The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20240708050649/https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection
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Get closer to the British Museum collection and immerse yourself in two million years of history, across six continents.
Collection online allows access to almost four and a half million objects in more than two million records. High definition images can be enlarged and examined in detail which will enable you to view the incredible workmanship on the Royal Game of Ur , or the intricate carving on this African hunting horn – just a few of the thousands of highlights to discover.
Enjoy exploring the collection – from some of the earliest objects created by humankind to works by contemporary artists. Or choose from the curated collections below, which reveal the fascinating stories that transcend time.
Collection highlights
Inner coffin of Hornedjitef
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Inner coffin of Hornedjitef
Brass head of an Ooni (king) of Ife
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Brass head of an Ooni (king) of Ife
Goddess Tara
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Raphael cartoon for 'Virgin and Child'
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Raphael cartoon for 'Virgin and Child'
Lewis Chessmen
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Shield from West Papua
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Ancient Greek black-figured amphora (wine jar)
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Ancient Greek black-figured amphora (wine jar)
The Lycurgus Cup
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Collection themes
The Americas encapsulate the remarkable narratives of cultural achievement and human experience across two continents.
Explore the many wild and wonderful depictions of animals found in the Museum's collection.
China is one of the world's oldest civilisations and home to a quarter of the world's population.
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Discover the many tales of death and memory from the Museum.
Love and desire is a theme found across the Museum's collection.
Delve into the Museum's stories from Africa.
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Some of the British Museum's best-known Collection items come from Egypt each with their own unique story.
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