British Museum given £1bn of Chinese ceramics (UK) 14/Nov/2024

Now the British Museum has been given a set of Chinese ceramics worth £1 billion in what's thought to be the highest value gift ever received by a UK museum. 1,700 pieces are being donated to the museum by a charity representing the estate of Sir David Percival, a businessman who collected the items around the world before his death in 1964. The collection includes a range of china cups used to serve an 11th century emperor. There are some really beautiful pieces in that collection. Although if I were to see it I'd be, see look at that, a little rooster. I bet that's a really small teacup and I would not go anywhere near it. Well handled with care is the catchphrase there isn't it? Are you talking about the china or Carol? The china. Carol, morning. Obviously. Morning Carol. Hello. Thank you Charlie. The British Museum is to receive the highest value gift in UK museum history as it acquires £1 billion worth of Chinese ceramics. Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation are donating 1,700 pieces. The British businessman was fluent in Chinese having developed a passion for the country. The collection has been on loan to the museum since 2009 as Sir Percival wanted his private collection to be used to inform and inspire people.