This figure was made in the Liao dynasty, following the sculptural traditions developed in the Tang dynasty (AD 618-906). It was found with seven others, in a cave in Yi county, Hebei province, northern China. All but one are now in Western museums.
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The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks.
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One of the largest pieces of Egyptian sculpture in the British Museum, this statue shows Ramesses II, who succeeded his father Sethos I in around 1279 BC and ruled Egypt for 67 years.
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A valuable key to the decipherment of hieroglyphs, the inscription on the Rosetta Stone is a decree passed by a council of priests.
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Created for the British Museum's Multimedia Guide
sponsored by Korean Air
Frank Barnes Primary School students describe some of the key objects in the Museum.
