Smithsonian Museum to Return Three Illicitly Removed Indian Temple Bronzes
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art has announced it will repatriate three significant medieval bronze sculptures to India, following an extensive internal investigation that confirmed the artefacts were illegally removed from temples in southern India during the mid-20th century. This decision represents a major step in addressing historical wrongs in the acquisition of cultural heritage items.
Investigation Uncovers Illicit Removal
An internal review of the museum's South Asian collection revealed compelling evidence that three important sculptures had been taken without authorisation from temples in Tamil Nadu between 1956 and 1959. Museum researchers examined archival records, dealer documentation, and photographic evidence, including images preserved in the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry that clearly showed the sculptures in their original temple settings before their appearance on the international art market.
The artefacts in question include a 10th-century Shiva Nataraja depicting the Hindu deity as cosmic dancer, a 12th-century Somaskanda statue showing Shiva with his family, and a 16th-century image of the poet-saint Sundarar with his consort Paravai. All three pieces hold significant religious and cultural importance within the Hindu tradition.
Complexities of Repatriation and Display
While two of the bronzes will be handed directly to the Indian embassy in Washington for return, the Shiva Nataraja will remain on display in the museum as part of an ongoing exhibition on loan from India. This arrangement has sparked debate about ownership and lending authority, with heritage activists questioning whether the Indian government has the right to offer temple property as a long-term loan.
Vijay Kumar, co-founder of the India Pride Project which investigates stolen Indian antiquities, emphasised that temple bronzes are considered property of the temples themselves rather than state assets. He specifically noted that the Nataraja was stolen from the Tirutturaipoondi temple, which remains ready to receive its sacred object.
Problematic Provenance and Acquisition History
The museum acquired the Shiva Nataraja in 2002 from New York's Doris Wiener Gallery, a dealer later implicated in selling looted artefacts. Researchers discovered the gallery had provided falsified documentation to facilitate the sale, with records showing the purchase actually occurred in 1973 from London's Rajrama Art Gallery - after India had passed legislation prohibiting unauthorised export of antiquities.
The other two bronzes came to the Smithsonian as part of a collection of 1,000 objects donated in 1987 by pharmaceutical magnate Arthur M Sackler to inaugurate his namesake gallery. Photographic evidence placed the Somaskanda at the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village in 1959 and the Sundarar statue at the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village in 1956, confirming their illicit removal.
Institutional Commitment to Ethical Stewardship
Museum director Chase F Robinson stated that returning the sculptures reflects the institution's commitment to ethical collecting practices and transparent stewardship of cultural heritage. He emphasised that the museum's research has established field-defining practices for investigating Asian art provenance and object histories, setting new standards for accountability in museum collections.
The spokesperson explained that displaying the Shiva Nataraja on loan allows the museum to share the sculpture's complete history with the public, from its creation through to its eventual return. The exhibition will provide clear context about the artefact's origins and the collaborative repatriation process, highlighting principles of ethical stewardship and shared responsibility.
Broader Context of Museum Restitution Movements
This repatriation decision occurs amidst growing international pressure on Western institutions to return artefacts taken from former colonies or acquired through illicit trade. British museums face similar demands, with Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum having agreed to return a 15th-century bronze statue of Tamil saint Tirumankai Alvar to India, pending Charity Commission approval.
The British Museum continues to face pressure from the Greek government regarding the Parthenon sculptures, though the institution maintains legal restrictions prevent permanent restitution. The Smithsonian's action represents a significant development in the global movement toward more ethical management of cultural heritage collections and recognition of historical injustices in art acquisition.
The Independent has contacted India's culture ministry for comment regarding the long-term loan arrangement for the Nataraja and plans for the other two sculptures, highlighting ongoing discussions about appropriate protocols for returning sacred objects to their communities of origin.
