Museum acquisitions

The number of archaeological objects unearthed by the British public since the start of The British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) has reached 1.5 million items.

Portraits of a husband and wife have been reunited after nearly 125 years thanks to a new acquisition by the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

Pallant House Gallery in Chichester has acquired a series of five paintings depicting the first gay kiss and drag ball in British theatre.

The National Gallery in London has bought a painting by Spanish artist Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) for £325,000 from London’s Daniel Katz Gallery.

West Dean College of Arts and Conservation has bought a watercolour depicting the grand entrance hall of college's residence.

The National Gallery has taken ownership of three pictures by 18th century greats Jean-Etienne Liotard, Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Thomas Lawrence.

The Bodleian Library has added an unusual piece of culinary history to its collection.

A harpsichord that was sold at The Canterbury Auction Galleries in 2018 to a US buyer and later barred from export by the government has been saved for the nation by Gainsborough’s House museum.

Dealer Philip Mould has sold a portrait miniature of the woman who inspired a classic Pride and Prejudice character to the Jane Austen’s House museum in Chawton.

Two collectors of British studio pottery have bequeathed 100 pieces from their personal collection to The Hepworth Wakefield gallery in Yorkshire.

Sizergh Castle and Garden, a stately home and garden in Cumbria run by the National Trust, has bought a portrait by 18th century painter George Romney.

The number of items deemed to be Treasure and found by the UK public has hit a record high, according to new figures from the British Museum.

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) has been given a “transformative” collection valued at more than $100m.

A well-preserved 3000-year-old Bronze age gold sun pendant, known as a bulla, has been bought by the British Museum after it was found by a metal detectorist in Shropshire in 2018.

A sixteenth century double-handled maiolica albarello, bought by Mayfair dealer Sam Fogg in 2014, has been acquired by the British Museum.