Collections: Browse Collections

The Museum's collections were initially developed, in the early decades of the twentieth century, by such outstanding curators as Stewart Culin, Herbert Spinden, and William Henry Goodyear, with the generous support of collectors and donors from Brooklyn and around the country. Continuing to build upon their pioneering work, the Brooklyn Museum has amassed one of the largest and most diverse collections in the United States. Its vast holdings range from the ancient to the contemporary and encompass virtually all the world's principal cultures, reflecting the institution's long history of acquiring Western and non-Western art.

The material presented here represents only a fraction of that rich collection. The Museum is committed to making its collections accessible to the widest possible audience, and this site is an important part of that process. It is, however, a work in process. We intend to continue to expand the number of works of art included on the site and to update information currently posted. We are making every effort to ensure that the information provided about our collection is accurate and up-to-date, but the nature of scholarship is that there are sometimes changes in information and new discoveries. If you believe you have information we should have about any of the works you find here, we would be happy to hear from you.

Please note that for a variety of reasons, including conservation concerns and the lending of works to other institutions, not all the objects illustrated here are on view at any one time in the Museum's galleries. Specific location information can be found on each object's record.