African
British Museum
The majority of objects from the continent of Africa are held by the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (AOA), the Department of Ancient Egypt and the Sudan (AES) and the Department of Coins and Medals (C&M). The collections comprises over 200,000 objects and encompasses both archeological and contemporary material, which includes both unique masterpieces of artistry and objects of everyday life. Highlights of the collection include a magnificent brass head of a Yoruba ruler from Ife, Nigeria; Asante goldwork from Ghana and the Torday collection of Central African sculpture, textiles and weaponry. Coins, medals and paper money from Africa are held by the Department of Coins and Medals (C&M), from early colonial currencies to coins and banknotes from independent African nations. Galleries The Sainsbury African Galleries (Room 25) provides a substantial and permanent exhibition space for one of the finest collections of African art and artefacts in the world.Money Gallery (Room 68)
Other collections at this venue:
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Lesbian and Gay
The Warren Cup, a first century AD silver goblet showing… -
Religious Group: Jewish
Limeston ossuary - 1st c. BC - 1st c. ADThe… -
Religious Group: Islam
Much of the British Museum's Islamic collection is on display… -
Oceania: New Zealander
A whale tooth pendantThe British Museum's Maori collection consists of… -
Oceania
Victor Jupurrulaross bush potato dreaming 1987ADThe Oceanic section of the… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Turks
Winged bull with human torso and head. Surartian 700BCThe Department… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Turkish Cypriots
Red polished Ware bowl, 2300 -2100 BCThe Museum's Department of… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Spanish
Goya's painting of WellingtonThe Department of Prehistory and Europe (P&E)… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Italian
Roman marble bust of girlThe Department of Greek and Roman… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Irish
St Conall Cael's bell - 7th - 11thc.The Department of… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Greeks
Marble frieze showing horse and groom 450BC LykiaThe Department of… -
North, West & Southern Europe: Greek Cypriot
Gold diadem with embossed decoration 1400 - 1200BCThe Museum's Department… -
North, West & Southern Europe: German
Iron axehead inlaid with silver 7thc ADThe Department of Prehistory… -
North, West & Southern Europe: French
Antoine Watteau Five studies of seated woman seen from behindThe… -
North America
Horse armour, pre-1825The Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas… -
Near & Middle East: Kurdish
There are only a very few Kurdish items documented in… -
Near & Middle East: Iranian
A ceramic bowl with aramaic magic inscription, 6thc. ADThe Department… -
Near & Middle East: Afghani
Bimran reliquary relic containerCoins, medals and paper money from Afghanistan… -
Near & Middle East
Assyrian lion's head from Nimrud 900 - 700BCThe Department of… -
Central & South America
Double spout vessel with Humming Birds.Peruvian, 220BC - 600AD The… -
Caribbean
Wooden figureThe Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (AOA)… -
Asian: Vietnamese
Ngyuen De - 1960 - irrigation of paddy fieldsThe Department… -
Asian: Sri Lankan
The Museum’s Department of Asia holds the Museum’s collection of… -
Asian: Pakistani
Ringstone with goddessesThe Museum’s Department of Asia holds the Museum’s… -
Asian: Japanese
There are around 1,500 Japanese objects in the ethnographic colelctions… -
Asian: Indian
Limestone panel depicting BuddhapadaThe Museum’s Department of Asia holds the… -
Asian: Filipino
Wooden figureThe Museum’s collection of around 170 objects from the… -
Asian: Chinese
Neolitihic coiled jade dragonThe Museum’s Department of Asia holds the… -
Asian: Bangladeshi
20thC painted rickshawThe British Museum does not hold a large… -
Asian
Ringstone with goddesses from 3rdc. BC PakistanThe Department of Asia… -
African: Zimbabwean
Carved wooden Shona headrestThe Department of Africa, Oceania and the… -
African: Ugandan
Burnished pots - late 19th - early 20thc.The Department of… -
African: Sudanese
Sphinx of TaharqoThe Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan (AES)… -
African: South African
1983, Badge of the anti-apartheid movementThe Department of Africa, Oceania… -
African: Somali
The department of Africa, Oceania and the America holds the… -
African: Nigerian
Yoruba Bronze head with beaded crown and plumeThe Department of… -
African: Moroccan
Late 20thc pottery plateThe Department of Africa, Oceania and the… -
African: Kenyan
Wooden shield for dancing, 19thc KikuyulateThe Department of Africa, Oceania… -
African: Ghanaian
Early 19thc Asante gold workThe department of Africa, Oceania and… -
African: Ethiopian
A 19th century picture of a religious procession by an… -
African: Eritrean
Basalt tombstone, 1188ADThe Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas… -
African: Egyptian
Cotton Dress with Embroidery, made by the Berber people. 20th… -
African: Congolese
Wooden carving of King, late 18th centuryThe Department of Africa,… -
African: Algerian
Silk and cotton textile from 19th century AlgeriaThe Department of… -
British Museum - collection overview
Indian Summer - temporary garden at the British MuseumThe British…