BANGKOK (NNT) - An Australian national has handed over nine wooden Buddha statues to Thai officials, marking the return of additional Thai artifacts to the country.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized a handover ceremony for the nine wooden Buddha statues to the Fine Arts Department. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Nathapol Khantahiran and Deputy Director-General of the Fine Arts Department Sathaporn Thiangtham were representatives from both sides in this handover event.

 

The statues were donated by Murray Upton, who informed the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra that he had inherited them from his father, who had them in possession since 1911. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since expressed gratitude to the Australian national for his decision to return the artifacts to the country and commended all sides for their efforts in repatriating Thai antiquities.

 

The Fine Arts Department said it will work to identify and examine the statues, noting that the artifacts will be preserved at the National Museum Storage in Pathum Thani province.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230127105705030

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-01-27

 

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Pity Thailand doesn't do the same (or maybe it did very quietly with the return of some jewelry)..

Seems a complete waste of time all round if they’re just going into storage.

1 minute ago, Blue Muton said:

Seems a complete waste of time all round if they’re just going into storage.

Just like most museums around the world.

11 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Just like most museums around the world.

Yep.  I've heard that the National Museum of History in NYC has enough items in their storage to build a whole new museum... and it just sits there. 

12 hours ago, BritScot said:

Pity Thailand doesn't do the same (or maybe it did very quietly with the return of some jewelry)..

Oucchhhh.

…. The all look Lao to me …. Except perhaps 2nd left . Just sayin’! 

The statues were donated by Murray Upton, who informed the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra that he had inherited them from his father, who had them in possession since 1911. 

 

What he didn't say that they were acquired from somewhere on Sukhumvit Rd.

On 1/27/2023 at 10:19 PM, BritScot said:

Pity Thailand doesn't do the same (or maybe it did very quietly with the return of some jewelry)..

Or jade Buddha 

20 hours ago, Chetzee said:

…. The all look Lao to me …. Except perhaps 2nd left . Just sayin’! 

But Thailand being the hub of everything, they are entitled to claim them 

 

Maybe is just more of a gesture of goodwill and peace of mind on the part of the donner rather than the dollar value of the items...

What value do these actually have aside from their age? They ain't even that old either....

 

Historical significance? Carved by someone famous? 

 

They look like tourist trinkets from the period Mr. Upton's father visited.

 

Similar to the wooden junk available on lower Sukhumvit or Beach Road Pattaya nowadays. 

 

On the bright side, maybe those wooden croaking frogs or coke can tuk-tuks you bought while on holiday will be regarded as culturally significant in 100 or so years.

Off topic and replies removed

On 1/29/2023 at 9:19 AM, Mr Meeseeks said:

What value do these actually have aside from their age? They ain't even that old either....

 

Historical significance? Carved by someone famous? 

 

They look like tourist trinkets from the period Mr. Upton's father visited.

 

Similar to the wooden junk available on lower Sukhumvit or Beach Road Pattaya nowadays. 

 

On the bright side, maybe those wooden croaking frogs or coke can tuk-tuks you bought while on holiday will be regarded as culturally significant in 100 or so years.

All of which seems to be unknown at this time as the article clearly stated: "The Fine Arts Department said it will work to identify and examine the statues"