This page is for requesting photos for things in the British Museum (see the project page GLAM/BM). If you find an image that can be made available with a suitable licence on Commons, please add a link and mark the request as {{done}}.
Note that the British Museum welcomes the public to make personal and some limited publication use of professional images from their on-line database. At the current time none of these images is available for free commercial use and so cannot be released on Wikipedia or Commons. Please contact User:Witty lama for more details on the current situation. If you spot an image on Commons that you believe is one of the professional BM photos, please do not hesitate to use the reporting tools in Commons to request a deletion review or ask for advice at Wikipedia talk:GLAM/BM.
Further guidance on taking photographs (where permitted) in museums, advice on behaviour and some of the issues with licensing is available at Museum photography.
Image of this famous mummy-board in room 62 needed to illustrate the article. Fæ (talk) 17:08, 11 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Myself and Liam went searching for this, but weren't able to locate it. Do you know its location more precisely? (a display case number would be ideal). Mike Peel (talk) 08:26, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Spooky, sounds like the rumours of a curse might be true. According to 22542 / Registration:1889,0731.1 this is supposed to be Room 62 Case 21. It is 1.6m tall, so should be unmissable. Fæ (talk) 08:49, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I too looked for and couldn't find any mummy in Room 62 labelled as "unlucky". This highlights the importance of providing registration numbers with all image requests. BabelStone (talk) 09:01, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
There are quite a few details in the linked article. It may still be labelled in the original format as AE 22542 and Wallis Budge described the mummy board as a priestess of Amen-Ra, this just might be how it is still described even if it was speculative. Fæ (talk) 09:09, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
It certainly is unlucky -- I found AE 22542 today (labelled as priestess of Amen-Ra but no mention of "unlucky") and took a couple of photos of it, but it is not the object shown in the BM database. BabelStone (talk) 22:53, 21 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Weird, sounds like a two-pipe problem. I think Ginger is missing too. Looked on two different occasions, no notice, no body. Maybe he's being cleaned. Fæ (talk) 22:58, 21 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The article for the Sweet Track has a photo of the site, but doesn't show anything of the track. A photo of the section in the BM would be helpful for people to understand the structure, or of the reconstruction at the Peat Moors Centre. Failing that some sort of line diagram showing the crossed poles and planking would help.— Rodtalk 17:42, 11 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Unfortunately this is not on display and it is in storage, disassembled. Not possible I'm afraid. WittyLama 22:46, 17 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Outside of BM, Europe in the Neolithic: the creation of new worlds includes photographs of the track attributed to the "Somerset Levels Project." ᛭ LokiClock (talk) 03:21, 14 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks - is that a source we can access to ask them to share? I sent an email to the copyright holder of the image at Megalithic Portal:Sweet Track but I've not heard anything back.06:49, 14 July 2010 (UTC)
It would be good to have a photo of the three-headed representation of Geryon, as this is illustrated in Willibald Kirfel's Die dreikopfige Gottheit. Archaologisch-ethnologischer Streifzug durch die Ikonographie der Religionen (1948) and reproduced in Asger Jorn's Signes gravés sur les églises de l'Eure et du Calvados.Harrypotter (talk) 19:20, 13 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
We don't currently have an image of Mago II of Carthage, or quite a few other past heads of state. For many of these people there will be coins in the coin dept with images of those individuals. Photos of coins depicting those rulers would be greatly appreciated. ϢereSpielChequers 11:15, 14 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I get no coin matches for Mago in the collection online. Is there another way of referencing these? Fæ (talk) 08:06, 25 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Bi (jade) — object 90, Asia collection - Room 33[edit]
The jade bi in the Asia collection 1937,0416.140 (not clear which room it is on display in) featured in the 100 object series (BBC feature) has no photograph available (there are many other bi's on commons but not this one with a poem inscribed). The radio programme is in September and the photo could be a welcome addition to the bi (jade) article. Fæ (talk) 22:29, 17 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I went looking for this around room 33 but it is not currently on display. Nobody seems to have a photo of it on Flickr either. Fæ (talk) 07:47, 18 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Seems, like the vast majority of their tablets, not to be on display, in which case a photo will not normally possible. Johnbod (talk) 13:47, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
