese art Dept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

16 November 2007–9 March 2008Prints and drawings: recent acquisitions part 2Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

Until 11 November 2007 Prints and drawings: recent acquisitions part 1Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission

8 November 2007–27 January 2008Divine Cat: speaking with the gods in ancient Egypt The Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

20 September–21 October 2007Korean Moon Jar The Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

13 September 2007–6 April 2008The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army British Museum Exhibition Series on Great RulersDept of AsiaReading RoomPaid admission 860,000 visitorsSponsored by Morgan StanleyThe first emperor: China’s terracotta army / ed. Jane Portal with the assistance of Hiromi Kinoshita. London: British Museum Press, 2007.

9 August–2 December 2009Faith, Narrative and Desire: masterpieces of Indian painting in the British MuseumDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

19 July–21 October 2007Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan Dept of AsiaRoom 35Paid admissionCrafting beauty in modern Japan: celebrating fifty years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition / ed. Nicole Rousmaniere. London: British Museum, 2007


11 September–26 October 2008Conservation in focusAn opportunity to watch Museum conservators working on objects from the collectionsThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysDept of Conservation & ScienceRoom 3

24 July–26 October 2008Hadrian: Empire and ConflictBritish Museum Exhibition Series on Great RulersDept of Greece & RomeReading RoomPaid admissionBP Special ExhibitionHadrian: empire and conflict / Thorsten Opper. London: British Museum Press, 2008.

5 June–10 August 2008Reflecting on modern Japan: photobooks from the post-war periodObject in FocusThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

3 May–27 October 2008China Landscape: Kew at the British MuseumWest LawnFreeSponsored by Bank of Beijing

10 April–14 September 2008Icons of Revolution: Mao badges then and nowDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admissionChairman Mao badges: symbols and slogans of the Cultural Revolution / Helen Wang. British Museum Research Publication no. 169, London: Trustees of the British Museum, 2008.

See previous entry10 April –7 September 2008The American Scene: Prints from Hopper to Pollock Dept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission413,000 visitorsSponsored by Terra Foundation for American Art and American AirlinesThe American scene: prints from Hopper to Pollock / Stephen Coppel; with the assistance of Jerzy Kierkuc-Bielinski. London: British Museum Press, 2008.

6 March –5 May 2008Church and Emperor: an Ethiopian CrucifixionThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission


27 November 2008–18 January 2009The Sámi Magic DrumObject in FocusRoom 3The Asahi Shimbun DisplaysFree admission

13 November 2008–15 March 2009Babylon: Myth and RealitySupported by the Blavatnik Family FoundationDept of the Middle EastRoom 35Paid admissionBabylon: myth and reality / ed. I.L. Finkel and M.J. Seymour; with contributions from J.E. Curtis ... [et al.]. London: British Museum Press, 2008.

23 October 2008–13 April 2009Between Tibet and Assam: cultural diversity in the eastern Himalayas Dept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

See previous entry

See previous entry4 October 2008–25 January 2009Statuephilia: contemporary sculptors at the British Museum: Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Ron Mueck, Noble and Webster, Marc QuinnFree admissionSponsored by Linklaters, The Henry Moore Foundation and Channel 4

25 September 2008–25 January 2009British sculptors’ drawings: Moore to Gormley Dept of Prints & Drawings Room 90Free admission

18 September 2008–1 March 2009Designing change: coins of Elizabeth IIDept of coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission


1 May–27 September 2009India landscape: Kew at the British MuseumIndian garden outside the Museum as part of the ‘Indian Summer’ a season of exhibitions and events focussing on IndiaFree admissionSponsored by HSBC

23 March–19 October 2009Safavids revisited

5 March–31 May 2009The Intimate portrait: drawings, miniatures and pastels from Ramsay to Lawrence.Dept of Prints and DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionThe intimate portrait: drawings, miniatures and pastels from Ramsay to Lawrence / Stephen Lloyd and Kim Sloan. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

5 March–5 July 2009The splendour of Isfahan: coins from IranDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

Shah ‘Abbas and the remaking of Iran / Sheila R. Canby. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

19 February–14 June 2009Shah’Abbas: the remaking of IranBritish Museum in association with the Iran Heritage FoundationIn partnership with the National Museum of Iran, and the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts OrganisationBritish Museum Exhibition Series on Great RulersDept of AsiaReading RoomPaid admission

19 February–19 April 2009Takhti: a modern Iranian heroObject in FocusThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3

