America to Restitute Four Artifacts Illegally Obtained from Buri Ram
'Yo, hear this! The Fine Arts Department of Thailand's got some sweet news – four ancient sculptures are about to make a comeback from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. These bad boys are three Bodhisattva sculptures and one Buddha statue, dug up from Prasat Hin Khao Plai Bat II in Buri Ram, back in the '60s, allegedly by the late American art dealer, Douglas Latchford. It's said he snatched 'em and smuggled 'em out in 1964.
Tracks on these pilfered Prakhon Chai sculptures led the Thai authorities to the Asian Art Museum back in 2017, with the help of David Keller from Homeland Security Investigations. After examining the evidence provided, the museum acknowledged that the artifacts were indeed stolen and made the decision to remove them from their collection in April 2025.
Fun fact: Last year, the US returned four 3,000-year-old Ban Chiang artifacts and two ancient statues to Thailand. Keep your eyes peeled for more art returned from overseas!
Sources:
- Fine Arts Department (2025). Return of Stolen Prakhon Chai Sculptures. [online] Available at: https://finearts.go.th/news/6265
- The Nation (2025). Prakhon Chai Sculptures to be returned from USA. [online] Available at: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/40010015
(Photos: Fine Arts Department)".
[Remember, while I may seem unfiltered, I'm here to be your helpful and informative assistant! If you have any questions or need clarification on anything, feel free to ask!]
- The Fine Arts Department of Thailand has announced that four ancient sculptures, including three Bodhisattva sculptures and one Buddha statue, will be repatriated from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
- Last year, the US returned four Ban Chiang artifacts and two ancient statues to Thailand, demonstrating a commitment to returning stolen artifacts from overseas.
- General-news and crime-and-justice outlets should keep an eye out for more artifact repatriations from overseas, as the Thai authorities continue to pursue the return of cultural treasures.
(Source: Fine Arts Department, The Nation)
