Human world
Map of the Himalayan area
"I understand that many of the objects in the collection were acquired by British Political Officers in the course of their duty in Tibet, many of whom showed great sympathy and friendship to my people."
Letter from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to Liverpool Museum (now World Museum Liverpool), 1997
For over a thousand years Tibet has developed its own religion, set of values and art. This lifestyle carried on into the 20th century.
The Chinese government took over the country during the 1950s. In 1964 they incorporated it, by force, into the People's Republic of China as the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Tibet's leader, the Dalai Lama, and many others still live in exile today.
Tibetans gave objects to British Political Officers between 1900 and 1950. They show the friendship between Tibet and Britain during this time. Many are now in the museum's collection. Learn more about them through the links below.
You can find out more about the men who collected them by following the links below.
"His life seemed to reflect the West's fascination with the East, conquest and wonder dancing hand in hand."
Patrick French, 'Younghusband: The Last Great Imperial Adventurer', 1994.
"An added fascination for me was the mysterious, unknown land of Tibet, about which all manner of things were conjured up in my imagination."
John Claude White, 'Sikhim and Bhutan', 1909.
"When a European is with us Tibetans, I feel he is a European and we are Tibetans; but when Lonchen Bell is with us, I feel we are all Tibetans together."
Chief administrative officer of Re-ting monastery to His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama about Charles Bell.
"The adventures of Lt Col FM Bailey in Central Asia constitute one of the romances of the Indian Political Service."
'The Pioneer', 1920.
"We Tibetans consider Hugh Richardson an honorary Tibetan...he was truly precious to us."
Letter from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on hearing of Richardson's death, 2001.