US to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India after provenance review

Somaskanda sculpture

The US will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India that were illegally removed from the country's temples. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC said the sculptures will be returned following "rigorous provenance research".

The Indian government has agreed to place one of the sculptures on long-term loan, which will allow the museum to publicly share the full story of the object's origins, removal and return, and to underscore the museum's commitment to provenance research.

The Nataraja bronze sculpture; (right) Saint Sundarar with Paravai. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The sculptures are ‘Shiva Nataraja' belonging to the Chola period, circa 990; ‘Somaskanda' of the Chola period, 12th century; and ‘Saint Sundarar with Paravai' of the Vijayanagar period, 16th century.

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