British museums took in £25.3 million worth of objects last year, donated in lieu of inheritance taxes. “Objects accepted last year include the collection of vintage boats assembled by the late George Pattinson on Lake Windermere; paintings by Gainsborough and Reynolds; a rare early work by Francis Bacon, who destroyed as much of his youthful output as he could get hold of; and a fairytale Cartier diamond tiara, once owned by Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester, the 19th-century American heiress.”