San Fransisco's Asian Art Museum returns Ancient Bronze Sculptures to Thailand

The sculptures — long part of the museum’s holdings and most recently featured in the exhibition Moving Objects: Learning from Local and Global Communities — were determined through extensive research to have been illegally removed from Thailand in the 1960s and later acquired on the art market by the museum’s founding collector, Avery Brundage. A multi-agency investigation led by U.S. Homeland Security, paired with scholarship from Thai researchers and the Asian Art Museum’s curatorial team, confirmed that the works were linked to Douglas Latchford, a dealer later indicted for trafficking in Southeast Asian antiquities.

Following this confirmation, museum staff and the San Francisco City Attorney recommended cooperation with Thai authorities. The Asian Art Commission, the museum’s governing body, unanimously approved the return through a required two-stage voting process — first in September 2024, and again on April 22, 2025, after the mandated six-month review period.

“This return is the result of careful research, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to doing what is right,” said Soyoung Lee, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum. “These sculptures have been part of our history for nearly half a century, but their rightful place is in Thailand. It is an honor to be a part of their return home.”

Lee emphasized the collaborative spirit behind the resolution and optimism about future cultural exchange. “We deeply appreciate the partnership of the Thai government, the local Thai American community, and our colleagues at Homeland Security,” she said. “We look forward to continued collaboration with Thailand in sharing knowledge and celebrating the richness of Thai art and culture with audiences here and around the world.”