Unboxing 400 Years of British Design

The British Galleries are newly reinstalled, and there’s more on display than just formality and frills. The Met has uncrated 400 years of British history and ornamentation from one of the largest empires of all time . . . and they offer unanticipated windows on our world today.

But why dedicate so many galleries to British decorative arts? Because the everyday objects you’ll see tell a remarkably international story. These works of art were made by craftsmen who traveled from nations all over Europe. Others were imported from abroad, such as China, India, and Japan. What’s more, much of the United States’ own tastes descend from its beginnings as a British colony, which had an exceptional influence on The Met collection.

Tucked away in each teapot, tapestry, and table is a richer story than you might imagine. Some were owned by kings and queens who changed the course of history, some belonged to ordinary people, and still others had roots in colonial conflict. Massive or miniature, costly or common, and occasionally tinged with a particularly British sense of humor, these objects have borne witness to revolution of all kinds—sometimes bloody—in entrepreneurship, technology, and internationalism. Taken together, they remind us that design is never just about what we see—it’s also about people, politics, and power.

Keep scrolling to unpack five unexpected themes you’ll discover in the galleries.

The reimagined British Galleries provide a fresh perspective on British decorative arts, design, and sculpture created between 1500 and 1900, by focusing on its bold, entrepreneurial spirit and complex history. This new narrative is evident in a gallery devoted to "Tea, Trade, and Empire," which explores the period’s commercial prosperity with a dazzling display of 100 English teapots, while also examining the exploitation of both human and natural resources that accompanied such abundance. 

Curator’s tip:
Arches are an important design element of our new galleries. Look out for the huge arch linking the 18th- and 19th-century spaces. It’s actually a real 19th-century arch dating back to the first days of The Met, which was rediscovered—almost by chance—during the demolition of the old British Galleries.

Audio Guide:
What do coffee shops have to do with the Enlightenment? Or teapots with colonial expansion? Hear curators, conservators, and contemporary artists uncover the surprising stories and politics behind British art, craftsmanship, and consumerism—then and now—on the Audio Guide. Be sure to pick one up when you visit!