BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s National Museum hosted a welcome-home ceremony Tuesday for two ancient statues that were illegally trafficked from Thailand by a British collector of antiquities and were returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The objects -- a tall bronze figure called the “Standing Shiva” or the “Golden Boy” and a smaller sculpture called “Kneeling Female” -- are thought to be around 1,000 years old.
This most recent repatriation of artwork comes as many museums in the U.S. and Europe reckon with collections that contain objects looted from Asia, Africa and other places during centuries of colonialism or in times of upheaval.
The Metropolitan Museum had announced last December that it would return more than a dozen artifacts to Thailand and Cambodia after they were linked to the late Douglas Latchford, an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.
Emma Hayes' first roster as coach of the US women's team includes 2 first
EU unveils 'remedy' for migrants
Comicomment: NATO at 75, what's next?
Australia as Bangladesh vow to boost trade as foreign ministers meet in Dhaka
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 33,729: ministry
Xi Focus: Xi Stresses Boosting High
Ukraine to get Dutch, Danish F
PHOTOS: At the Pet Gala, fashion goes to the dogs
Mexico denounces Ecuador to ICJ for embassy raid
Hong Kong: Authorities will monitor internet platforms for non
Premier calls on Europe to provide fair business environment