Plunder? :How Museums Got Their Treasures
Plunder? :How Museums Got Their Treasures
paperback
Published:
22 September, 2025
paperback
Published:
22 September, 2025
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Description
In this thought-provoking work, historian Justin M. Jacobs challenges the widely accepted belief that many of Western museums’ treasures were acquired by imperialist plunder and theft. His account re-examines the allegedly immoral provenance of Western collections, advocating for a nuanced understanding of how artefacts reached Western shores. Jacobs examines the perspectives of Chinese, Egyptian and other participants in the global antiquities trade over the past two and a half centuries, revealing that Western collectors were often willingly embraced by locals. This collaborative dynamic, largely ignored by contemporary museum critics, unfolds a narrative that may lead to hope and promise for a brighter, more equitable future.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781836391081 |
| ISBN10 | 1836391080 |
| Number Of Pages | 216 |
| Item Weight | 1000 g |
| Publisher / Reseller | Reaktion Books |
| Format | paperback |
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Media Reviews
'The strength of Mr. Jacobs’s [polemic] is to remind us that the origins of great museum collections cannot be reduced to any one story.' – Hugh Eakin, Wall Street Journal
'Challenges the widely accepted assumption that many western museum treasures were acquired by imperialist plunder and theft, arguing for a nuanced understanding of how they reached western shores. – Dalya Alberge, The Observer
'Lively and provocative . . . a riposte to those who believe all museum collections to be illegitimately come by. – JJ Charlesworth, The Daily Telegraph
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Justin M. Jacobs is Professor of History at American University, Washington, DC. His books include The Compensations of Plunder: How China Lost Its Treasures (2020).