14 LOOTED CAMBODIAN ARTIFACTS REPATRIATED FROM NEW YORK’S METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

The repatriated collection includes sculptures and artifacts like a 10th-century female goddess from Koh Ker, whose foot was discovered in 2021 at the temple complex. Kiripost via US Embassy.

Fri 05 July 2024:

Fourteen looted artifacts held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York City have been returned to Cambodian soil and are now at the National Museum of Cambodia, with officials hopeful that more stolen treasures will be brought home.

Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, welcomed the return of the artifacts, which MET agreed to repatriate in December 2023. “The return of Cambodian national treasures is important to all humankind and I hope that more Cambodian treasures will be returned to Cambodia in the future.”

Fourteen looted Cambodian artifacts from the MET in New York City have been returned to the National Museum of Cambodia, raising hopes for further repatriation of stolen treasures. Kiripost via US Embassy.

The repatriation includes a precious collection of sculptures and artifacts, including the stone sculpture of a 10th century female goddess from the ancient royal capital of Koh Ker. In 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts discovered her foot at the temple complex.

Based on testimonies from former looters, it was determined that the body of the sculpture had been stolen in 1997. Now, the Uma can be reunified as one complete statue.

Cambodia held a blessing ceremony for 14 looted antiquities returned from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art pic.twitter.com/9ZoFc7vZmM

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 4, 2024

Another rare crafted statue is a late-10th to early-11th century I Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, designated by the MET as ‘Seated in Royal Ease’. The sculpture was sold to the MET by Douglas A.J. Latchford in 1992, who the MET described as a “nefarious dealer”.

“This return of our national treasures, held by the MET is of utmost importance, not only for Cambodia, but for all of humankind,” Sackona said.

“We have many more treasures at the MET which we also hope will be returned to Cambodia. We are thrilled that a number of private collectors and museums have reached out to us in recent months, and we expect many more significant returns in the future.”

Another significant returned artifact is a 10th century bronze head of the Avalokiteshvara, which the Ministry highly anticipates finally being reunited with its matching, currently on display at the National Museum of Cambodia.

The head is believed to have been looted in the 1990s, while the torso was found in a river in the 1930s in Battambang.

The U.S. Embassy celebrated the return of 14 Cambodian artifacts and the strong U.S.-Cambodia cooperation in cultural heritage repatriation. Kiripost via US Embassy

“This repatriation shows once again Cambodia’s continuing commitment to finding and bringing back our ancestors’ souls that departed from their motherland during past decades of civil war,” Sackona added.

“These returns contribute to the reconciliation and healing of the Cambodian people, who endured decades of civil war and suffered tremendously from the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge regime. They also demonstrate the truly positive partnership we have developed with the US.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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