The National Museum in Thailand recently hosted a ceremony to welcome home two ancient statues – the Standing Shiva or Golden Boy and a Kneeling Female – that were illegally trafficked from Thailand and returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. These objects are believed to be around 1,000 years old, and their return marks the latest effort to repatriate artwork that was looted during colonial times or in periods of upheaval. The Metropolitan Museum announced last December that it would return more than a dozen artifacts to Thailand and Cambodia after they were linked to art dealer and collector Douglas Latchford, who was accused of running an antiquities trafficking network in Southeast Asia.
John Guy, the Metropolitan’s curator of Asian and Southeast Asian art, spoke at the ceremony and described the returned works as “unrivalled masterpieces” of their time. He emphasized the importance of recognizing Thailand’s art in world culture and highlighted the museum’s commitment to responsible collecting of antiquities and shared stewardship of cultural heritage. Guy explained that the decision to return the objects was made after a review of information that confirmed their rightful place in the Kingdom of Thailand. This gesture was part of the Metropolitan’s Cultural Property Initiative, which aims to address the issue of cultural property and how it was obtained through various measures.
Thai Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol expressed her country’s gratitude for the return of the artifacts, emphasizing that they are national assets that belong to all Thais. Last month, the Metropolitan Museum signed a memorandum of understanding with Thailand in New York, formalizing a commitment to collaborate on exchanges of art, expertise, and the display and study of Thai art. The museum also addressed the controversial issue of cultural property acquisition by implementing measures such as a review of works in the collection, hiring provenance researchers, engaging staff and trustees, and using its platform to contribute to public discourse on the topic.
The repatriation of the ancient statues highlights a broader trend in the art world where museums in the U.S. and Europe are revisiting their collections to address objects that were obtained through illicit means or during times of colonialism. This trend reflects a growing awareness and acknowledgment of the ethical implications of displaying looted artifacts and the importance of respecting the cultural heritage of countries from which these objects originated. The return of the Standing Shiva and Kneeling Female sculptures to Thailand signifies a step forward in rectifying historical injustices and fostering collaboration between institutions to ensure the rightful ownership and preservation of cultural treasures.
The ceremony at the National Museum in Thailand served as a symbolic moment to celebrate the return of these important artifacts and to acknowledge the shared responsibility of safeguarding cultural heritage. It also emphasized the significance of international cooperation in addressing issues related to the illicit trafficking of antiquities and promoting ethical practices in the art world. The gesture by the Metropolitan Museum to return the statues to Thailand reflects a commitment to rectifying past wrongs and fostering dialogue on the responsible acquisition and display of cultural artifacts. By formalizing agreements and partnerships with countries like Thailand, museums can work together to promote the exchange and appreciation of diverse cultural heritage while upholding ethical standards in the preservation of art.