2009

30 January–27 March 2009Treasures from Shanghai: ancient Chinese bronzes and jadesExhibition co-organized by the British Museum and the Shanghai Museum with the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in the UKDept of AsiaRoom 2Free admissionTreasures from Shanghai: ancient Chinese bronzes and jades / ed. Jessica Rawson. London: British Museum in association with the Shanghai Museum, 2009


13 August–4 October 2009Imagining the forest: a painting on silk from eastern IndiaThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

9 July 2009–21 March 2010Ruin and rebellion: uncovering the past at Tutbury CastleIn association with the Duchy of LancasterDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

25 June–27 September 2009Medals of DishonourDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 90Free admissionMedals of dishonour / Philip Attwood and Felicity Powell. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

28 May 2009–11 October 2009Garden and Cosmos: royal paintings of JodhpurOrganized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, in collaboration with the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, IndiaDept of AsiaRoom 35Paid admissionSponsored by HSBCGarden & cosmos: the royal paintings of Jodhpur / Debra Diamond, Catherine Glynn, and Karni Singh Jasol, with contributions by Jason Freitag and Rahul Jain. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

21 May–12 July 2009Gamelan: music of JavaRoom 3Free admissionThe Asahi Shimbun Displays

14 May–16 August 2009Dazzling the enemy: shields from the PacificDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 91Free admission

1 May 2009–10 January 2011Continuity and change: cultural dynamism in the modern world.Room 2Free admission

1 May 2009–31 January 2010Elsa Peretti: designs for Tiffany & Co.Room 2Free admission


22 February–26 June 2010Jewish Living and GivingRoom 1 / Enlightenment Gallery

12 February–27 June 2010Treasures from Medieval York: England’s other capitalTreasures from the Yorkshire MuseumRoom 2Free admission

11 February–11 April 2010Swimming Reindeer: an Ice Age masterpieceThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admissionThe swimming reindeer / Jill Cook. London: British Museum Press, 2010.

2010

7 January–5 April 2010Warriors of the Plains: 200 years of native North American honour and ritualDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 91Free admission

5 November 2009–3 January 2010Manga: Professor Munakata’s British Museum adventureThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admissionManga: Professor Munakata’s British Museum adventure / Hoshino Yukinobo. London: British Museum Press, 2010.

22 October 2009–5 April 2010Revolution on paper: Mexican prints 1910–1960Dept of Prints & Drawings Room 90Free admissionSupported by The Monument Trust and the Mexico Tourism BoardRevolution on paper: Mexican prints 1910–1960 / Dawn Ades, Alison McClean with contributions by Laura Campbell. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

24 September 2009–24 January 2010Moctezuma: Aztec rulerBritish Museum Exhibition Series on Great RulersDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasReading RoomPaid admissionSponsored by Arcelor Mittal with support from MexicanaMoctezuma: Aztec ruler / ed. Colin McEwan and Leonardo López Lújan. London: British Museum Press, 2009.

10 September–22 November 2009Power of Dogu: ceramic figures from Ancient JapanDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admissionSponsored by Mitsubishi CorporationThe power of Dogū: ceramic figures from ancient Japan / ed. Simon Kaner. London: British Museum Press, 2009.


12 August–10 October 2010Akan drumThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

13 May–11 July 2010Rulership and ritual: Maya relief of royal blood-lettingThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

See previous entry

6 May–5 September 2010The printed image in China from the 8th to the 21st centuriesDept of AsiaRooms 90 and 91Free admissionThe printed image in China from the 8th to the 21st centuries / Clarissa Von Spee. London: British Museum Press, 2010.

29 April–10 October 2010South Africa landscape: Kew at the British MuseumSouth Africa garden outside the British MuseumWest LawnSponsored by Barclays

22 April–25 July 2010Fra Angelico to Leonardo: Italian Renaissance drawingsDept of Prints & DrawingsReading RoomPaid admission The BP Special ExhibitionFra Angelico to Leonardo: Italian Renaissance drawings / Hugo Chapman and Marzia Faietti. London: British Museum Press, 2010.

1 April–6 February 2010Impressions of Africa: money, medals and stampsDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

4 March–6 June 2010Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West AfricaDept of Africa, Oceania & the Americas Room 35Paid admissionSupported by Santander with additional support from A. G. Leventis FoundationKingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa / Henry John Drewal, Enid Schildkrout. London: Long Island City, N.Y.: British Museum Press and Museum for African Art, 2010.


