LONDON - In August 2023, the announcement that around 2000 objects from the Museum’s collection were missing, stolen or damaged – the majority of which were classical gems and items of gold jewellery – sparked a renewed public interest in these objects.

Today the British Museum reveals a new display that will explore the significance of classical gems and the impression they have left throughout history. Seen as a window onto the ancient Mediterranean world, they were used as seals, worn as jewellery or collected as objects of beauty in their own right.

Highly coveted by royalty, aristocrats, artists, and antiquarians, Rediscovering gems will look at these incredibly small but highly coveted masterpieces, whose designs reflect, and serve as a record of, the personal tastes and aesthetic preferences seen throughout history.

Gems were hugely popular during the 18th century in Europe and visitors to Rediscovering gems will be able to see them displayed in a typical gem cabinet reflective of the period alongside other collector’s equipment, such as a magnifying glass, cast impressions and drawings.

Stolen and recovered items

Last year the Museum announced the discovery of thefts from the collection, and a recovery programme was immediately launched. Thanks to the hard work of the recovery team, and the cooperation of the dealers and members of the public, hundreds of items have been returned. A selection of the recovered gems will be on display for the first time in this showcase. This includes two Roman glass gems from the late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD: an intaglio which features a profile bust of Minerva and a cameo with a bust of Cupid.

The British Museum is committed to recovering all the stolen items and to preventing thefts from happening again. A dedicated team within the Museum is working with the Metropolitan Police Service and with an international group of experts in gems, collection history and art loss recovery, to locate and return the remaining missing items.

George Osborne, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: ‘We promised we’d show the world the gems that were stolen and recovered - rather than hide them away. It’s another example of culture change underway at the British Museum, as we open up and take ownership of our own story.’

Tom Harrison, Keeper of the Department of Greece and Rome, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to put on this exhibition and showcase some of the stunning recovered gems which are now safely back in the Museum’s collection. It’s also an interesting opportunity to cast some light on an underappreciated and very beautiful art form. A huge thanks goes out to all those who have lent support and helped us in the recovery programme.'

Rediscovering gems will be on display for free in Room 3 from 15 February – 15 June 2024

So-called 'Blacas cameo': sardonyx cameo, engrav ed with a portrait of Augustus wearing a headband embellished with small cameos and precious stones, likely a medieval addition. Roman, AD 14–20. Collection Duc de Blacas d'Aulps. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Fragment of a banded onyx cameo on a modern gold mount, Roman, 1st century BC–1st century AD. Set in an 18th century gold ring by Charles Townley. Collection Charles Townley. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

 Onyx cameo depicting a nude woman (perhaps Venus) before the statue of Priapus. Roman, 1st century AD. Collection Charles Townley. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Modern fake intaglio with Venus on two sea horses, 18th–19th century. Collection Felix Slade. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass cameo with a Nereid riding a sea horse (hippocampus), Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass cameo with the Three Graces Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Renaissance cameo depicting Hellenistic rulers of Egypt, set in a Renaissance enamelled mount. Late 16th-early 17th century. Collection Duc de Blacas d'Aulps. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass intaglio (waster) with Jupiter as an eagle abducting Ganymede Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Intaglio with profile bust of Minerva or Athena in black glass with white band, Roman 1st c. BC-1st c. AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass intaglio with Bacchus standing, leaning on Silenus Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass intaglio with mask of Silenus Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass intaglio with profile to left of head of Roman beardless youth (Octavian?) Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass cameo with a seated Hermaphroditus Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass cameo with a lying dog Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Ancient glass intaglio (waster) with profile bust of helmeted Minerva Roman, late 1st century BC–1st century AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Glass cameo with bust of Cupid or Eros in three quarter view, in three layers brown on white on purple glass. Roman, 1st or 2nd c. AD. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Modern glass cameo with bust of a bearded man in profile 18th–19th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum.