The China Collectors

The China Collectors offers a comprehensive and engaging account of a century-long international quest to acquire Chinese art, spanning events from the Opium Wars to the rise of Mao Zedong. It explores the daring efforts of lesser-known adventurers, curators, and collectors who navigated perilous terrains and complex cultural debates—all while examining the moral questions surrounding the procurement and safeguarding of China's treasured objects. The book also considers contemporary issues relating to the restitution of these artifacts and the evolving relationship between Chinese heritage and Western museums.