On Friday, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York announced that it plans to return pieces of 14 ancient artefacts to Cambodia and 2 to Thailand. The artefacts are linked to an art dealer and collector, Douglas Latchford who is accused of operating a significant ‘antiquities trafficking’ network in Southeast Asia, with no specific timeline provided for the return of these pieces.
The late art dealer Douglas Latchford, who faced charges in 2019 for allegedly organising a long-running scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities internationally. These ‘Important Cambodian archeological’ sites from the ancient Khmer empire were targeted by looters during the country's extended period of civil unrest, from the mid-1960s to the early 1990s.
These Artefacts entered the international art market through an organised looting network and smuggling process that Latchford used to obtain his art. The U.S. The Attorney's office in the Southern District of New York indicted Latchford for supplying looted antiquities to major entities and falsifying documentation about their origin. Latchford, who died in his Bangkok residence, consistently denied any involvement in smuggling.
Max Hollein, the Met's director and CEO, stated that the museum has been diligently working with Cambodia and the U.S. Attorney's Office for years to address questions about these artworks. New information from this process prompted the decision to initiate the return of this group of sculptures.
Initially collaborating with the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and the New York office of Homeland Security Investigations, the museum facilitated the return of 13 sculptures tied to Latchford before it was determined that three more pieces should also be repatriated.
In a statement on Friday, HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan noted, "As demonstrated with today's announcement, pieces linked to the investigation of Douglas Latchford continue to reveal themselves." She added, "The Metropolitan Museum of Art has not only recognized the significance of these 13 Khmer artefacts, which were shamelessly stolen but has also volunteered to return them, as part of their ongoing cooperation, to their rightful owners: the People of Cambodia."
The Latchford family also possessed centuries-old Cambodian jewellery, which they returned to Cambodia. In February, 77 pieces, including crowns, necklaces, and earrings, made of gold and other precious metals were repatriated. Stone and bronze artefacts followed in September 2021.
About the Artefacts
The repatriated art, produced between the 9th and 14th centuries in the Angkorian period, reflects Hindu and Buddhist influences, according to the museum. Angkor, a powerful kingdom from the ninth to the 15th centuries in present-day Cambodia, is visible in relics at the Angkor Wat temple complex.
Among the pieces being returned are "The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease," a bronze sculpture from the late 10th to early 11th century, and "Head of Buddha," a seventh-century stone art piece. These artworks, part of a group of 10 still on display, are awaiting arrangements for their return.
Photo: AP
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