UK's Ashmolean Museum Returns 16th Century Bronze Statue to India
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England, has returned a 16th-century bronze statue of Saint Thirumangai Alvar to the Government of India. The handover, following detailed provenance research and liaison with Indian authorities, took place at the High Commission of India in London. The statue belongs to the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. The museum acquired the statue in 1967, which was later identified as having been replaced by a modern replica in the temple in 2020. This act is seen as restoring cultural continuity.
Key Points
- The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has repatriated a 16th-century bronze statue of Saint Thirumangai Alvar to India.
- The statue originally belongs to the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
- The return follows extensive provenance research, which linked the museum's acquisition to a 1957 photograph of the original statue in the temple.
- This act is seen as a reunification of an icon of faith with its intended shrine, restoring cultural continuity.
- A police report in 2020 confirmed that a modern replica had replaced the original bronze in the temple.
Exam Facts
- The statue is a 16th-century bronze of Saint Thirumangai Alvar.
- It was returned by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England.
- The statue belongs to the Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu.
- The Ashmolean Museum acquired the statue in 1967.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.