Plunder? : How Museums Got Their Treasures

Author: Jacobs, Justin M.

Museums & museology

Published on 22 September 2025 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 216 pages, 49 illustrations
198 x 129 | 454g

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.