Ten Essential Objects to See at the British Museum

Ten Essential Objects to See at the British Museum

The British Museum, the world’s first free-to-the-public national museum, opened its doors in 1759. Founded in 1753 by an act of Parliament, after the physician and collector Hans Sloane bequeathed his collection to the nation, the museum immediately had a base of 71,000 items to oversee.

From its beginnings as Sloane’s “cabinet of curiosities,” the British Museum has grown in size, scope, and reputation over the past 266 years. Xerxes Mazda, the recently appointed director of collections, is now steward of some eight million objects. Here are ten that shouldn’t be missed on your visit.

The post “Ten Essential Objects to See at the British Museum” by Anne Doran was published on 07/02/2025 by www.artnews.com