:-( So we must ask the BM staff... In 2006, we asked [http://www.math.ubc.ca/~cass/euclid/ybc/ybc.htmlBill Casselman for a fr:YBC 7289 free picture. He uploaded a low resolution, black and white picture to commons. Is there anybody (that is to say: someone who speaks english better than I do) to ask the BM staff themselves? --El Caro (talk) 14:17, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Their current policy is not to release images to a commons-type license - see the main talk page for GLAM/BM. I'd go with the book below. Johnbod (talk) 15:42, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I note that this source "F. Thureau-Dangin in Revue d'Assyriologie 33 (1936), 27-48" is out of copyright and was the first publication about this tablet. Perhaps someone could scan any plates therein? Fæ (talk) 14:32, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your advises but, are you sure that the copy by Thureau-Dangin (I think it's a hand-made drawing, not a photograph) is out of copyright? François Thureau-Dangin died in 1944. --El Caro (talk) 16:26, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If you think that someone will prove the author was alive in 1944, then perhaps someone will come back in 2014 and make images of the paper available on commons. Fæ (talk) 16:52, 20 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Just checked, this object is not on display. WittyLama 09:57, 25 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
OK. Thanks. Is there any mathematical tablet on display? For instance, a photo of BM 15285 would be great. According to this document, it is. --El Caro (talk) 13:02, 25 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
If possible any pic of Red Polished Ware would be appreciated, in particular those which show a transition from red and black ware or any example of a vertical cut-away spout such as those found on Cyprus, in the Levant or in Antolia (Tarsus, Tory etc) as per Dikaios, Gordon or subsequent at Cilicia (Çukurova), Ugarit or Kisonerga (aka. Kissonerga)
They would be in rooms 51, 54 or 57-59 (I believe) particularly RPW [1] , [2], [3] and possibly from the Wendorf collection [4]
Also it seems that the pic galleries on the individual rooms pages such as [5] do not work in Firefox - the first image is displayed when the page loads, but clicking on the numbers or > arrow just show a loading synbol which stays there :¬(
You may also find commons:Category:Ancient Greek pottery from Cyprus useful as there is some RPW there. The BM site works in Firefox on my Macmini, you may need to run a plug-in update check or test the site with a different browser. Fæ (talk) 12:40, 21 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for that - I had a look but some of them are a little out of focus [6] and [7] which would be great if they could be redone
I will use some of the others that you pointed out to me for now until hopefully more can be found or taken :¬)
I have sharpened File:Cypriotic red polished pyxis in Vienna 2.JPG (you may need to refresh the page to see the change) but the other was so blurred that sharpening seemed to overly distort the image. The sharpened version is probably okay at a smallish size. Fæ (talk) 13:06, 21 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Could you please provide a picture of the red figure hydra by the Troilos painter of Troilos and Polyxena fleeing. It is here mentioned as London 99.7-21.4 and here as 1899.7-21.4. The latter includes a thumbnail picture.
Thanks.--Peter cohen (talk) 22:22, 24 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
FYI the BM record is: 1899,0721.4 . It should be in Room 20 (G20A/22). Fæ (talk) 22:30, 24 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Fæ. Actually, now that you've linked the BM database, I see that there are 30 images of Troilus recorded there and some others may be useful. Specifically I'm thinking of
ancient depictions in media other than pottery. Any of
1923,0401.1059 glass cameo of T watering horses
1923,0401.1058 glass cameo of T drinking with horses
1928,0117.8 terracotta funerary urn located G71/16. It is the body of the urn not the figure on the lid that is of interest
1851,0416.10 (part of 1851,0416.15) marble cinerary urn. Again its the body not the lid that is of interest
1873,0820.108 bronze mirror located at G71/28. Obviously it is the depicted scene I am interested in.
Of the ancient pottery:
1899,0721.4 the original request above.
the main image on the body of 1837,0609.69 at G69/12 would be our first image of the fight over T's body and of his head being used as a missile.
the parody image on the a side of 1858,0301.1 at G20A/28 gets mentioned in the text.
