NLSUI OPAC header image
Amazon cover image
Image from Amazon.com

Plunder? : How Museums Got Their Treasures / Justin M. Jacobs

By: Publication details: London Reaktion Books 2025Description: 216 p. 18 cmISBN:
  • 9781836391081 (Paperback)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 069.5
Contents:
Introduction - Chapter 1: Presents and Plunder - Chapter 2: Dealers - Chapter 3: Excavations and Expeditions - Conclusion - References - Select - Bibliography - Acknowledgements - Photo Acknowledgements - Index.
Summary: A riposte to the widely accepted belief that museum collections are illegitimately acquired. 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.
Star ratings
    Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)
Holdings
Item type Current library Shelving location Call number Materials specified Status Notes Barcode
BOOKs NLS General Stacks 069.5 JAC (Browse shelf(Opens below)) PB Available Recommended by Mr. Kunal Ambasta 40447

Introduction -
Chapter 1: Presents and Plunder -
Chapter 2: Dealers -
Chapter 3: Excavations and Expeditions -
Conclusion -
References -
Select -
Bibliography -
Acknowledgements -
Photo Acknowledgements -
Index.

A riposte to the widely accepted belief that museum collections are illegitimately acquired.

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.