On Wednesday, the Indonesian Consulate in New York celebrated the return of two 8th-century bronze Buddha statues to Indonesia. These sculptures were originally looted from archaeological sites in Indonesia by a network that sold them to the disgraced antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. His actions led to significant legal repercussions, culminating in his indictment for trafficking antiquities before his death in 2020.
Background on the Repatriated Bronze Statues
The bronze sculptures were taken from Indonesia and sold to Latchford between 2003 and 2007. Following Latchford's indictment, an unnamed collector who purchased the bronzes relinquished 34 looted objects, including these statues, around 2021. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York confirmed the return of these culturally significant pieces.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “We will continue to partner with [Homeland Security Investigations] to end callous profiteering from stolen artworks of cultural significance.” The return ceremony highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing art crime.
Details of the Return Ceremony
The ceremony held on July 8 at the Indonesian Consulate also marked the return of two preserved human skulls, valued at approximately $15,000. These skulls are part of a larger cache of repatriated antiquities from various countries, including Italy and Iraq. They represent the cultural heritage of the Dayak people, a diverse group of Indigenous communities in Borneo.
