United States Smithsonian Museum to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India

Key facts

• The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) in Washington DC announced the return of three ancient bronze sculptures to the Government of India after provenance research confirmed they were illegally removed.
• The three artefacts include a Shiva Nataraja from the Chola period (dated circa 990), a Somaskanda from the Chola period (12th century), and Saint Sundarar with Paravai from the Vijayanagar period (16th century).
• The Shiva Nataraja originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi taluk of Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
• The Somaskanda sculpture was identified from the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Mannarkudi taluk, while the Saint Sundarar with Paravai was from the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi taluk.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) reviewed the findings and concluded that the sculptures were removed in violation of Indian law.
• The Indian government has agreed to place the Shiva Nataraja on a long-term loan to the NMAA to be displayed in the exhibition titled The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.
• The provenance investigation was supported by the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry, which provided photographic evidence of the sculptures in their original temples between 1956 and 1959.
• The NMAA is working with the Embassy of India to finalise the arrangements for the return and the loan agreement.