The British Museum has secured a monumental £1 billion donation of 1,700 Chinese ceramic pieces, marking the largest gift to a UK institution. The collection, donated by The Sir Percival David Foundation, includes masterpieces spanning centuries of Chinese art.
The British Museum has received a historic £1 billion ($1.27 billion) donation of Chinese ceramics, the largest for any UK institution. This 1,700-piece private collection was gifted by The Trustees of The Sir Percival David Foundation, with the announcement made late Wednesday. Sir Percival David, a British businessman and passionate Sinophile who died in 1964, collected these pieces from Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. The collection had been on loan to the museum since 2009 but is now permanently part of the institution.
Museum chair George Osborne praised this "blockbuster decision," celebrating it as the largest bequest in the British Museum’s history. Colin Sheaf, chair of The Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, highlighted that the donation coincides with the centenary of David's first journey to China, a pivotal moment that inspired his dedication to Chinese art and culture. Sheaf expressed hope that the collection would inspire and educate future generations.
The collection includes exceptional pieces such as vases from 1351, a cup used by the 15th-century Chenghua emperor, and ceramics crafted for the Northern Song dynasty court in the 11th century. Some pieces will also be loaned to the Shanghai Museum and New York’s Metropolitan Museum.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum holds around eight million objects, making it one of the world's most renowned museums. However, like many Western institutions, it has faced increasing calls to address its colonial-era acquisitions, including the contested Parthenon Marbles. Last year, the museum reported that thousands of artifacts were "missing, stolen, or damaged." Police investigations continue, following the dismissal of a staff member suspected of involvement.
With AFP
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