An exhibition of rare treasures will be on display in Ceredigion.

These artefacts are part of the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, who left them to the UK upon his death for preservation and to satisfy ‘the desire of the curious.’

The exhibition, titled 'For the curious and interested', will travel to Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth from April 27 to September 7, 2024.

As a physician and naturalist, Sir Sloane's collection, which later became the foundation for the British Museum, ranges from antiquities, artworks, to natural curiosities.

The touring exhibition reunites a diverse range of objects, including books, prints, cultural artefacts and natural history rarities currently preserved by the British Museum, the British Library and the Natural History Museum.

In line with his curiosity about the world, each object offers a unique perspective into the broad spectrum of his assembled collection.

Among the key exhibits are a carved ivory hunting horn from around 1490–1530, A Voyage to Jamaica (1725), 17th century silk embroidered flowers, and six etchings of shells by Wenceslaus Hollar from around 1645−46.

In recognition of the historical implications of the collection, the exhibition addresses the complex matter of his wealth being partially financed by transatlantic enslavement.

The exhibition aims to explore the stories behind these collected items and identify the people Sir Sloane engaged with for their expertise and skills, including indigenous and enslaved people, as well as other collectors, explorers, and naturalists from around the world.

Spearheaded by the Ceredigion Museum and the group Voices from the Edge, which consists of seven creative practitioners living in rural west Wales, the exhibition investigates the relevance of the collection from over 300 years ago to today.

They aim to explore the links between the wealth generated from transatlantic enslavement and the objects in the museums.

Heralded as the museum's first step in guaranteeing global majority representation, this initiative is supported by the Welsh Government and the Association of Independent Museums.

Creative responses by Voices from the Edge, through film, drawing, and sculpture, critique Sloane’s legacy based on their personal experiences and identities.

A spokesperson from the Ceredigion County Council said: "The objects in this exhibition give a detailed insight into the past.

"It is important that the people of Ceredigion are given the opportunity to explore this collection and hear the group Voices from the Edge tell their stories.

"Openness and transparency are key to meeting the goals of the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan."

Those interested can find more information on the British Museum's page or keep an eye on Ceredigion Museum’s social media pages for updates.