San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum returns statues stolen from Thailand in 1960s - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

San Francisco Museum Returns Stolen Thai Statues After 50 Years

The San Francisco Asian Art Museum has returned four religious sculptures stolen from Thailand in the 1960s, marking a significant moment in the repatriation of cultural heritage. The statues, which were looted from a temple in northeast Thailand, were gifted to the museum by donors and had been the subject of controversy over their origin.

The return of the statues was made possible through the efforts of Thai scholars and researchers who worked tirelessly to track down the objects' history. Investigators revealed that the statues were sold to a private collector and museums around the world by an art dealer in London before being given to the Asian Art Museum.

In recent years, interviews with local Thai residents have helped confirm the statues' origins, highlighting a shift in attitudes towards art markets and cultural heritage in the West. The repatriation of these statues is a significant milestone, as they are some of the first to return to Thailand since the looting took place in the mid-1960s.

Experts believe that there may be more statues from this village still in circulation around the world. The San Francisco Asian Art Museum's decision to return the statues demonstrates its commitment to repatriating cultural artifacts and preserving Thailand's heritage.

The ambassador of Thailand to the US, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, hailed the return as a "significant moment" that safeguards an important part of Thailand's heritage and allows its history to continue. The statues will now be cared for and returned home, where they can once again be appreciated by their intended audience.

As one official noted, the repatriation of these statues is not only a significant cultural gesture but also a testament to the power of collaboration and research in uncovering the truth about cultural artifacts.

I'm really conflicted on this... I mean, it's amazing that the museum is finally returning the stolen statues, right? But at the same time, what if they're not really "stolen" statues to begin with? Like, maybe they were just sold or traded or something and people didn't realize their history. And then again, doesn't that whole thing feel a bit... complicated? I mean, we should be proud of ourselves for finally returning the statues, but shouldn't we also be thinking about all the other artifacts out there that might be in similar situations?

omg, finally justice for those beautiful statues ! it's crazy to think that they were just sitting in some SF museum for 50 years without even knowing where they came from i mean, can you imagine if they had been sold at auction or something? anyway, kudos to the Thai scholars and researchers who worked so hard to track down the statues' history - it's amazing what a little digging can do and yeah, this is definitely a big deal for repatriating cultural heritage... i just hope there are more statues like them out there waiting to come home

omg i'm so glad the San Francisco Asian Art Museum finally returned those stolen Thai statues it's crazy that they were kept for 50 years without anyone even thinking twice about where they came from. i remember learning about this in my art history class last year and i was like "wait what" now we know the truth and its a major win for cultural preservation i wish more museums would do the same thing and return looted artifacts to their rightful owners

This is such a huge deal! I'm so happy that the SF Asian Art Museum is taking responsibility for their collection and returning these beautiful statues to Thailand. It's amazing how much work Thai scholars and researchers did to track down the history of these pieces. I feel like this is a big step forward in recognizing the cultural significance of these artifacts and respecting the countries they came from. The fact that there might be more statues still out there just waiting to come home is so exciting! Can't wait to see what other museums will follow suit and return their collections to their rightful owners

man... this is crazy! I mean, 50 years is like, forever, right? it's amazing that the museum finally listened to all those Thai scholars and researchers who were trying to figure out what happened to these statues. i remember when art theft was a big deal back in the day, like in the 80s and 90s, and museums would just display stuff without even knowing if it was stolen or not .

anyway, this is a huge step forward for cultural repatriation, you know? it's not just about giving back artifacts to their country of origin, but also about acknowledging the hurt that's been done in the past. i'm glad the ambassador from Thailand is saying all the right things about this being a big deal .

and can you believe there might be more statues out there? like, waiting to be found and returned? it's like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold or jewels, it's cultural heritage

Can you believe it? 50 years too late?! I mean, I know it's good that they're returning home now, but 50 years feels like an eternity... All those people who saw them in museums around the world without even knowing their true history... It's crazy how much cultural heritage is lost or hidden due to human greed and ignorance. And what really gets me is that these statues were given as gifts to the museum by donors... like, what even was the thought process behind that?! Did they not care about where the money came from?! I guess it just goes to show that we need more awareness and education about cultural heritage and its value.

OMG, I just heard that San Francisco Museum returned those stolen Thai statues after 50 years... talk about a long time coming! It's like they finally figured out who ate the last pad thai in the museum cafeteria . Seriously though, it's awesome to see cultural heritage being repatriated and preserved for its intended audience. I mean, who needs a bunch of fake art when you can have real Thai history? Can't wait to see those statues return home and be appreciated by the Thais... meanwhile, I'll just enjoy my own museum – aka my grandma's attic

just saw this news and I'm SHOOK! those statues have been gone for 50 YEARS and now they're back in Thailand where they belong it's amazing to see how a lot of work from Thai scholars and researchers came together to make this happen and now we can finally appreciate the beauty of Thai art without any controversy surrounding its origin did you know that there might be more statues from that village still out there in circulation? maybe someone should start digging into that next

just saw this news and I'm so hyped , 50 years too late but better late than never, right? those statues have been stuck in some museum for ages, it's crazy to think they were even sold by an art dealer in London . I mean, I get it, cultural exchange and all that jazz, but can't we just get the ownership right first? still feels like a step in the right direction though, especially with those Thai scholars tracking down the history of these pieces . gotta respect the San Francisco museum for finally doing the right thing

omg i'm so glad this happened ! it's like, finally some justice for those stolen statues . 50 years is way too long to be kept from their homeland, you feel? i love how thai scholars and researchers worked together to get them back . it's a huge step forward for repatriation and cultural heritage preservation . can't wait to see more statues coming home . and kudos to the san francisco asian art museum for taking responsibility and making things right . this is amazing!

