On December 17, Mr. Sermsak, Minister of Culture of Phongpanich, Thailand, revealed that Mr. Phanombut Chandrachote, Minister of Fine Arts, reported on N. Max Holen, director and chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, that the United States commissioned Mr. John Gay, a curator of South and Southeast Asia, to meet with the Director General of the Department of Fine Arts of Thailand as a representative, and submitted a letter of request to return the two antiques to Thailand on December 12.
Mr. Sermsak said the return came after the Metropolitan Museum of Art reviewed the list of antiques associated with Mr. Douglas. The Ratchford antiques dealer was charged by the Southern District Attorney's Office of New York in 2019 with illegal trafficking in antiquities to a man who was found to be in possession of bronze sculpture antiques from Thailand, namely the bronze Shiva sculpture.
As a result, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Board of Trustees decided to remove the two artifacts from the museum's antiquities registry. and coordinate the notification of the purpose of return to Thailand, in accordance with the agreement with the Office of the Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The official handover ceremony was coordinated and held through the Consulate General of Thailand in New York.
Shiva sculpture
Among the antiques returned this time are Shiva sculptures, which date back to around the 16th century, i.e. about 900-1000 years ago. Height 129 cm, bronze cast, gold plated. This is a statue of Lord Shiva, dressed in the clothes of the upper class of Thailand. It is considered a great antique.
Golden Boy Sculpture
A female sculpture, also from the 16th century, 43 cm high, seated, with knees raised and hands raised in adoration above her head. Dress like a Thai upper-class person. Cast in bronze with traces of silver and gold decoration. He was named the "Golden Boy".
After investigation, it was found that the antiques were from the original owners who had illegally obtained them and had been returned to Thailand. It represents the spirit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition, there is a good relationship between the Department of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This time, we are announcing that the antiques will be shipped back to Thailand. It is an important mission to track down Thai antiques from abroad back to Thailand. Artifacts from the ancient city of Sithep are being processed through appropriate diplomatic channels in close coordination with the U.S. agency, the Bangkok Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), in particular, which has been assigned to the Department of Fine Arts.
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