Thailand will receive two sculptures carved during the ancient Angkor era from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York City after researchers determined they were stolen and trafficked by a British "art dealer" in the 1970s.

The two statues are part of a group of 16 Khmer art ancient artifacts that the world-renowned museum is returning to Cambodia and Thailand. The Met described the pieces as "among the finest surviving examples of sculptures from the Angkor period."

The Angkor period spanned the 9th to the 15th centuries and encompassed modern Cambodia and parts of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and southern Viet Nam. Its distinctive temples and their sculptures and artworks are highly valued by the art world.

The Met purchased the artifacts from British art dealer Douglas Latchford, who was later indicted in the United States for trafficking antiquities but died in Bangkok in 2020. The United States Department of Justice, which has helped Thailand recover artifacts from other American museums, said it is still investigating whether other pieces in the Met and other institutions were obtained illegally.

"The Met has been diligently working with Cambodia and the U.S. Attorney's Office for years to resolve questions regarding these works of art, and new information that arose from this process made it clear that we should initiate the return of this group of sculptures," said the Met Director Max Hollein. “(The Met) greatly values our open dialogue with Cambodia and Thailand. We are committed to pursuing partnerships and collaborations with our colleagues there that will advance the world’s understanding and appreciation of Khmer art, and we look forward to embarking on this new chapter together.”

"We are very pleased that the Met has reached out to us and proactively proposed the return of these two objects to Thailand," said Mr. Phnombootra Chandrajoti, Director-General of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department. "This act serves as a model for ethical collecting practices and strengthens the bonds of cultural respect and collaboration between Thailand and the Met. We view this return as a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to repatriate cultural treasures, and we hope it inspires further partnerships as we work together to foster the exchange of knowledge and to ensure the return of cultural artifacts where appropriate to their countries of origin.

“In Thailand, the committee for repatriation, chaired by the Cultural Minister, is actively engaged in research initiatives to identify and track down additional objects that may have been illegally removed from the country in the past, further paving the way for a future where cultural heritage is preserved and valued in its rightful place,” added Director-General Phnombootra.

Photo courtesy of the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture