The British Museum has received the highest-value gift in UK museum history as it acquires £1 billion worth of 1,700 pieces of world-renowned Chinese ceramics from the Sir Percival David Foundation. This historic donation brings the museum's collection to approximately 10,000 items, making it one of the most important collections of Chinese ceramics outside the Chinese-speaking world.
The collection, which has been on loan to the British Museum since 2009 in the specially designed bilingual Room 95, consists of pieces dating from the third to the 20th century. The fund managing the legacy of British financier Sir Percival David has now transferred ownership of this unique collection to the museum, significantly enhancing its holdings of Chinese ceramics.
Sir Percival David, born in 1892 in what is now Mumbai, India, was an heir to the Sassoon textile and banking fortune and inherited a baronetcy from his father. He moved to England in 1913 and began collecting Chinese art and books in London. His passion for China inspired him to study the language and collect ceramics, which he wanted to be used to inform and inspire people. He collected items—mostly of imperial quality—in Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.
The collection includes many examples of imperial porcelain, focusing on items of imperial quality. Notable pieces include a chicken cup used to serve wine for the Chenghua emperor in the 15th century, which is one of the most sought-after items in Chinese art. There are only 16 such bowls in the world, created by order of the Chinese ruler. Another highlight is the pair of famous temple vases known as the "David Vases" from 1351, which revolutionized the dating for blue-and-white ceramics with their discovery due to an inscription on the neck that accurately dates them. The collection also features Ru wares made for the Northern Song dynasty court around 1086, including artifacts dating back to the late 11th century.
Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, said: "I am humbled by the generosity of the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation in permanently entrusting their incomparable private collection to the British Museum." He added that the exhibits will provide visitors and researchers "an incredible opportunity to study and enjoy the finest examples of Chinese craftsmanship that have ever existed." This sentiment underscores the significance of the collection in enriching the museum's offerings and providing educational value.
Colin Sheaf, Chairman of The Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, stated: "In every respect, this gift achieves the three objectives which most preoccupied Sir Percival as he planned for the collection's future." He elaborated: "To preserve intact his unique collection, to keep every single piece on public display together in perpetuity in a dedicated gallery, and to ensure the collection would remain not only a visual display of surpassing beauty, but also an inspiration and education for future generations of academics, students, and non-specialists alike."
Thanks to the donation, the British Museum's collection of Chinese ceramics will become the largest outside of China, now numbering approximately 10,000 items displayed in a dedicated gallery. George Osborne, Chair of the British Museum, hailed the bequest as "the largest in our long history" and "a real vote of confidence in our future." The collection has attracted millions of visitors during its 15-year loan, and its permanent acquisition secures its place as a cornerstone of the museum's Asian art holdings.
Edmund de Waal, known for his large-scale installations of porcelain vessels, said encountering David's collection had been the "foundational experience" for generations of potters, scholars, and students. He first saw the pots at the age of 16, and they had stayed with him for more than three decades. "Who knows who will have their lives changed in the future?" he reflected, emphasizing the enduring impact of the collection on individuals.
British Arts Minister Chris Bryant expressed gratitude for the donation, stating it would "educate and enlighten future generations for many years to come." An online catalogue of the collection is available to view across the world, allowing global access to these valuable artifacts. The final transfer of ownership to the British Museum will be subject to the Charity Commission's consent.
Sir Percival David wrote: "The private collector justifies his existence by providing very necessary pabulum for the art critic and the art expert." He believed that his private collection should be used to inform and inspire people, a wish echoed by the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation. Colin Sheaf noted that it is "entirely fitting" that the trustees resolved that the British Museum is the most suitable permanent home for the collection.
The British Museum will temporarily loan select pieces from the collection to the Shanghai Museum in China and the Metropolitan Museum in New York to support exhibitions. Chinese ceramics were made for the imperial court, the domestic market, or for export, and this move aims to promote cultural exchange and share these masterpieces of Chinese craftsmanship with a wider audience.
This donation underscores that porcelain was first produced in China around AD 600, highlighting the country's long history of ceramic artistry. The collection's significance lies not only in its size but also in the quality and historical importance of the pieces, which span from the third to the 20th century.
Other acquisitions by the British Museum this year include The Revised Standard Edition of The Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, devdiscourse.com, Bilyonaryo Business News, Art, Izvestia.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq