Location
WC1B 3DG
Dates
This exhibition runs from Thu, 15th Feb 2024 to Sat, 15th Jun 2024.
Forthcoming dates:
Cost: Free of Charge
Description
Gems were the picture book of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Depicting deities, famous individuals, animals, objects, and scenes from myth or daily life, these small artworks have made a significant impression throughout history.
Classical gems have been highly prized by collectors from the Renaissance onwards, but never more so than in 18th-century Europe. Collected by royalty, aristocrats, artists and antiquarians, such as Charles Townley (1737–1805), their designs reflect – and serve as a record of – personal tastes and aesthetic preferences. Yet, their popularity meant they were widely reproduced and faked – and distinguishing between the two is still contentious.
Used as seals, worn as jewellery, or collected as objects of beauty in their own right, these miniature designs required phenomenal skill to carve and became sought-after luxury objects and status symbols. With a typical 18th-century gem cabinet, housing gems and impressions, as well as a collector's magnifying glass and drawings, this display captures the fascination that gems have inspired over the centuries. Michelangelo (1475–1564) is even thought to have based the figure of Adam in the Sistine chapel on a Roman cameo of Octavian on a hippocampus.
Some of these remarkable objects have had a more difficult recent history.
In August 2023 the Museum announced that a number of items from the collection had been stolen, were missing or damaged. It became apparent that the collection of engraved gems was among those to have been targeted. The British Museum is committed to recovering all the stolen items and to preventing thefts from happening again. Hundreds have already been recovered, and ten of these can be seen as part of this display.
Contact and Booking Details
More information at this website.
No need to book tickets - just turn up on the day.
Disclaimer
The information and prices in this listing are presumed to be correct at the time of publishing, but please always check with the venue before making a special trip.
All images are supplied by the exhibition organiser.
This exhibition runs from Thu, 15th Feb 2024 to Sat, 15th Jun 2024
This event runs over several days/weeks. Dates include:
May 2024
- Thu, 16th May 2024
Closed - Fri, 17th May 2024
(10:00am - 8:30pm) - Sat, 18th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Sun, 19th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Mon, 20th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Tue, 21st May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Wed, 22nd May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Thu, 23rd May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Fri, 24th May 2024
(10:00am - 8:30pm) - Sat, 25th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Sun, 26th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Mon, 27th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Tue, 28th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Wed, 29th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Thu, 30th May 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Fri, 31st May 2024
(10:00am - 8:30pm)
June 2024
- Sat, 1st Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Sun, 2nd Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Mon, 3rd Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Tue, 4th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Wed, 5th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Thu, 6th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Fri, 7th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 8:30pm) - Sat, 8th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Sun, 9th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Mon, 10th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Tue, 11th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Wed, 12th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Thu, 13th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm) - Fri, 14th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 8:30pm) - Sat, 15th Jun 2024
(10:00am - 5:00pm)