British Museum's Historic £1 Billion Ceramics Donation

The British Museum has received a monumental gift of Chinese ceramics valued at £1 billion from the Sir Percival David Foundation, marking it as the most valuable donation ever made to a UK museum. This permanent donation, comprising 1,700 pieces dating from the third to the 20th century, significantly enhances the museum's collection, making it one of the most significant outside the Chinese-speaking world. The collection, which had been on loan to the museum since 2009, includes notable items such as the David vases from 1351 and a wine cup used by the Chenghua emperor. Sir Percival David, a British businessman and Sinophile, originally amassed these ceramics from Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China before his death in 1964. Museum officials and trustees expressed gratitude and excitement for the donation, emphasizing its importance for research, education, and cultural appreciation. The British Museum, which has faced scrutiny over some of its acquisitions, sees this as a significant addition to its vast collection of about eight million objects.