Alexxa Gotthardt
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Indian government officials are
currently reviewing 15 Indian artifacts in the museum’s collection that came
through Subhash Kapoor, a former Manhattan art dealer accused of running a
smuggling ring. The artifacts sold or gifted to the Met by Kapoor include a set
of first-century terra-cotta rattles and a sandstone celestial dancer from the
11th century. Most of the items arrived at the Met before Kapoor was arrested
in Germany in 2011; he was sent to India to await trial on smuggling charges in
2012.
“As we have since learned of the multiple law enforcement actions,
and in the spirit of our enhanced procedures over recent years, we are now
seeking to identify additional provenance information,” the Met told the New
York Times in a statement.
When charges were initially brought against Kapoor, the Met did not
deem it necessary to review its collection, but museum officials later reversed
that position.
Last month, Kapoor was charged with 86 felony counts in New York.
According to a complaint filed by the office of the Manhattan district
attorney, Kappor and seven co-conspirators were involved with smuggling over
$143 million out of Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Thailand
over the course of 30 years. Around 2,600 artifacts valued at over $107 million
have already been seized by authorities, while another 39 objects valued at $36
million are still missing. Since Kapoor’s 2011 arrest, at least 10 museums,
including the Toledo Museum of Art and the Honolulu Museum of Art, have
repatriated items connected to him.
In its collections management policy, the Met states: “The Museum
will thoroughly research the ownership history of any archaeological materials
or ancient art prior to its acquisition, including making a rigorous effort to
obtain accurate written documentation with respect to its history, including
import and export documents.” Last August, the Met returned two sculptures to
the Indian government, though neither item appeared to be linked to Kapoor.
The Indian government is currently trying to recover tens of
thousands of artifacts that have been looted from the country in the past
half-century. UNESCO has calculated that over 50,000 items have been stolen
from India, though officials may never be able to agree on an exact number.
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-andy-warhol-enthralled-wild-west
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