The British Museum has received one of the most significant donations in its history, with a bequest from Sir Joseph Hotung totalling £103.3 million. The collection, donated in partnership with the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, far exceeded its initial estimates.
The legacy, first announced in 2022, includes an extensive collection of Chinese jades, blue-and-white porcelains, and other rare artefacts. However, it was only officially recognized in the museum’s 2023-24 financial accounts after probate was granted for Hotung’s estate. The endowment’s total value was initially appraised at £123 million, based on valuations from antique dealers.
Sir Joseph Hotung, a former trustee of the British Museum from 1994 to 2004, was a passionate collector and philanthropist with a deep connection to the museum. His earlier donations had already significantly enriched the museum’s collection, mainly through establishing and renovating the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery of China and South Asia, which the late Queen Elizabeth II opened twice, first in 1992 and again after a complete refurbishment in 2017.
Among the notable items in this latest bequest are fifteen Yuan and early Ming Dynasty blue-and-white porcelains and a dry lacquer head of a Bodhisattva. These pieces will soon be displayed, adding to the museum’s extensive collection and offering visitors a deeper understanding of Chinese history and art.
The British Museum’s chair of trustees, George Osborne, hailed Hotung as one of the institution’s most visionary supporters, stating, “This is one of the most generous gifts we’ve ever received, and it means future generations will be able to enjoy these beautiful objects and learn more about the extraordinary history of China.”
Museum Director Hartwig Fischer described Hotung as “a highly distinguished, refined, and generous man” whose philanthropy will leave a lasting legacy at the museum. The legacy includes 246 jades, 24 bronzes, and various other valuable items, allowing the museum to continue its chronological display of Chinese jade work and showcase one of the finest collections of early Chinese blue-and-white porcelain outside of Asia.
Sir Joseph Hotung’s family expressed satisfaction with the donation, noting that their father believed in making art accessible to everyone. “We are pleased that our father’s collections will now be viewed by the millions of visitors who pass through the Museum every year,” they said in a statement.
This remarkable bequest not only enriches the British Museum’s collection but also underscores Sir Joseph Hotung’s enduring impact on the institution and its mission to share China’s cultural heritage with the world.