Collection
The collection is one of the city’s greatest cultural assets and a priceless resource for learning, engagement and creativity.
It consists of around 800,000 objects, displayed and stored in our nine venues. Most areas of the collection are Designated as being of national importance, and it includes the finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world.
Discover our collection

Art and design collection
- British Art
- European art
- British Decorative Art and Design
- European Decorative Art and Design
- Folk Art
- World Art
- Dress and Textiles

Human history collection
- Numismatics and Philately
- Birmingham History
- Topographical Views
- West Midlands History and Archaeology
- European Archaeology
- Ancient Civilisations
- World Cultures (Ethnography)
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Natural science collection
- Entomology
- Invertebrates
- Zoology
- Ornithology
- Botany
- Earth science
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Science and industry collection
- Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Science and medicine
- Technology and transport