Washington, Jan 29 (NationPress) The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art has declared it will return three significant South Indian bronze sculptures to India following provenance research that confirmed these artworks were illegally extracted from temple settings many years ago.

On Wednesday (local time), the museum disclosed that one sculpture, a Chola-period “Shiva Nataraja”, will stay in the United States on a long-term loan agreed with the Indian government. This arrangement allows the museum to continue showcasing the piece while transparently documenting its history, removal, and return.

The three sculptures — “Shiva Nataraja” (Chola period, circa 990), “Somaskanda” (Chola period, 12th century), and “Saint Sundarar with Paravai” (Vijayanagar period, 16th century) — are recognized as valuable examples of South Indian bronze-casting traditions, according to a media release.

Originally, these were sacred objects used in temple processions throughout Tamil Nadu.

The museum noted that the “Shiva Nataraja”, under long-term loan, will be featured in the exhibition titled “The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.”

This decision comes after a comprehensive investigation as part of a systematic review of the museum’s South Asian collections.

In 2023, researchers collaborating with the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry determined that the three bronzes were photographed in temples in Tamil Nadu between 1956 and 1959.

The Archaeological Survey of India later evaluated these findings and confirmed that the sculptures had been taken in violation of Indian law.

“The National Museum of Asian Art is dedicated to responsibly managing cultural heritage and promoting transparency in our collection,”

stated museum director Chase F. Robinson.

“The return of these sculptures, the result of thorough research, reflects our commitment to ethical museum practices. We greatly appreciate the Indian government for allowing us to continue exhibiting the long-admired Shiva Nataraja for the benefit of our visitors,”

Robinson added.

The museum is collaborating closely with the Embassy of India to finalize arrangements related to the agreement. This process was supported by the museum’s provenance team, curators of South and Southeast Asian art, and international research collaborators.

According to the museum, the “Shiva Nataraja” originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi Taluk in Tamil Nadu, where it was photographed in 1957.

The sculpture was subsequently acquired by the National Museum of Asian Art from the Doris Wiener Gallery in New York in 2002. Research revealed that the gallery had provided falsified documentation to facilitate its sale.

The two other sculptures entered the museum’s collection as part of a 1987 gift of about 1,000 items from Arthur M. Sackler. Research confirmed that the “Somaskanda” was photographed at the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village in 1959, while the “Saint Sundarar with Paravai” was photographed at a Shiva temple in Veerasolapuram village in 1956.

The museum defined provenance research as a process that combines physical examination of objects with extensive documentary review, including export licenses, dealer records, historical photographs, correspondence, and shipping records, to reconstruct an object's ownership history.

For many years, India has been pursuing the return of cultural artifacts that were illegally taken from temples and archaeological sites.

The Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum and research complex, oversees several museums on the National Mall and attracts millions of visitors each year.

The National Museum of Asian Art, which opened in 1923, houses one of the most significant collections of Asian art and is free to the public.