10 February–7 August 2011Eric Gill: public and private artDept of Coins and MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

21 January–11 September 2011Traditional jewellery and dress from the BalkansDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasRoom 2Free admission

2011

21 January–11 September 2011Traditional jewellery and dress from OmanDept of the Middle EastRoom 2Free admissionSupported by BP

15 December 2010–23 February 2011Lasting impressions: seals from the Islamic worldDept of the Middle East

11 November 2010–9 January 2011Agents of the Buddha: 17th century Japanese sculptures of Fugen and MonjuThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission

4 November 2010–6 March 2011Journey through the afterlife: ancient Egyptian Book of the DeadDept of Ancient Egypt & SudanReading RoomPaid admissionThe BP Special ExhibitionAncient Egyptian: book of the dead: journey through the afterlife / ed. John H. Taylor. London: British Museum, 2010

14 October 2010–3 April 2011Images and sacred texts: Buddhism across AsiaDept of AsiaRoom 91Free admission

7 October 2010–25 April 2011Picasso to Julie Mehretu: modern drawings from the British Museum collectionDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admission


23 June–9 October 2011Treasures of Heaven: saints, relics and devotion in medieval EuropeDept of Prehistory & EuropePaid admissionSupported by John StudzinskiTreasures of heaven: saints, relics and devotion in medieval Europe / ed. Martina Bagnoli ... [et al.]. London: British Museum Press, 2010.Finer than gold: saints amd relics in the Middle Ages / James Robinson. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

26 May–11 September 2011Baskets and belonging: indigenous historiesDept of Africa, Oceania & the AmericasFree admissionSupported by Rio TintoBaskets and Belonging: indigenous Australian histories / Lissant Bolton. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

26 May–11 SeptemberOut of Australia: prints and drawings from Sidney Nolan to Rover ThomasDept of Prints & DrawingsFree admissionSupported by Rio TintoOut of Australia: prints and drawings from Sidney Nolan to Rover Thomas / Stephen Coppel. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

12 May–10 July 2011Xu Bing installationThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysDept of AsiaRoom 3

21 April–16 October 2011Australia landscape: Kew at the British MuseumWest LawnFree admissionSupported by Rio Tinto

The Begram hoard: Indian ivories from Afghanistan / St John Simpson. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

3 March–3 July 2011Afghanistan: crossroads of the Ancient World: surviving treasures from the National Museum of AfghanistanIn partnership with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the National Museum of AfghanistanDept of the Middle EastPaid admissionSupported by Bank of America Merill LynchAfghanistan: crossroads of the Ancient World / Fredrick Hiebert and Pierre Cambon. London: British Museum, 2011.

17 February–17 April 2011Silk fortress turbanThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysRoom 3Free admission


2012

26 January–15 April 2012Hajj: journey to the heart of IslamDept of the Middle EastPaid admissionHSBC Amanah has supported the exhibition’s international reach outside the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaHajj: journey to the heart of Islam / ed. Venetia Porter. London: British Museum Press, 2012.The Art of Hajj / Venetia Porter. London: British Museum Press, 2012.

6 October 2011–19 February 2012Grayson Perry: the tomb of the unknown craftsmanPaid admissionSupported by Alix Partners with Louis VuittonGrayson Perry: the tomb of the unknown craftsman / Grayson Perry. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

29 September 2011–9 April 2012Manga at the British Museum: drawings by Hoshino YukinobuDept of AsiaRoom 91 lobbyFree admission

29 September 2011–9 April 2012German Romantic printsDept of Prints & DrawingsRoom 90Free admissionGerman Romantic prints / ed. Giulia Bartrum. London: British Museum Press, 2011.

19 September 2011–9 September 2012Mine to medals: the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic GamesRoom 37Free admissionSupported by Rio Tinto

11 August–9 October 2011Crocodile Dance MaskThe Asahi Shimbun DisplaysDept of Africa, Oceania & the Americas

11 August 2011–15 April 2012The cost of living in Roman and Modern BritainDept of Coins & MedalsRoom 69aFree admission

4 July–9 January 2012Modern Syrian art at the British MuseumDept of Middle EastFree admission


3 February–6 May 2012Sacred SouvenirDept of Prehistory & Europe

19 July–25 November 2012Shakespeare: staging the worldDept of Prehistory & EuropeThe BP ExhibitionShakespeare: staging the world / Jonathan Bate and Dora Thornton. London: British Museum Press, 2012.Shakespeare’s Britain / Jonathan Bate and Dora Thornton with Rebecca Allen. London: British Museum Press, 2012.Angels and Ducats: Shakespeare’s money and medals / Barrie Cook. London: British Museum Press, 2012.

10 May–25 November 2012North American landscape: Kew at the British MuseumWest LawnFree admissionSupported by the American Express Foundation

Temporary exhibitions at the British Museum 1838–2012

Art & Photos

Transcript of Temporary exhibitions at the British Museum 1838–2012