Smashed Chinese bowl at British Museum highlights artifact protection

On Oct 4, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) blue-and-white bowl from the Kangxi period (r. 1662-1722), decorated with nine ladies in a garden engaged in playing a qin zither, playing chess, reading, and admiring a painting, fell and shattered inside a sealed display case at the British Museum in London.

The bowl, donated by the Sir Percival David Foundation, also damaged a blue-and-white seal paste box displayed below it.

The design of the bowl originated in imperial kilns during the Ming Dynasty's Yongle (1403-24) and Xuande (1426-35) reigns. Complete examples like this are exceptionally scarce. Here are some similar pieces held by the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Taipei Palace Museum and the Shanghai Museum, and went under the hammer at China Guardian's Spring Auction 2025.

Every artifact carries irreplaceable historical and artistic value. Preserving these treasures requires not only professional care, but also regular inspections of display facilities and rigorous, standardized conservation procedures. May every treasure be well protected by museums!