Ths shoulder of 1837,0609.60 is useful in that it shows an armed Troilus at the fountain
The B-side of 1836,0224.46 is useful in that it shows a bearded Troilos and features his departure scene.
a detail of 1928,0117.41 also located at G69/12 would be a better image than some we've got. But it depends on how many of the above you get on whether there is space in the article without introducing a gallery.
medieval/early modern depictions. I noticed a couple of prints
1938,0409.3 print located at Italian XVc Mounted Roy
1889,0527.81 print located at Italian 197.d.03 XVc
The second of 1874,0711.1792-1795, particulalry the right hand side if you can't get it all at French XVIc Mounted Roy
later
either of K,58.45 K,58.46. imagining William Brereton as Shakespeare's Troilus
I am interested in obtaining the image flesh-hook to go along with the new page, currently in my user space at Little Thetford flesh hook. Ideally, the original image (1929?) of the two ferules without the modern wood broom between them would be better. This is not essential, as any one image of the artefact would help the article. Once I have an image, the article will be published on wikipedia main space at Little Thetford flesh hook --Senra (talk) 09:10, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The reference is 1929,0415.1 but I'm not sure where, or if, this is on display as the collection record does not specify current location. Fæ (talk) 09:29, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I spoke to the British Museum collection enquiries dept. today. The artefact was on display in gallery 50 until 2004/2005. It has since been moved to Pre-history and Europe dept., as museum reference: OR/M/Res/22-04. I sent an email to the pre-history and Europe dept. today (auto-reply - they are on holiday) and followed it with a telephone call, then email, to bmimages.com. It appears that the BM may give permission for this image to be used on wikipedia. Now awaiting a human reply from an apparently very busy BM images dept. I will note here the result of that reply when I get it. --Senra (talk) 17:07, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The sticking point on images is that the BM is happy for non-commercial use (e.g. school presentations) but for an image to be released on Wikipedia there must be commercial use permission. I would be surprised if there were to be an official exemption for this image but not the many others on their database. Fæ (talk) 17:49, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I would be surprised too. The nice man at the British Museum collection enquiries dept. did chat positively about the recent Wikipedia meet at the BM. The nice lady at BMImages seemed to think a release would be forthcoming, but needed an email from me with the requirements to be sure. I am crossing my fingers. --Senra (talk) 18:03, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
As I said over at your talkpage and I've been saying to everyone at the backstage pass day and on this project in general - it is against the current policies of the BM to license images in a way that is acceptable for Wikipedia. If the object is on display, and apparently it is, Wikipedians can investigate taking pictures themselves. Equally, I'm talking with the powers that be in the BM about image licensing that's compatible with Wikimedia. But please don't send more image requests to them - it only undermines the effectiveness of the negotiations. WittyLama 01:35, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
My sincere apologies. In my defense, I sent the image request before I was aware of your involvement. Please let me know what I can do to mend this. Should I send an email to the BM image dept. retracting my requirement for a licence? Once again sorry. --Senra (talk) 11:07, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Not a problem. I thought you had written again a second time. No, don't worry about making a "retraction". I certainly can't promise any actual results of my negotiations about images any time soon, but I can promise that you won't get a Wikipedia-friendly license going by the normal route :-) WittyLama 02:05, 30 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
On display in room 50 of the British Museum (I think) is a reconstruction of how Lindow Man might have looked. This would be a valuable addition to the article, but as the reconstruction is on display I can't use a copyrighted version as it contradicts Wikipedia's fair use policy. Is there any chance of someone taking a picture of it? Here's what it looks like. My understanding of freedom of panorama is that Wikipedia would be allowed to use a non-copyrighted photograph of the work as it's allowed in the UK (although it should be uploaded to Wikipedia rather than commons). I checked flickr first, but no luck. Nev1 (talk) 22:02, 28 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
FYI BM record here: 1984,1002.1 . There is general guidance about museums where photography is permitted at Museum photography, this discusses the licensing issues. The same guidance applies to the British Museum. Fæ (talk) 06:58, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The Lindow Man's body is on display (I've just uploaded a couple of new photos - File:Lindow Man.jpg and File:Lindow Man 1.jpg), but I don't recall the reconstruction of his face being on display. Mike Peel (talk) 08:24, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Correction, I misunderstood what you were after, the reference to the wax model is: CRM.180 . Fæ (talk) 08:54, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Mike, I was about to add one of your images when I noticed you beat me to it (same one I would have chosen and in the same section too). When the article went through a GA review in 2008 a photo of the model was removed because its fair use rationale was rendered invalid as it was theoretically possible to take a free photograph. I think that as the model doesn't seem to be on display this would mean that a fair use image could be used, but would this be treading on toes at the British Museum? Nev1 (talk) 12:10, 29 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]
