Page 208 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

British Museum and was ultimately rehomed within the British Museum’s collection by

2007. 269 The current display at the British Museum houses almost all of Sir Percival’s

1,700 porcelain pieces. 270 They currently provide a range of porcelain from as early as

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the third century into the 20 century. Now housed within the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre
for Ceramic Studies, the layout of the space draws directly from the earliest British

collectors like Mary II. 271 Walls in the gallery are designated for high-density storage,

resulting in floor-to-ceiling displays of porcelain. The shallow cases allow for the

majority of the Sir Percival David Collection to remain on display at all times while also

exemplifying the immense chronological range found within the collection. In the center

of the gallery, a small selection of approximately 200 pieces of porcelain has been

selected to remain in a more “curated” display. The manner in which the 1,700 porcelain

objects are displayed emphasizes the original export porcelain collector’s notion of

amassing a large quantity and displaying it on a large scale. While the British Museum

does work to curate an area of the gallery, it is clear that maintaining a connection to

previous British collectors plays a major role in the design of the space itself. These

choices change the way an individual interacts with the porcelain on view, ultimately

shaping the perception of any interactions.

269 Hua-Tien, “An Interview with Lady David,” 56.
270 While the Sir Percival David Collection is a large group of porcelain, it is only a small part of
the British Museum’s holdings. Currently the British Museum houses approximately 10,000
Chinese ceramics.
271 The Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies within the British Museum opened its new
layout on April 23, 2009. The space included a designated study area to allow for constant
scholarly access to the massive Sir Percival David Collection. A discussion of the move can be
found in Jan Stuart, “The Sir Percival David Collection at the British Museum: Creating Fresh
Opportunities for Study,” Orientations 40, no. 8 (2009): 50–53.

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