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The British Museum 1753-2003
One of the world's greatest museums, The British Museum was founded by Act of Parliament in 1753 as a new kind of institution 'for the Inspection and Entertainment of the learned and the curious, [and] the general use and benefit of the Public'. Exactly 250 years on, the museum continues to make world cultures accessible in the heart of London, and welcome millions of visitors a year. With tens of thousands of objects displayed in around 100 galleries, its collection is a phenomenal showcase of rare art and antiquities from the greatest civilizations.
The Artefacts on the Stamps
The painted wooden coffin of Denytenamun (height: 188cm) is from Thebes. It is decorated with many allusions to rebirth through the sun-god and Osiris, ruler of the Underworld. Denytenamun was an incense-bearer of the temple of Amun.
Unlike all previous portraits of Greek rulers, the marble sculpture of Alexander the Great (height: 37cm) depicts him as clean shaven. He was deified in his own lifetime, and after his death he was worshipped as a god in images such as this.
The Sutton Hoo helmet (height: 32cm), excavated from the ship burial in Suffolk, is one of only four Anglo-Saxon helmets found in Britain. The helmet was fashioned from iron with panels of tinned bronze.
The bronze sculpture of Parvati (height: 59cm) is an example of what in India is known as an 'utsavamurti' or festival image. During festivals they are taken from the temple and paraded through the streets, covered in jewellery, flowers and textiles. The goddess Parvati is the consort of the god Shiva.
A stylized butterfly outlined across the cheeks of this turquoise mosaic mask (height: 17cm) is an identifying emblem of Xiuhtecuhtli, the Central Mexican Fire God. This and similar mosaic masterpieces were fashioned by Mixtec craftsmen for the Aztec Royal Court and used as ritual regalia before the Spanish Conquest.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is famous for its stone statues of human figures probably carved to commemorate important ancestors. Hoa Hakananai'a (height: 242cm) is unusual in also having designs carved on the back relating to a later birdman cult.
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