Bangkok: The United States is preparing to return a collection of Prakonchai antiquities to Thailand, with the first batch of four items expected to be returned within this year. Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakitchkosol announced the move, which marks a significant step in retrieving antiquities that were originally smuggled out of the country.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitchkosol, Minister of Culture, disclosed the development following a meeting of the Committee for Tracking Thai Antiques Abroad to Return to Thailand. The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has removed four Thai antiques from its registry in preparation for their return. These items, which include three Bodhisattvas and one Buddha image, were smuggled from Prasat Khao Plai Bat 2 in Buriram Province since 1964.
The Asian Art Museum began reviewing the artifacts in September 2024. Following a hearing with stakeholders and a six-month evidence collection process, the museum's board of directors resolved on April 22, 2025, to remove the artifacts from its registry. The Fine Arts Department is now coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles to facilitate the return. An official announcement from the museum is awaited, with an expected return within the year.
Ms. Sudawan emphasized that the return of these four antiques is a result of efforts initiated in 2017, in cooperation with Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), to track and retrieve antiques from overseas. The focus will now shift to tracking other bronze sculptures from the Prakon Chai group in various museums.
The minister also noted that the meeting resolved to pursue the recovery of 16 additional antiquities currently in the United States. Among these are gold plates from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art, which could offer valuable insights for archaeological studies in Thailand.
The return of these antiques is a key mission of the Ministry of Culture to safeguard and develop Thailand's national cultural heritage. This achievement highlights the collaborative efforts between nations in preserving and enhancing Thai cultural heritage.