Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On January 6, 2026, Thailand held a handover ceremony for the return of the Phra Khun Chai bronze sculptures. A representative appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended, and the Minister of Culture presided over the event. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, the Director-General of the Department of Fine Arts, a representative from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, and heads of relevant institutions also participated in the handover. The four bronze sculptures were previously returned to Thailand from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
It is understood that these four bronze sculptures originated in Phra Khun Chai District, Buriram Province, Thailand, and were later acquired by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. To facilitate the return of these artifacts, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General in Los Angeles fully supported the coordination efforts between the Department of Fine Arts and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), while also working with relevant domestic Thai institutions to form a joint effort. Since 2018, Thailand has maintained close communication with the U.S. side, laying a solid foundation for the return of the artifacts.
The repatriation process achieved a key breakthrough in 2025: In April of that year, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco permanently withdrew the four sculptures from its collection and initiated the repatriation process in conjunction with the Thai Consulate General in Los Angeles; on December 8th, the Thai Ambassador to the United States and the Consul General in Los Angeles attended the handover ceremony in San Francisco, and the Consulate General subsequently facilitated the transportation of the sculptures back to Thailand.
This repatriation is of great significance, not only confirming their crucial value as archaeological evidence in reconstructing the splendor of ancient civilization in northeastern Thailand, but also demonstrating the Thai Royal Government's firm determination to reclaim lost cultural relics, and the effectiveness of the close collaboration and tireless efforts of various relevant institutions in the repatriation of overseas cultural heritage.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere gratitude to the United States for its support and cooperation, especially thanking the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and reiterated its commitment to deepening cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and relevant institutions to continuously advance the repatriation of Thai cultural relics scattered overseas.
