Grayson Perry’s The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman goes on display at the British Museum

The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, an elaborate, richly decorated cast-iron coffin-ship, will be displayed alongside the striking 2,400-year-old Nereid Monument from 27 August.

'The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman was the centrepiece of my 2011 exhibition of the same name at the British Museum. That show was one of the proudest achievements of my career, also one of the most enjoyable and educational projects I have embarked on. I am excited to see the tomb re-displayed in its spiritual home on the occasion of the Museum reopening after lockdown'. 'The tomb is a memorial to all the anonymous craftsman of history. I meant it to be the shrine at the epicentre of a site of pilgrimage, the museum. It holds in its centre the tool that begat all tools, a flint hand axe. The ship is a symbol of trade and cultural exchange, loaded with images from all across the world held in the museum.' – Grayson Perry

Free timed tickets can be booked here

Image: Grayson Perry, The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, 2011

Cast iron, oil paint, glass, rope, wood, flint hand axe

© Grayson Perry

Courtesy Victoria Miro