BANGKOK (NNT) - Two precious artifacts, the "Golden Boy" statue depicting the Hindu deity Shiva and a kneeling female figure with raised arms, are set to return from the United States to Thailand in a repatriation ceremony scheduled for May this year.

 

According to Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanit, the Fine Arts Department has been tasked with coordinating the repatriation process, collaborating closely with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum will bear the expenses associated with the repatriation, which will be facilitated through the Royal Thai Consulate-General in New York.

 

Both the US and Thailand will host repatriation ceremonies, with Bangkok National Museum serving as the venue for the Thai side's event in May. Following the ceremony, the statues will be put on display for the public.

 

Sermsak noted that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is actively finalizing the repatriation logistics for these artifacts, emphasizing Thailand's commitment to repatriating cultural items, including artifacts from the ancient town of Si Thep in Phetchabun province, in collaboration with US authorities.

 

Last year, Reuters reported the Metropolitan Museum of Art's decision to return over a dozen pieces of ancient artwork to Cambodia and Thailand due to their connections with art dealer Douglas Latchford. Latchford had faced allegations of involvement in an antiquities trafficking network in Southeast Asia and was indicted in 2019. He consistently denied any wrongdoing and passed away the following year.

 

As part of this ongoing repatriation effort, the museum will return 14 Khmer sculptures to Cambodia and two to Thailand.

 

By Krajangwit Johjit

 

Full story: NNT 2024-02-06

 

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great news for thailand. i was watching a 60 minute report and it incredible how many cultural artifacts are not with their rightful owners. the 60 minute report was about cambodia and how many cultural icons are just stolen... actually it is a pretty widespread phenomena in south east asia... thanks to the germans and japanese there are still many works of art that are with private collectors that will never see the day

And you think they'll see the light of day when returned here?

 

Perhaps now Thailand will return a certain jade carving to Laos?

Golden Boy back in Thailand...

 

Edited February 6, 20242 yr by StayinThailand2much

Oscar de la Hoya is coming to Thailand? Will he be promoting some of the local fighters? Very cool. 

Good news for Thailand. Well Done.

16 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

great news for thailand. i was watching a 60 minute report and it incredible how many cultural artifacts are not with their rightful owners. the 60 minute report was about cambodia and how many cultural icons are just stolen... actually it is a pretty widespread phenomena in south east asia... thanks to the germans and japanese there are still many works of art that are with private collectors that will never see the day

Thailand has a load of precious artifacts that it looted from surrounding countries in its history, including the Emerald buddah. Any chance of those being returned I wonder.