via Thai PBS, 22 May 2024: The 900-year-old “Golden Boy” and “Kneeling Lady” statues, recently repatriated from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, will be displayed at Thailand’s National Museum in Bangkok. These artefacts, associated with art dealer Douglas Latchford, were returned to Thailand following efforts to reclaim looted cultural property.
The 900-year-old bronze statue of a Hindu god, named “Golden Boy”, will go on public display at the National Museum from Thursday.
The Golden Boy, and another statue, the Kneeling Lady, were returned to Thailand on Monday from the United States, after being kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) in New York since 1988. A ceremony was held at the National Museum yesterday to welcome the return of the two artefacts.
The 43.2cm Kneeling Lady statue, also believed to be about 900 years old, is thought to represent a high-class lady of the court. From her hair style, thin waistline, perfect shape and clothing, it is assumed that the statue is a type of the bronze sculpture popular in the north-eastern region of Thailand about 1,000 years ago.
Source: Golden Boy, Kneeling Lady on display at the National Museum from Thursday – Thai PBS World
