Explore / Galleries
Enlightenment (Room 1)
Discovering the world in the 18th century
eye–opener gallery tour / Free / Daily, 12.30 (for 30–40 minutes)
Enlightenment Spotlight tour / Free / Fridays 18.30 and 19.00 (20 minutes)
Rosetta Stone Spotlight tour / Free / Fridays 17.00 and 17.30 (20 minutes)
Room 1 will be shut to the public 9 – 23 January 2012
The Enlightenment was an age of reason and learning that flourished across Europe and America from about 1680 to 1820. This rich and diverse permanent exhibition uses thousands of objects to demonstrate how people in Britain understood their world during this period. It is housed in the King’s Library, the former home of the library of King George III.
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The Piranesi Vase, 18th century
More information about this objectThe Piranesi Vase, 18th century
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Bronze container for cosmetic items, Charles Townley's cista mystica 3rd century BC
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More information about religion and ritualBronze container for cosmetic items; Charles Townley's cista mystica 3rd century BC
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Replica of a Maori hand club AD 1772
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More information about trade and discoveryReplica of a Maori hand club AD 1772
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Pointed flint handaxe, Gray's Inn Hand Axe, about 350,000 years old
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More information about the birth of archaeologyPointed flint handaxe, Gray's Inn Hand Axe, about 350,000 years old
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Bronze figure of Jupiter 2nd century AD
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More information about art and civilisationBronze figure of Jupiter 2nd century AD
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Medals of the kings and queens of England by Jean Dassier AD 1731
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More information about classifying the worldMedals of the kings and queens of England by Jean Dassier AD 1731
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The Fenton Vase AD 600-800
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More information about ancient scriptsThe Fenton Vase AD 600-800
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Hans Sloane, Natural History of Jamaica, a book AD 1707 and 1725
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More information about the natural worldHans Sloane, Natural History of Jamaica, a book AD 1707 and 1725
More information about the King's Library
MA course in 18th century studies with King's College London
Accessing Enlightenment: a study guide
(pdf 2mb)
Objects on display reveal the way in which collectors, antiquaries and travellers during this great age of discovery viewed and classified objects from the world around them.
The displays provide an introduction to the Museum and its collections, showing how our understanding of the world of nature and human achievement has changed over time.
The Enlightenment Gallery is divided into seven sections that explore the seven major new disciplines of the age: Religion and ritual, Trade and discovery, the birth of archaeology, Art history, Classification, the decipherment of ancient scripts and Natural history. It was opened in 2003 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the British Museum.
Themes in the Enlightenment Gallery
The gallery has seven sections exploring the seven major new disciplines of the age:
Religion and ritual
Trade and discovery
The birth of archaeology
Art and civilisation
Classifying the world
Ancient scripts
The natural world
