Olympics, a New Edition, and News from the British Museum

The Olympics have finally arrived in London! While we celebrate the world coming to London for the 2012 Olympics, why not also discover London as a world city four hundred years ago, captured through Shakespeare’s plays. Discover this in our major exhibition Shakespeare: staging the world. Plus, it’s the perfect time to be inspired by the free collection. From a free trail on the ancient Games that inspired the modern Olympics, to a display of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals. Plus don’t forget the many free exhibitions and displays you can enjoy this summer – everything from Picasso prints to the horse. Race you to the Museum! Shakespeare exhibition now open The BP exhibition Shakespeare: staging the world Until 25 November 2012 Book now › Watch the exhibition trailer › This major exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Discover the world of William Shakespeare and the emerging role of London as a global city through objects and contemporary performance. How has Shakespeare spoken to you? Share your brush with the Bard and tell us your tale by visiting Shakespeare in my world › £14, Members and under 16s free Supported by BP. Part of the World Shakespeare Festival and London 2012 Festival. What’s on for the Olympics Winning at the ancient Games › Until 9 September 2012 Follow the trail to learn about the ancient Olympic Games. Sui Jianguo’s discus thrower › Until 9 September 2012 The Asahi Shimbun Displays The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games medals › Until 9 September 2012 Supported by Rio Tinto All Olympic activity › Free exhibitions and displays Gold medal of Elizabeth I by Nicholas Hilliard. England, c. 1580–1590. Picasso Prints: The Vollard Suite › Until 2 September 2012 Modern Chinese ink paintings › Until 2 September 2012 The horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot › Until 30 September 2012 Supported by the Board of Trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, the Layan Cultural Foundation and Juddmonte Farms. In association with the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities. North American Landscape: Kew at the British Museum › Until 25 November 2012 Supported by the American Express Foundation Crowns and ducats: Shakespeare’s money and medals › Until 25 November 2012 All exhibitions and displays › The Royal Gold Cup. Paris, France, about AD 1370–1380. Explore Going for gold... Or will it be silver or bronze? Gold: the Royal Gold Cup › Gold has always been highly valued across the world. This late medieval cup is made of solid gold and has had an interesting history. It is lavishly decorated with translucent enamels. The scenes shown on it relate to the life and miracles of St Agnes. Silver: a silver tigress from the Hoxne Hoard › Silver has the chemical symbol Ag, which comes from the Latin name for the metal – argentum. This tigress is part of the Hoxne Hoard, the largest hoard of late Roman silver and gold discovered in Britain. A metal detectorist found it in Suffolk in 1992. Bronze: a bronze shield from the River Thames › Before iron was first made, bronze was the most commonly used metal – hence the Bronze Age. Sheet metal shields such as this were not very functional as they would have become disfigured if used in real combat. It is therefore likely that this shield is parade armour, designed to be worn for display by important warriors. Discover more gold objects in the collection › Shopping Olympic Games range A wonderful selection of Olympic souvenirs. To celebrate the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Games, discover a fascinating range of books and souvenirs related to the original ancient Greek Olympic Games where it all began. Every purchase supports the Museum – shop now › Also on in London David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery Kew Gardens, until 14 April 2013 Don’t miss David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery, a major exhibition from a celebrated British artist. Be inspired by sculptures, drawings and films in the majestic surroundings of Kew Gardens, its glasshouses and gallery spaces. The Olympics have finally arrived in London! While we celebrate the world coming to London for the 2012 Olympics, why not also discover London as a world city four hundred years ago, captured through Shakespeare’s plays. Discover this in our major exhibition Shakespeare: staging the world. Plus, it’s the perfect time to be inspired by the free collection. From a free trail on the ancient Games that inspired the modern Olympics, to a display of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals. Plus don’t forget the many free exhibitions and displays you can enjoy this summer – everything from Picasso prints to the horse. Race you to the Museum! Shakespeare exhibition now open The BP exhibition Shakespeare: staging the world Until 25 November 2012 Book now › Watch the exhibition trailer › This major exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Discover the world of William Shakespeare and the emerging role of London as a global city through objects and contemporary performance. How has Shakespeare spoken to you? Share your brush with the Bard and tell us your tale by visiting Shakespeare in my world › £14, Members and under 16s free Supported by BP. Part of the World Shakespeare Festival and London 2012 Festival. What’s on for the Olympics Winning at the ancient Games › Until 9 September 2012 Follow the trail to learn about the ancient Olympic Games. Sui Jianguo’s discus thrower › Until 9 September 2012 The Asahi Shimbun Displays The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games medals › Until 9 September 2012 Supported by Rio Tinto All Olympic activity › Free exhibitions and displays Gold medal of Elizabeth I by Nicholas Hilliard. England, c. 1580–1590. Picasso Prints: The Vollard Suite › Until 2 September 2012 Modern Chinese ink paintings › Until 2 September 2012 The horse: from Arabia to Royal Ascot › Until 30 September 2012 Supported by the Board of Trustees of the Saudi Equestrian Fund, the Layan Cultural Foundation and Juddmonte Farms. In association with the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities. North American Landscape: Kew at the British Museum › Until 25 November 2012 Supported by the American Express Foundation Crowns and ducats: Shakespeare’s money and medals › Until 25 November 2012 All exhibitions and displays › The Royal Gold Cup. Paris, France, about AD 1370–1380. Explore Going for gold... Or will it be silver or bronze? Gold: the Royal Gold Cup › Gold has always been highly valued across the world. This late medieval cup is made of solid gold and has had an interesting history. It is lavishly decorated with translucent enamels. The scenes shown on it relate to the life and miracles of St Agnes. Silver: a silver tigress from the Hoxne Hoard › Silver has the chemical symbol Ag, which comes from the Latin name for the metal – argentum. This tigress is part of the Hoxne Hoard, the largest hoard of late Roman silver and gold discovered in Britain. A metal detectorist found it in Suffolk in 1992. Bronze: a bronze shield from the River Thames › Before iron was first made, bronze was the most commonly used metal – hence the Bronze Age. Sheet metal shields such as this were not very functional as they would have become disfigured if used in real combat. It is therefore likely that this shield is parade armour, designed to be worn for display by important warriors. Discover more gold objects in the collection › Shopping Olympic Games range A wonderful selection of Olympic souvenirs. To celebrate the arrival of the London 2012 Olympic Games, discover a fascinating range of books and souvenirs related to the original ancient Greek Olympic Games where it all began. Every purchase supports the Museum – shop now › Also on in London David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery Kew Gardens, until 14 April 2013 Don’t miss David Nash at Kew: A Natural Gallery, a major exhibition from a celebrated British artist. Be inspired by sculptures, drawings and films in the majestic surroundings of Kew Gardens, its glasshouses and gallery spaces. There is also an exhibit for Shakespeare on. Oh, to be in England! I'd never leave!!! We were very lucky to be able to add a late Tete Jumeau to the Museum. She is lovely and in very good condition. We also added a 12 in "Mabel" head dressed as a little boy in knickers, cap, and button down shoes. We found in timely fashion one of the Franklin mint dolls dressed as QE II, Royal order of the Garter, and an Innuit doll, very nice, from Alaska with a porcelain face. At the same sale, for a mere fifty cents, we found one of the B. Ravca clothespin dolls. Emma cat has decided she is also a doll collector; she routinely plays and slepps with about six Mousie dolls, a clown, a catnip rabbit, and a catnip lush rocket. Some of these squeak and light up, and she enjoys embracing them while asleep on her pink and green plush baby blanket. Some cats have all the luck!