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Contents 03 Editorial 05 Insight Eleanor Barraclough gets to grips with Viking grooming habits 06 News 11 Acquisitions 14 Gifts and bequests Francesca Kaes throws light on an important bequest left by Richard Payne Knight 17 Around the UK 20 Across the world 22 Diary 24 Sacred spirits Sushma Jansari and Kajal Meghani investigate the ancient origins of Indian gods and goddesses 30 Artist of the open road Alfred Haft presents Hiroshige’s much-admired woodblock prints 34 Pacific Islanders Julie Adams describes a new exhibition about the people and arts of Oceania 38 Displaying Assyria Paul Collins explains the challenges of putting the Museum’s treasures from Assyria on show 42 Small change Barrie Cook sets English medieval coin hoards in their historical context 46 French style Grant Lewis highlights Watteau’s elegant drawings 48 Fine dining Jenny Linford follows the story of feasting through objects in the Museum’s collection 52 Ice Age Art Now Jill Cook travels back in time to look at the art produced at the end of the last Ice Age 59 Books 64 Curator ’s choice Allison B. Kidd explores the significance of a sculpted head from Ephesus Utagawa Hiroshige, Cherry Blossoms on a Moonless Night along the Sumida River,1847–8. colour-woodblock print triptych. Gift from the collection of Alan Medaugh © Alan Medaugh. Photography by Matsuba Ryōko. The British Museum: +44 (0)20 7323 8000 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG britishmuseum.org British Museum Friends: +44 (0)20 7323 8195 friends@britishmuseum.org British Museum Magazine: +44 (0)20 7323 8125 Editor: Caroline Bugler Proofreader: Helen Knox Advertising: Renata Lopes: Renata@parkwalkmedia.com Photography: BM Photography and Imaging (unless stated otherwise) Design: Tina Hall/Perfect Sky Repro: PH Media Printing: Precision Colour Printing All images © 2025 The Trustees of the British Museum, unless stated otherwise All information correct at time of going to press. We aim to ensure that information about exhibitions outside the British Museum is correct, but readers are advised to check with venues before visiting. British Museum Friends accept no responsibility for the content of advertisements in this Magazine and have no view on the authenticity or legal status of any works that might be mentioned or illustrated therein. It is the policy of the British Museum Friends to accept antiquities advertisements only where we receive assurance from the advertiser that the illustrated object is documented to have formed part of a legitimate collection prior to 1970. Cover: White marble figure of a tirthankara seated in a lotus position, c.1150–1200. Found in Gujarat. British Museum Magazine Spring/Summer 2025 1

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