AMBODIA, August 30, 2024 (New York Times): Amid the stone sculptures of Hindu figures, mythological temple guardians and Buddhist divinities, Cambodian officials this month recognized the success of lengthy years of repatriation efforts with a ceremony at the prime minister’s office in Phnom Penh. In a room filled with artifacts, officials formally welcomed the return of statues and other objects stolen from sites where the Khmer people, centuries ago, had once honored their kings and Deities. Many Cambodians believe the statues are divine or contain the souls of their Khmer ancestors. Hundreds had ended up in museums and other collections around the world. After years of research and diplomacy, Cambodian officials, aided at times by U.S. investigators, convinced museums and wealthy collectors in 15 countries that the artifacts in their galleries and homes had been taken illegally, often from remote jungle sites. All told, since 2012, more than 200 relics have been repatriated.

The testimony of former looters helped investigators track where statues had been taken, an important step in demonstrating that they had been stolen. Many had been looted in the 1970s, during the chaotic reign of the Khmer Rouge. Investigators say much of the looting was organized by Douglas A.J. Latchford, an art dealer living in Thailand who died in 2020. One former looter, for example, told investigators that he found a 10th- or 11th-century bronze buried on the grounds of a temple in 1990. The image of it during restoration was found on Latchford’s computer. In 1992, Latchford sold the looted statue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was on display there until last year, when it was returned to Cambodia. In addition to this bronze, the Met agreed to return 13 other artifacts to Cambodia. In some cases, the looted items were the highlights of museum collections that featured Khmer art. In addition to the Met, other museums that cooperated in the return of items were the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Norton Simon Museum and the Denver Art Museum.

More at source including several photos of the returned items.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/30/arts/design/cambodia-return-gods.html?unlocked_article_code=1.G04.hhxE.UACbsUKe0DJQ&smid=url-share

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