The British Museum announced its acquisition of the Sir Percival David Foundation’s world-famous private collection of Chinese ceramics. The collective value of the 1,700 objects in the collection is estimated at £1 billion ($1.2 billion), making this gift the highest-value donation in U.K. museum history.
Private Collection of Chinese Ceramics Worth £1 Billion
Sir Percival David (1892-1964) was a British businessman, scholar, and collector. Fueled by a lifelong passion for Chinese art and culture, David amassed one of the world’s most significant private collections of Chinese ceramics. Its billion-dollar holdings span from the 3rd century to the 20th century. David’s connection with the British Museum began in 1929. That year, he donated a Ming dynasty shrine to the museum. As per David’s wishes, his foundation loaned the entire collection to the British Museum in 2009. It is now housed in a specially designed bilingual room with an accompanying catalog.
Colin Sheaf, chair of the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, said, “It’s exactly 100 years since Sir Percival David made his first visit to China. His inaugural trip engendered a lifelong love of its art and culture, especially the Imperial porcelains made for the use of the Emperor and his Court, which inspired him to assemble his unparalleled private collection. It’s entirely fitting therefore that, in this Centenary year, the Trustees of his Foundation should resolve that the most suitable permanent home for his Collection is the British Museum, where—on loan for fifteen years—it has attracted millions of visitors every year, accomplishing all the charitable purposes of the Foundation.”
“A Real Vote of Confidence in Our Future”
“I am thrilled by this blockbuster decision by the Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation,” said George Osborn, chair of the British Museum, in a November 13 press release. “This is the largest bequest to the British Museum in our long history. It’s a real vote of confidence in our future, and comes at a highly significant moment for us—as we embark on the most significant cultural redevelopment of the Museum ever undertaken.”
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Last year, the British Museum announced an institution-wide “masterplan” to “safeguard the collection for future generations.” This plan involves a controversial £50 million ($63.5 million) deal with the oil and gas company BP. Over the course of ten years, this funding will help the museum make crucial repairs and reconfigure its permanent galleries. The British Museum also plans to replace outdated energy infrastructure and reduce its carbon footprint.
The Future of the British Museum’s Chinese Ceramics Collection
The British Museum now holds one of the largest and most significant collections of Chinese ceramics outside the Chinese-speaking world. It comprises some 10,000 artifacts following the acquisition of the Sir Percival David collection. “These celebrated objects add a special dimension to our own collection,” said Nicolas Cullinan, the museum’s newly appointed director. “Together [they] offer scholars, researchers, and visitors around the world the incredible opportunity to study and enjoy the very best examples of Chinese craftsmanship anywhere in existence.”
The British Museum plans to loan Chinese ceramics to upcoming exhibitions at the Shanghai Museum in China and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. U.K. universities and international scholars will be invited to access the collection to support education and advance scholarship. Additionally, the museum is partnering with forensic scientists to better identify and care for these objects.
