The South Asia Collection began with a journey in 1979 when the founding Trustees, Philip and Jeannie Millward, travelled to Pakistan. Beginning their journey in Karachi, they travelled to Lahore, Rawalpindi and along the Great Trunk Road to Peshawar and the Khyber Pass then on to the Swat Valley and along the Karakoram Highway. As they travelled, they met local craftspeople making and selling embroidered textiles, rugs, furniture and everyday objects. Always collectors, they decided to put together a shipment of smaller items to sell in their shop in Norwich, which they opened in 1981.

Over the years, the business expanded with a shop in London and two shops in Norwich and in 1993 they purchased and restored a dilapidated Victorian roller-skating rink in the centre of Norwich. Continuing the practice of working with local suppliers, NGOs and craftspeople, the retail stock expanded to include furniture, textiles, contemporary art and everyday items from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) as well as rugs and kelims from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As items were acquired for the shop, Philip and Jeannie Millward had the foresight to retain objects they felt were particularly good examples of South and South East Asian art and craft. This group of items form the basis of the museum collection, which now numbers almost 10,000 items and includes architectural pieces, furniture, textiles, artwork and sculpture.

In 2010 the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection Trust (SADACC) was founded as a UK registered charity to record, conserve and promote the arts, crafts and cultures of South Asia and adjacent countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Central Asia. The SADACC Trust is responsible for the management of the South Asia Collection Museum. The museum also hosts a reference library and shares the collection through exhibitions, events and lectures as well as undertaking research projects to enhance knowledge and understanding of the collection.

Today, The South Asia Collection is an internationally significant museum collection of the everyday arts and crafts of the region. It includes embroidered, woven and printed textiles; paintings and prints from the 18th century to the present day; vernacular furniture; carved arches, doors and columns; votive figures; plus a wonderful collection of religious and domestic objects in metal, stone, wood, cloth and ceramic from the different communities and cultures of South Asia.

Visit our Permanent Collection exhibition to see a selection of the objects we look after.