Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026
Outside the box.
Historic Donation of Chinese Ceramics to the British Museum
1,700-piece collection valued at £1 billion donated, marking major bequest
The British Museum in London has received a significant donation from the Trustees of The Sir Percival David Foundation, comprising a 1,700-piece collection of Chinese ceramics valued at £1 billion ($1.27 billion).
This donation, the largest ever to a UK institution, involves a permanent gift of ceramics previously on loan since 2009.
Sir Percival David, a British businessman and Sinophile who passed away in 1964, meticulously collected these artifacts from Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.
Among notable items are vases from 1351, a 15th-century wine cup for the Chenghua emperor, and ceramics for the Northern Song dynasty.
Some pieces from the collection are to be loaned to the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
This event coincides with the centenary of David's influential first visit to China.
British Museum chair George Osborne expressed excitement over this enduring bequest, stating its significance in the museum's history.
However, the British Museum, founded in 1753 and home to about eight million objects, faces pressures regarding the return of items acquired during the British Empire.
Additionally, it recently dealt with internal controversies over missing artifacts, leading to a police investigation and staff dismissal.
This donation, the largest ever to a UK institution, involves a permanent gift of ceramics previously on loan since 2009.
Sir Percival David, a British businessman and Sinophile who passed away in 1964, meticulously collected these artifacts from Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and China.
Among notable items are vases from 1351, a 15th-century wine cup for the Chenghua emperor, and ceramics for the Northern Song dynasty.
Some pieces from the collection are to be loaned to the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
This event coincides with the centenary of David's influential first visit to China.
British Museum chair George Osborne expressed excitement over this enduring bequest, stating its significance in the museum's history.
However, the British Museum, founded in 1753 and home to about eight million objects, faces pressures regarding the return of items acquired during the British Empire.
Additionally, it recently dealt with internal controversies over missing artifacts, leading to a police investigation and staff dismissal.
