The Metropolitan Museum of Art has made a significant move by repatriating two valuable sandstone sculptures to Cambodia. These artifacts include a guardian deity from the Angkor period, dating back to approximately 921-945 AD, and a mid-7th century lintel adorned with a carving of an anthropomorphic dragon.
This repatriation aligns with the ongoing investigation led by the Manhattan District Attorney into the activities of Doris Wiener, a prominent gallery dealer who passed away in 1981, and her daughter Nancy Wiener, who admitted guilt in trafficking looted artifacts in 2021.
The recent returns follow the Met's earlier repatriation of 14 sculptures to Cambodia in 2023, which was part of a broader investigation into Douglas Latchford, a dealer implicated in antiquities trafficking. The Met has a rich history of collaboration with Cambodia, highlighted by the 2014 exhibition "Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia," which featured significant loans from Cambodian national museums. Previous returns include the "Koh Ker Kneeling Attendants" in 2013, also linked to Latchford.
One of the returned sculptures, the guardian deity or rākṣasa, originally guarded the entrance of the Prasat Chen temple at Koh Ker, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This imposing figure was intended to ward off evil spirits and protect the temple's sanctity. During the 1970s, Koh Ker faced extensive looting, resulting in many sculptures being smuggled out of Cambodia. The guardian statue was sold to Doris Wiener in 1972 and was gifted to the Met in 1987, remaining on display until its recent seizure.
The formal transfer of these sculptures to Cambodia took place at a ceremony, which also included a third sandstone sculpture depicting the Hindu deity Harihara.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg remarked, "These sculptures have been in New York City illegally for decades, and thanks to the diligent work of our team, they are finally being returned to Cambodia."
Max Hollein, the Met's Director and CEO, emphasized the museum's commitment to ethical art collection and the stewardship of cultural heritage. He expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration with Cambodian authorities, which has been instrumental in clarifying the histories of these artifacts.
The D.A.'s Antiquities Trafficking Unit has achieved significant milestones, convicting 18 individuals for cultural property crimes and recovering over 6,350 treasures valued at more than $490 million, with nearly 6,000 items returned to 38 countries.
This development not only restores vital cultural heritage to Cambodia but also sets a precedent for future collaborations in the global effort to protect and repatriate cultural artifacts.
