Two antiques have arrived in Thailand, bronze sculptures of Shiva, “Golden Boy” and “Woman with Hands on Hands”, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States. They were returned when it was discovered that they had been illegally traded and taken out of Thailand. The Fine Arts Department is preparing to have an official handover ceremony on the afternoon of May 21, after which it will be displayed at the National Museum, Bangkok, for data collection and study. Ready to open for public viewing from 22 May onwards, the day when Thai people have been waiting for the return of two important antiques, especially the one known as the “Golden Boy,” will arrive. On May 19, Mr. Phanombut Chandrachote, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department The Ministry of Culture (Ministry of Culture) revealed that in the case of the Metropolitan Museum of Art or The MET (The Metro politan Museum of Art or The MET), United States. Sending two important antique items back to Thailand, consisting of: 1. Bronze sculpture of Shiva (The Standing Shiva) or Golden Boy, aged around the 16th century, depicting Lord Shiva wearing the costume of a high-ranking person. It is considered a great antique and is rarely found. The sculpture is 129 centimeters tall and has a special construction technique. It is cast in bronze and gold plated, worth more than 100 million baht, and 2. A sculpture of a woman with her hands clasped (The Kneeling Female), dated around the 16th century, with a height of 43 centimeters, in a sitting position with her knees raised. and raised his hands to worship above his head Dress like a high-class person. Cast in bronze There are traces of silver and gold decoration. After the Thai team spent a long time reclaiming them through the Thai Consulate in New York City, they were initially notified by officials that the two antiquities were scheduled to arrive in Thailand on May 20 at 7:00 a.m. PM. After arriving according to the process, you must go through customs procedures. and inspection The Fine Arts Department has prepared staff from the National Museum, Bangkok, along with a team of technicians, curators, and scientists. Come in and check the completeness with The Met. After that, it will be taken up on the prepared base. before being moved to be preserved at the National Museum Phra Nakhon Nai Phanombutr said for the ceremony to receive antiquities from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Officially returned to Thailand It will take place on May 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Issara Winitchai Throne Hall. National Museum, Bangkok, with Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson The Minister of Culture is the chairman. However, this time the receipt of the two antiques An international ceremony will be held from representatives of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There will be no worship ceremony like when the lintel from Prasat Nong Hong, Buriram Province and the lintel from Prasat Khao Lon, Sa Kaeo Province were returned to Thailand in 2021, the Director-General of the Fine Arts Department said. The preliminary preservation will be displayed at the National Museum. Phra Nakhon indefinitely Because both antiques are interesting. There must be a study to collect data. Both the construction It is cast in bronze and plated with gold. The National Museum of Bangkok has modern equipment that can be used to efficiently examine the details. Therefore, at this time there are no plans to move it to be kept elsewhere. In addition, interested people can come and visit the National Museum, Bangkok from May 22 onwards. Mrs. Yupha Thaweewattanakijaworn Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture said that it is a good opportunity for Thailand to welcome back two important antiques. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including the Shiva “Golden Boy” sculpture and the Woman sculpture. Around the 16th century, the Fine Arts Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will officially receive it at Suvarnabhumi Airport. and held a press conference to congratulate on May 21, therefore inviting people all over the country to join in congratulating and welcoming the return of antiques. which is a priceless inheritance to Thailand for the scheduled ceremony to receive antiques from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States, back to Thailand on May 21 at Issara Winitchai Throne Hall. National Museum, Bangkok, starting at 1:30 p.m. Executives of the Ministry of Culture Executive of the Fine Arts Department and honored guests together at the ceremony, then Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson The Minister of Culture presided over the ceremony to pay homage to Phra Buddha Sihing at Phutthaisawan Throne Hall at 2:00 p.m., the ceremony of receiving the handover began. By Mr. Phanombut Chandrachot, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department Welcoming the representative from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Mr. John Guy, representative of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Discussing the history of the return of the antiques, Mrs. Yupa Thawiwatthanakijabworn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, reported on the receipt of the antiques and Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson. Minister of Culture Congratulations on Thailand receiving important antiques from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Reporters reported that Previously, the Ministry of Culture Made posters to invite Thai people to join in welcoming the Golden Boy sculpture and the sculpture of a woman sitting with her knees bent and her hands held high. who returned to Thailand and will be preserved and displayed at the National Museum, Bangkok via the Ministry’s Facebook page, while Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakitkoson Minister of Culture posted this poster on his personal Facebook page. To invite Thai people to join in admiring these two important sculptures as well. In this poster In addition to there being a picture of the Golden Boy sculpture with a message stating: Prepared to receive back to Thailand There is also content that describes the Golden Boy or the image of Lord Shiva. It is a bronze sculpture of Lopburi art or Khmer art in Thailand. It is around the 16th Buddhist century, or about 1,000 years ago. It is assumed that it was illegally excavated from a stone castle in Lahan Sai district. Buriram Province and was illegally traded and taken out in the year 1975 and also stated the importance that It is evidence of the prosperity of Thailand in the past. The beauty of craftsmanship and the high technology in metal casting of the ancient people Especially it is something that is hard to find. It is recognized as a great antique with world-class value. which after being illegally taken out of Thailand The Golden Boy sculpture was put on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in the United States, until verification of its origins led to the Golden Boy being offered back. Returning to the other side of Thailand in Buriram Province, the reporter traveled to meet Mrs. Nil Petsakul, 69 years old, a villager of Ban Pong Sadao, Tajong Subdistrict, Lahan Sai District, who unearthed the Shiva idol “Golden Boy” and spoke. In Khmer through an interpreter, he translated the day he found the said Shiva idol: In 1975, he went to look for it with his two husbands in the nearby grove. Ban Yang Castle About 3 km away from the house, use a shovel to dig down further. Hear the sound of hitting an object. At first I thought it was a stone. He continued digging with a spade until he found an arm and realized it was an idol. After that, he went to find 6-7 villagers who came to help dig around the ring. They couldn’t lift it, so they set up the five Khandha and asked for forgiveness. When they were able to lift it, they carried it back to the house and brought water to wash it. It was a bright color and was afraid that there would be danger so she set up the 5 Khandha again. Nang Nil further said that Then kept it at home for 2 days and contacted a police officer to contact the buyer. This police officer took him to another capitalist in Lam Plai Mat District before taking him to Bangkok with idols Set the selling price with foreigners at that time at 1.6 million baht. It took 2 months of negotiating to sell for 1.2 million baht. After that, the money was divided between them. Not long after returning home A foreigner came and hired him to dig for the idol for 50-100 baht a day. After that, 30 years later, a foreigner brought a picture of this idol to show to himself and her husband. The husband let out a sigh of relief. Because the arm bracelets were diamonds, the eyes were diamonds, the crown on the head was diamonds, and the onyx belt and onyx that had previously been there were all gone. Then, 3 years later, the husband died. However, if the Golden Boy idol were to be brought back to Buriram I will be very happy if I can come back to my old house and read. All “Thairath newspaper columns” here
