Artefacts were illegally removed from temples in Tamil Nadu, museum confirms
In a significant step toward the restitution of India’s cultural heritage, the United States will return three ancient bronze sculptures illegally taken from temples in Tamil Nadu, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has announced.
The decision follows extensive provenance research that confirmed the artefacts were unlawfully removed from sacred temple sites in India and later entered international art markets. The museum said the bronzes would be formally handed over to the Government of India, with one sculpture placed on long-term loan as part of an agreement between the two countries.
The museum said the arrangement reflects its commitment to transparent provenance research and ethical stewardship, allowing it to present the full history of the artefact — from creation and worship to theft and return.
Chola and Vijayanagara bronzes traced through photographs and falsified records
The three artefacts include a Chola-period Shiva Nataraja dated to around 990 CE, a 12th-century Chola Somaskanda, and a 16th-century Vijayanagara sculpture of Saint Sundarar with Paravai. These bronzes represent the pinnacle of South Indian metal casting traditions and were originally used in temple rituals and ceremonial processions.
The restitution follows a multi-year investigation conducted by the museum’s provenance research team, curators, and international collaborators, including the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry. Researchers established in 2023 that the sculptures had been photographed in Tamil Nadu temples between 1956 and 1959, well before they surfaced in overseas collections.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) later examined the evidence and confirmed that the bronzes had been removed in violation of Indian law.
Investigators traced the Shiva Nataraja to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi Taluk of Tanjavur district, where it was photographed in 1957. The sculpture was acquired by the museum in 2002 from the Doris Wiener Gallery, with later findings revealing falsified documentation used to legitimise the sale.
The Somaskanda and Saint Sundarar with Paravai entered the museum’s collection in 1987 as part of a gift of 1,000 objects. Archival records confirmed their presence in temples in Mannarkudi and Kallakuruchi Taluks before their disappearance.
Museum director Chase Robinson, speaking to the Associated Press, said the institution remains committed to responsible stewardship of cultural heritage and transparency in collection practices. He added that the return demonstrates ethical accountability while allowing the long-admired Shiva Nataraja to remain visible to the public on loan.
Founded in 1923, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is the oldest national art museum in the United States and houses one of the world’s leading collections of Asian art.
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