Table of Contents

1. Forward, Introduction; 2. Treasure; 3. Civilisations rediscovered; 4. Sculpture; 5. Aspects of the Divine; 6. To the ends of the earth; 7. Temples and Tombs; 8. Pottery and Porcelain; 9. The Art of the Craftsman; 10. Art, Artists, and Art Collectors; 11. The Collecting Passion; 12. The Story of the British Museum.

Promotional Information

This timely new edition brings the story up to date, with chapters on important acquisitions made by the Museum in the last fifteen years, including the Warren Cup and the 'Queen of the Night'. A beautiful redesign incorporating full colour photography throughout gives this classic volume a fresh new look.

About the Author

Marjorie Caygill has published numerous books and articles about the history of the British Museum and the collections. These include The Story of the British Museum, The British Museum Reading Room and The British Museum: 250 Years.

Reviews

While these books are similar in scope, each is unique. Treasures of the British Museum captures the diversity and international flavor of the world's greatest museum. Focusing on eight broad areas of the collection, Caygill shares historical background and anecdotal stories about many key items, from the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles to the flower mosaics of Mary Delany. Richly illustrated by Lee Boltin, Treasures offers but a glimpse into this ever-growing, fascinating collection. Treasures of the Hood Museum of Art , on the other hand, commemorates the opening of the new facility on the Dartmouth College campus and records the evolution of that collection from its beginnings in 1773 to the present. Honoring a more recent tradition in the collection of quality art works than the British Museum, the Hood Museum has much to be proud of, from Assyrian bas-relief panels to murals by Orozco. Also featured are architect Charles Moore's plans of the facility, as well as illustrations of 150 masterworks from the collection and corresponding descriptive data. From the known greatness of the British Museum to the unsung greatness of the Hood Museum, both Treasures share insights into important collections, and both are recommended. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City