The 1,700 pieces, dating from the third to the 20th century, have been given permanently by the trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art. They had been on loan to the museum since 2009.
It means the British Museum will now hold one of the most important collections of Chinese ceramics of any public institution outside the Chinese-speaking world, with about 10,000 items in total.
George Osborne, the chair of the British Museum, said he was thrilled by the "blockbuster decision".
"This is the largest bequest to the British Museum in our long history. It's a real vote of confidence in our future, and comes at a highly significant moment for us - as we embark on the most significant cultural redevelopment of the museum it has ever undertaken," Osborne said.
This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 14, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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