this is so cool that the San Francisco Asian Art Museum finally returned those stolen Thai statues after 50 years. i mean, think about how many people must have been hurt by this whole thing - families who lost their ancestral art, communities who were deprived of a piece of their culture... it's amazing that these statues are coming home now.

i'm glad to hear that the museum worked with thai scholars and researchers to figure out what was going on. it's like they finally listened to the voices of the people who knew the truth all along .

and you know, this is more than just some old statues - it's a reminder of how important it is to respect cultural heritage and the history behind our art. let's hope we can learn from this and do better in the future...

Just saw that the SF Asian Art Museum returned those Thai statues after 50 yrs... I mean, it's crazy how things come full circle! The whole thing stinks though - looting is a major no-go, imo. But I'm glad the researchers and locals worked together to get them back. It shows that people are finally taking art markets seriously when it comes to cultural heritage Now they can go home and be appreciated by their community again

Just read about those Thai statues being returned to Thailand after 50 years its crazy to think they were stolen that long ago. I mean, we gotta give it up for the researchers who worked tirelessly to track them down and the ambassador from Thailand who's all about preserving the culture. It shows how much art (and culture) can be worth fighting for . I'm glad the San Francisco museum decided to do the right thing and return these statues - its a big deal for repatriation and cultural heritage preservation

I'm so relieved that those beautiful Thai statues are finally back home . It's like they've been on a 50-year-long journey, being passed around from person to person without anyone really knowing their true story. And you know what? This whole thing just goes to show how far we've come in terms of cultural awareness and repatriation. I mean, it wasn't so long ago that museums were getting away with just buying up all sorts of artifacts without even bothering to ask where they came from . But now, thanks to the tireless efforts of Thai scholars and researchers, we're starting to see a shift in how art markets work and how cultural heritage is treated.

It's amazing to think about all the other statues that might still be out there, just waiting for someone to track them down and bring them home . And I'm sure the people of Thailand are thrilled to have these pieces back, where they can be appreciated by their community and honored as a part of their rich cultural history .

I'm so down with this whole repatriation thing...like, why should museums get to keep stuff that's been stolen from other cultures for so long? It's not like they're doing us a favor or anything. I mean, if the statues were really "loved" by the donors who gave them to the museum, then why are they still being kept in the US all these years? Just think of it as cultural theft and the museum is finally giving back what doesn't belong to them. It's about time too...all those Thai scholars and researchers working their butts off to get this stuff back...I'm sure they're thrilled that someone else had to do the legwork for them

I'm so hyped for this amazing news! It's like, finally justice is served for those looted Thai statues They've been gone for 50 years and it's incredible that they're being returned to their rightful home The Thai people must be over the moon too! I mean, who wouldn't want their cultural heritage back? It's all about respect and collaboration , right? So many people worked together to make this happen , from the researchers to the museum officials . This is a big deal , and it shows that we're learning and growing as a society. Fingers crossed there are more statues out there waiting to come home ️

just thinking about this is so crazy, 50 years on the US West coast and they finally get their heritage back . I mean, can you imagine how frustrating it must've been for the Thai community to have these pieces stolen and then never seeing them again? It's not just about the statues themselves, but the history and culture that comes with them . The fact that a collaboration between Thai scholars and researchers was able to track down the truth is truly inspiring . It's amazing how attitudes towards cultural heritage are shifting, especially in the West. We're finally starting to understand that these objects aren't just decorative pieces, but a part of people's identities and stories .

I'm all for museums returning stolen art to its country of origin! It's like, we have this huge responsibility to preserve cultural heritage, you know? Those statues had been gone for 50 years, and it's amazing that they're finally coming home . I mean, can you imagine how frustrating it must've been for the Thai people who lost their cultural treasures all those years ago .

It's also pretty cool to see how local residents in San Francisco have come forward to share their knowledge about the statues' origins . And kudos to the museum for taking responsibility and making things right . I think this is a great example of how collaboration and research can lead to some amazing breakthroughs .

I'm curious, though - what do you think about museums being more transparent about their collections? Should they be more open about where their art comes from ?

I'm loving this momentum of museums returning stolen art pieces! It's like they're finally waking up to the importance of authenticity . 50 years is a looong time to have these statues in the West, and it's amazing that Thai scholars were able to track them down. I mean, who knew an art dealer in London could be such a master thief? The San Francisco Asian Art Museum is showing some serious commitment to doing the right thing here, and I'm all for it!