The Metropolitan Museum of Art Set to Repatriate Multiple Ancient Artworks Amid Alleged Ties to Looted Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will repatriate over a dozen ancient Southeast Asian sculptures due to suspected links with looted art, following an investigation by the US Attorney's Office in New York's Southern District
The Metropolitan Museum of Art plans to return over a dozen Southeast Asian sculptures that were tied to a late art dealer accused of trafficking looted artifacts from the region. The museum and the US Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York confirmed this decision. The Metropolitan Museum of Art stated that they will be returning 14 artworks to Cambodia and two to Thailand, all of which were linked to Douglas Latchford, a British antiquities dealer and prominent scholar of Khmer art.
Latchford faced charges in 2019 for "allegedly leading a long-running operation to trade stolen Cambodian artifacts in the global art industry," according to the US attorneys office. The charges were dropped after Latchford's passing in 2020.
A 10th century goddess sandstone statue from Koh Ker will be returned to Cambodia.
US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York
The Met has been collaborating closely with Cambodia and the US Attorneys Office for an extended period to address questions surrounding these artworks. New information that emerged from this process has led us to the decision to initiate the return of this collection of sculptures," explained Max Hollein, the museum's director and CEO.
The sculptures slated for return portray the Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions from the ninth and 14th centuries during the Angkorian period, as stated by the Met.
Several of the artworks being repatriated to Cambodia originate from the Koh Ker archaeological site, as confirmed by the US attorneys office. Among them is a 10th-century sandstone goddess statue. Also included is the "Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease" from the late 10th to early 11th century, depicting a seated Buddha with crossed legs. Additionally, there are statues dating as far back as the seventh century, including a statue head of Buddha.
US Attorney Damian Williams stated that "The investigation of the illegal trade in stolen antiquities will be pursued vigorously by our office. We anticipate ongoing discussions with the Met regarding these critical matters."
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The Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio features a Roman-era statue believed to depict Marcus Aurelius, known as "The Emperor as Philosopher." However, the museum has filed a lawsuit against New York City authorities for seizing a headless bronze statue. (Photo credit: Amy Sancetta/AP)
The Cleveland museum has filed a lawsuit to prevent the seizure of a headless statue worth $20 million. "We are urging those involved in the art world, including cultural institutions, to stay alert," Williams said. He added, "If you are employed at one of these institutions or part of a private collection and suspect that certain pieces may be linked to illegal trafficking, please take the appropriate action: come forward and collaborate with us voluntarily to assist in the return of the items to their rightful owners."
In August of last year, New York officials returned 30 cultural artifacts to Cambodia as part of the investigation into artifacts bought and sold by Latchford. The items had been unlawfully sold to private collectors and a museum in the United States.
