The trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation announced that their globally renowned collection of Chinese ceramics is being permanently gifted to the British Museum. An unprecedented donation of more than 1,700 objects, independently valued at £1 billion, makes this the largest gift ever given to a UK museum, ensuring the collection’s security for future generations.
Sir Percival David, 1892-1964, the visionary collector behind this unparalleled assembly of masterworks, dedicated much of his life to studying Chinese art and culture. His impressive linguistic and cultural fluency in Chinese allowed him to travel extensively and acquire masterpieces from Europe to East Asia, culminating in one of the world’s finest collections of Chinese ceramics. The bilingual room 95, in which the collection has been on display since 2009, has made it accessible to millions of visitors to the British Museum and has raised greater public and scholarly awareness about Chinese decorative arts.
Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, welcomed the decision: “The philanthropy of the Trustees in making this gift in perpetuity of this unparalleled Collection allows us to conserve and share with the world the vision of Sir Percival David. We feel profoundly privileged to carry on his legacy, making the best examples of Chinese craftsmanship accessible to researchers and visitors from around the globe.”
This bequest of landmark importance also places the British Museum among the foremost holders of Chinese ceramics outside China and supplements its wider collection of Asian art, which includes over 10,000 objects. The institution has pledged to continue David’s vision by providing public access and supporting ongoing research and educational initiatives in collaboration with international museums and universities.
Colin Sheaf, Chairman of the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art, said, “The centenary year of Sir Percival David’s first journey to China is a fitting time to make this gift, which ensures the collection remains intact and publicly accessible. His commitment to fostering an appreciation for Chinese art remains at the heart of this legacy, inspiring academics, students, and art lovers worldwide.”
This announcement comes as the British Museum is well into its most ambitious era of redevelopment, renewal, and increased access yet, with a vigorous program policy of accessibility and an international partnership strategy. Soon, selected objects from the Sir Percival David Collection will be on loan to the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, extending their reach and relevance further. Of special mention is that the latest work with the forensic scientists at Cranfield University identified another Ru ware piece, further enriching an already complicated collection.
The most famous pieces in the collection include, among others, the so-called ‘David Vases’ of 1351, which revolutionized the dating and study of blue-and-white porcelain; the iconic “Chicken Cup” of the Chenghua Emperor; and highly valuable Ru wares made for the Northern Song court circa 1086. These objects of beauty reflect not only Sir Percival’s vision but also the work that continues to be done by the British Museum in advancing cultural understanding through preservation and study.
In the words of Sir Percival David himself, when writing in the Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society in 1952: “The private collector justifies his existence by providing very necessary pabulum for the art critic and the art expert.” His gift is the perfect example of what a private collection can mean, with its many “problem pieces” to tease and test the experts for generations.
This extraordinary gift, pending final approval from the Charity Commission, signals a new chapter in the life of the British Museum and in that of Sir Percival David’s legacy. It cements a treasure trove of Chinese cultural history at the heart of the British Museum, where it will inspire and educate for generations.