A British Museum Spotlight Loan: A Ming Emperor’s seat

A British Museum Spotlight Loan: A Ming Emperor’s seat
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

When: 10 August 2021 to 21 November 2021
Where: World Cultures gallery
Time: 10am - 5pm
Cost: N/A
Suitable for: Any age

A Ming Emperor’s seat is a beautiful glazed blue and white garden seat dating from the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The seat was made for the court of the Wanli Emperor, one of the longest reigning of all the Ming dynasty emperors. Crafted in Jingdezhen, the seat features blue dragons surrounded by clouds, waves and a flaming pearl.

The loan celebrates the tenth anniversary of the arrival of the Sir Percival David Collection at the British Museum. Sir Percival David (1892-1964) built up the collection of 1,700 objects between 1914 and 1960, and it is considered to be one of the finest collections of Chinese ceramics in the world.

RAMM is delighted to display the seat as part of the British Museum’s National Programmes, marking the first time that the seat has been loaned to other museums in the UK.

Supported by Sir Percival David Foundation.

Image credit:
Side view, large hollow blue and white porcelain garden seat, Jingdezhen, 1573–1620 (detail)
© The Trustees of the British Museum lent by kind permission of the Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation

Click here to Visit Website

Exhibitions & Projects

  • Wild

    Wild

    Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

    26 July 2025 to 04 January 2026

    View details

  • William Cobbing: Dumb mud, I love you

    William Cobbing: Dumb mud, I love you

    The Burton at Bideford

    11 October 2025 to 10 January 2026

    View details

  • Remember Respond Resist

    Remember Respond Resist

    The Box, Plymouth

    04 October 2025 to 11 January 2026

    View details

  • Beyond Barriers: Diverse Threads of Resilience

    Beyond Barriers: Diverse Threads of Resilience

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    29 November 2025 to 17 January 2026

    View details

  • Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry

    Joan Miró: Painting and Poetry

    The Burton at Bideford

    22 November 2025 to 18 January 2026

    View details

  • Northern Devon Innovates

    Northern Devon Innovates

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    25 October 2025 to 24 January 2026

    View details

  • Carolyn Lefley: Ancient Sea

    Carolyn Lefley: Ancient Sea

    Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery

    29 July 2025 to 25 January 2026

    View details

  • Artists North Devon: A Vibrant Community

    Artists North Devon: A Vibrant Community

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    07 February 2026 to 28 March 2026

    View details

  • This is me  Call for entries: Documentary Photography Open 2026

    This is me Call for entries: Documentary Photography Open 2026

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    01 December 2025 to 11 April 2026

    View details

  • Call for entries   Young Digital Documentary Photography Open

    Call for entries Young Digital Documentary Photography Open

    The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

    01 December 2025 to 11 April 2026

    View details