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.