The BM has a preparatory drawing by Andrea Mantegna of St. James Led to His Execution. They have a low resolution, possibly cropped, scan of the drawing on their website, which I uploaded to commons:
I'd like someone to get a higher resolution uncropped version of the drawing. Raul654 (talk) 17:48, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
They don't normally allow photos of items in the Print Study Room, which is where you would see this. Why do you think it is cropped? I'd doubt that - you can see margins on all 4 sides. Johnbod (talk) 17:52, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Actually it was on exhibition (no photos allowed) until today, and is not cropped. Johnbod (talk) 19:03, 25 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Raul654 Not that this is seven years later or anything, but the BM's website currently has available five photographs of this drawing, including the one that you uploaded to commons. If you click on "use image" and fill in the details (you will need to create a free account if you do not already have one), they will email you a higher resolution copy of the photograph. --Usernameunique (talk) 23:23, 6 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
This article needs a lot of photos. I found some on commons and have added them, but there are many which need to be photographed. The locations of each of the objects can be traced by falling the BM site link. --RedtigerxyzTalk 05:37, 18 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]
#21 Lachish Reliefs -- Room 36/10b, reg. no. 1856,0909.14 (good to have pictures of every panel) - a (hopefully) complete set of pictures are currently being uploaded to commons:Category:Lachish Reliefs. Mike Peel (talk) 18:07, 26 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
#96 Russian revolutionary plate -- Room 48, reg. no. 1990,0506.1 (Room 48 was closed for refurbishment)
#97 Hockney's In the dull village -- Room 90, reg. no. 1981,1212.8.8 (still under copyright)
#99 Shari‘a compliant Gold Visa Card issued by HSBC’s Amanah division in the United Arab Emirates -- Room 68 Case 17/4/30, reg. no. 2009,4128.2 (probably under copyright)
#100 To be announced
In addition, the following objects have poor quality photos which should be replaced if possible:
Yes, I think so. I have already uploaded #50 Silk princess painting under PDA (although for some reason the thumbnail is not displaying), and I don't see why nos.71, 84 and 85 shouldn't also qualify as PDA. BabelStone (talk) 13:23, 19 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Uploaded images per above and removing items which have photos available now . --RedtigerxyzTalk 11:11, 26 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Copper Bull has been a "Did You Know". I was hoping to get an image from Flickr, but I anticipated an owner would change their license for me and they didn't. So all the details I think are in the article. A good picture is guaranteed a home here. If you are wondering what it looks like then there is a link to a pic (wrong license) in the article. Victuallers (talk) 17:28, 5 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Previous images used by the article on this famous Victorian BM Keeper of Egyptology have been deleted. Can anyone source some replacements? Fæ (talk) 17:20, 10 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Iron Age bronze helmet in Room 50 Display Cabinet 30; registration number 1872,1213.2. BabelStone (talk) 23:11, 17 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Many thanks for getting that from flickr. Although it is low resolution and a bit blurry, it is certainly better than nothing. But I'll leave the request here just in case anyone can get a better picture. BabelStone (talk) 20:58, 20 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Sorry, just to correct that. The photograph we're looking for is the first Ichthyosaurus skeleton found by Mary Anning in 1812, and purchased by Charles Konig for the British Museum in 1819. The photographed linked to above says 1821 and is just a skull, so it doesn't seem to be the same one. SlimVirgintalk|contribs 06:13, 27 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I expect you want the Natural History Museum, which split off from the BM in the mid-19th century. They've loaned back the example in the Enlightenment Gallery & will have the rest. At least one is on display there. Johnbod (talk) 13:43, 27 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I understood that the first one was in the British Museum, though today someone told me they had destroyed it, so now I don't know what to think. SlimVirgintalk|contribs 02:24, 28 September 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Should be in room 55, thought to be the world's oldest "optical device" and could do with a photo. Probably worth a DYK or some-such at some point. Fæ (talk) 08:51, 12 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Will see what I can do next time I'm there. The Land (talk) 21:38, 15 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]
I tracked it down last week, but I didn't have a decent camera with me and there was no light, so didn't get it. The quality of any picture we get will be fairly low, even by the standards of items shot through glass under gallery lights, as the object really is tiny! The Land (talk) 12:09, 5 February 2011 (UTC)[reply]
