Exhibiting and Auctioning Yuanmingyuan ("Summer Palace") Loot in 1860s and 1870s London: The Elgin and Negroni Collections

In the mid-19th century, looted artifacts from China's Yuanmingyuan (Summer Palace) were strategically exhibited and auctioned in London to boost their market value. James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, and Captain Jean-Louis de Negroni, both involved in the Anglo-French armies, showcased their collections at prestigious venues like the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and the Crystal Palace. This study reveals how museum exhibitions and auction houses collaborated to enhance the perceived worth of these looted objects, demonstrating a deliberate interplay between cultural display and commercial transaction during this period.

Tythacott, L. (2018). Exhibiting and Auctioning Yuanmingyuan ("Summer Palace") Loot in 1860s and 1870s London: The Elgin and Negroni Collections. Journal for Art Market Studies, Vol 2, No 3 (2018). https://doi.org/10.23690/JAMS.V2I3.63