The British Museum is set to receive the highest-value gift ever given to a UK museum: a collection of £1 billion worth of Chinese ceramics, donated by the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation.
The 1,700 pieces have been on loan to the museum for 15 years, and their permanent acquisition marks a significant milestone for both the museum and the world of art history.
The collection, which includes masterpieces such as the David vases from 1351 and a chicken cup used for wine at the Chenghua emperor’s court, is considered an “incomparable private collection” by the museum’s director, Dr. Nicholas Cullinan.
The ceramics have been displayed in the museum’s bilingual Room 95, dedicated to showcasing Chinese art, since 2009.
The Sir Percival David Foundation was founded by the late British businessman Sir Percival David, who was born into a wealthy family in Bombay in 1892.
David amassed his collection over many years, purchasing pieces in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.
His vast collection of Chinese art and books was intended to be used for public education and inspiration, a vision that continues with this donation.
With the addition of these 1,700 pieces, the British Museum’s collection of Chinese ceramics will grow to 10,000, making it one of the most significant collections outside the Chinese-speaking world.
The collection will offer scholars, researchers, and visitors worldwide the opportunity to study and appreciate the finest examples of Chinese craftsmanship.
Colin Sheaf, chairman of the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, emphasized that the donation fulfilled Sir Percival’s three main goals: preserving the collection intact, ensuring that every piece would remain on public display, and inspiring future generations.
The donation also includes some of the most important and historically significant pieces in Chinese ceramic history.
For example, the discovery of the David vases in 1954 revolutionized the understanding of blue and white ceramics’ dating, and the collection includes rare Ru wares from the Northern Song dynasty, dating back to around 1086.
Arts minister Sir Chris Bryant expressed his enthusiasm, stating that the collection would educate and inspire generations to come.
After the transfer of ownership, the British Museum will lend pieces from the collection to museums around the world, including the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
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