The Nimrud Ivories have just been purchased by the British Museum, and a selection of them will be put on display at the BM next week. It would be great if someone could go the BM next week and get some pictures (if photography is allowed). BabelStone (talk) 20:28, 8 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Ivory depiction of lion eating a man. British Museum item 132940Ivory plaque from Nimrud depicting two Egyptians. From the British Museum
Many thanks to Prioryman for uploading these beautiful pictures of the recently acquired Nimrud ivories. However, more images of Nimrud ivories would be helpful for the Nimrud ivories article, especially these examples:
If anyone can get a pic of the Rhinoceros horn cup (Asia OA +1127) in Room 33 that would be great. Wanted for Rhinoceroses in ancient China. Incredibly there are no photos of any rhino horn cups on Commons, and no suitable photos on flickr. BabelStone (talk) 23:53, 24 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]
I looked systematically in every cabinet in room 33 but there's no sign of it. I can only guess that it's not currently on display. Prioryman (talk) 00:37, 23 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Tablet of Shamash, famous in Ancient Near Eastern studies. For articles about Shamash, Sippar, or the history of Babylonia (king Nabu-apla-idinna) ; an article on this stela can also be written (thanks to the recent article by Christopher E. Woods, "The Sun-God Tablet of Nabû-apla-iddina Revisited", in Journal of Cuneiform Studies 56, 2004, p. 23-103). A picture of the low relief with the god and the king would be great (and if possible also the complete stela). It is located in room 55 : http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/t/tablet_of_shamash.aspxZunkir (talk) 16:38, 16 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]
I should be able to take care of that one. Prioryman (talk) 08:47, 17 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]
And here you go (see below). Unfortunately it's not been possible to get a usable image of the entire tablet - it's in a very awkward location (near the floor) and the reflections in the glass are dreadful. Prioryman (talk) 00:42, 23 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, the picture is great Zunkir (talk) 10:24, 23 January 2012 (UTC)[reply]
Relief showing Nabu-apla-idinna and the god Shamash, from the Tablet of Shamash
Although this page hasn't been active in a while, figured it was worth a shot asking. Is there any chance of getting a photograph of this object? The current image on the article page is a public domain sketch from 1904, and other than the BM photographs and one B&W photograph in a 1999 book, I haven't seen any photographs of the object at all. The article is currently a featured article candidate, and getting an actual photo would be a nice touch.
It is indeed worth asking, some of us still have this page watchlisted! If I'm passing in the next few weeks I will try to get it for you. Though given typical lighting conditions and the size of the object the drawing may still be a better bet to illustrate the article with. The Land (talk) 20:11, 27 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Not an easy subject as it's pretty small and poorly lit, as well as being consistently brown so not much contrast. As a result there is a fair bit of noise in these photos. But that's museum displays for you - hopefully better than nothing! The Land (talk) 09:59, 15 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Although it's not an artifact, the British Museum library of Britain, Europe, and prehistory holds an 11 page self-published article which I would love to get a copy of. In 1982 Joachim Werner, annoyed at the delay between excavation and publication, published a trenchant review of the official Sutton Hoo ship-burial publication (context here, see n.104). Christopher & Sonia Hawkes then translated, self-published, and distributed it to their colleagues, to ensure that it would be seen beyond Germany.
There are three copies listed in WorldCat, held by the universities of Warwick, Oxford, and Siena. They are unfortunately unwilling to loan the article (generally because it's in their special collections), or scan it (due to copyright concerns, Warwick only scans up to 10% of a work, and the Bodleian only 5%). Having tried to ILL it twice, and having called Warwick and the Bodleian (also twice), I don't think I can get a copy from them without visiting.
I recently asked on the Resource Exchange, where Robert Dabringhaus discovered that the BM holds a copy. If anyone makes a visit to the BM and would mind stopping in at the library and photographing the pages, I would really appreciate it! --Usernameunique (talk) 03:48, 21 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
@Usernameunique: hello again! :) I've emailed them re. going in (I'm at the IHR next door most days in any case). You should try phoning- three minutes in which someone speaking phenomonally quietly asks you to telephone... the number you have just phoned! Unbelievable. But, anyway, I'll let you kow when I hear back. — fortunavelut luna 13:56, 22 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi Thank you! I hope that it ends up working. Yikes on calling—I wonder what would have happened had you tried to make it a three-way conference call? --Usernameunique (talk) 16:34, 23 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
![[6]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:K%C3%A4nnchen_der_ph%C3%B6nizischen_Red_polished_III_Ware.JPG){kind=link}
![[7]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypriotic_red_polished_pyxis_in_Vienna_2.JPG){kind=link}
