Croydon Council's £13m Ming china sell-off branded 'cultural vandalism'

Twenty-four of the most expensive items from a collection that includes ninth-century tomb models and valuable Ming china could go up for auction later this year to fund refurbishment of Fairfield Halls.

Croydon Council says it cannot display much of the 230-piece collection - bequeathed to the borough by local businessman and collector Raymond Riesco in 1964 – because it would require “Louvre-style security” it cannot afford.

Some of the collection – which spans from Neolithic times to the 19th century - is on display at the Croydon Clocktower, while items have featured at other galleries and museums, including the British Museum.

The Museum is among a handful of cultural organisations –also including the Arts Council, the Horniman Museum, the Local Studies Forum and the Museum of London – being consulted by Croydon Council on the proposed auction.

A porcelain vase, left, from the Kangxi period (1662-1722) and a porcelain pilgrim bottle from the Xuande period (1426-35) could be sold

The items proposed for sale have been moved to a central London location for valuation.

The council said the sell-off had the backing of the Riesco family as long as the proceeds were spent on culture in the borough.

But the plans have angered some local historians and residents, with a petition calling on council leader councillor Mike Fisher to stop the sale reaching nearly 200 signatures in five days.

Oliver Lewis, who started the petition, said the sale would be “cultural vandalism”, adding: “These pieces are a real asset to the borough and should be cherished for the benefit of all.

“Selling them off to chase a quick buck is short sighted.”

A porcelain saucer dish from the Jiajing period (1522- 66)

Sean Creighton, a local historian and archivist, said the threatened collection could have educational value as well as attracting visitors.

He added: “The collection may not seem part of our heritage but it is, because Ming porcelain was very popular in 18th century Britain and Europe and English potters were inspired by it, launching our own fine china industry.”

A rival petition supporting the sale currently boasts 86 signatures. It was launched on Wednesday.

Councillor Tim Pollard, the council’s culture spokesman, said the items proposed for sale – which he claimed had never been exhibited in Croydon – were wasted as it could not afford to insure them for display.

He said: “Individually they are all very valuable items, very small and very portable, so to a professional gang a very tempting target.

“In order to put the items we are talking about on display we would have to add Louvre-style security to the Riesco gallery – things like laser alarms – and that would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

He added: “What is the point of keeping some very valuable items in a crate in a vault? Isn’t it better to use the money you’ve got tied up in that for something we can all access?”

A 14th-century stoneware narcissus bowl

Income from the sale would contribute towards a £27m upgrade of Fairfield Halls, where the Ashcroft Theatre could be renamed the Riesco Theatre in recognition of the family's contribution to the borough's culture. 

Councillor Tim Godfrey, culture spokesman for the council's Labour opposition, said: "One of the key points is whether they are saying if this sale doesn't head the Fairfield refurbishment won't go ahead. 

"But more directly, the council has not cared about the arts. They shut down the Clocktower, Braithwaite Hall is out of action, the David Lean Cinema has shut down, the Warehouse Theatre shut down - and now they are selling our pottery."

The sale will be considered by the council's corporate services committee on July 24.