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Plunder? How Museums Got Their Treasures

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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.

Author: Jacobs Justin
Publisher: REAKTION BOOKS
Pages: 216
ISBN: 9781836391081
Cover: Paperback
Edition Number: 1
Release Year: 2025

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).

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