British Museum Receives £1 Billion Ceramics Donation

The British Museum has received its largest-ever donation, a collection of 1,700 Chinese ceramics valued at £1 billion (approximately $1.27 billion) from the Sir Percival David Foundation. This historic gift, which has been on loan to the museum since 2009, significantly enhances the museum's collection to over 10,000 pieces, making it one of the most important collections of Chinese ceramics outside China. The donation comes at a crucial time for the museum as it undergoes significant redevelopment and seeks to restore its reputation following recent controversies. Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, the museum's director, expressed gratitude for the trustees' generosity, highlighting the collection's role in promoting public access and scholarly research. Among the prized items is a rare wine bowl once owned by an emperor, along with mid-14th-century blue-painted temple vases. The collection will also be showcased internationally, including at the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.