The artworks come from the collections of Sir Joseph Hotung, a businessman, philanthropist and art collector, who died last year. Hotung’s name has graced the museum’s large gallery of Chinese and South Asian antiquities after he donated millions of pounds to refurbish it after he complained he needed to take a flashlight on visits because the lighting was so poor. It was reopened by the Queen in 1992 and again in 2017 after further renovations. The bequest includes 246 jades, 15 very fine Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) blue-and-white porcelains and a dry lacquer head of a Bodhisattva. The items will be on display in the coming months. George Osborne, chairman of the museum’s trustees, said: “This is one of the most generous gifts we have ever received and means that future generations will be able to enjoy these beautiful objects and learn more about China’s extraordinary history. . “ An 11th/12th century gilt-bronze seated figure of Avalokiteśvara. Photo: Sotheby’s Hotung’s family said: “Our father loved to collect and study fine art and believed that art should be accessible to everyone. We are delighted that our father’s collections will now be seen by the millions of visitors who pass through the British Museum every year.” Another 400 works from Hotung’s personal collection will be auctioned in the fall. They include a “beautifully and delicately modeled” seated figure of Avalokiteśvara from the Dali kingdom in southwestern China. It will be sold by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, with an estimate of £1.5-2 million. Another highlight is an intricately carved cinnabar lacquer box from the Yongle period in the 15th century that is “among the most desirable examples” of Ming lacquerware, according to Sotheby’s. A folding horseshoe armchair made of huanghuali, a type of rosewood, is a rare example of what was made a seat of honor for traveling officials by the Ming Dynasty. Estimated to sell for up to £1.5m. Hotung “decorated his London home with beautiful things, pieces he bought to live with,” said Henry Howard-Sneyd, Sotheby’s chairman of Asian art. “In addition to Chinese furniture and art, he collected Chippendale furniture and quite eclectic Western paintings. Everything worked together in an extremely harmonious way.” Hotung’s interest in art began when he wandered into an oriental gallery in San Francisco while waiting for a delayed flight. On a whim, he bought two decorative Chinese bowls. His new passion offered “a whole new interest in life and a new dimension,” he said. “It helps me see things from different angles.” He later became a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Hotung felt that collectors had a “responsibility to be the stewards of these priceless works and look after them with great care,” his family said. “We are delighted that our father’s treasures will now find new homes where they will continue to be loved and enjoyed by others.”
