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Does this Denver Art Museum have looted treasures?
2024-03-02
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This story is about one of the greatest art heists in history and how several pieces ended up in a local Denver museum.
Precious artifacts from Cambodia's rich history were either looted or destroyed. Those looted were sold on the black market or through what was thought to be legitimate antiquity dealers.
Shiva w/his son Skanda, 10th century from Prasat Krachap, Koh Ker. Looted by Douglas Latchford. Part of his Collection. Now returned.Photo byLost Temples Facebook
Cambodian officials are trying their hardest to restore Cambodia’s cultural treasures. They have been hunting the world for missing art from lost ancient Khmer Empire ruins. Their intent is to return these antiquities to their homeland.
How the Heist Began
The Khmer Empire was in power from 802A.D. to 1431A.D. Historians refer to this period of Cambodian history the Angkor period.
This looting of Cambodian antiquities started with the Colonial French in 1874. They went temple to temple collecting magnificent statues and took them out of the country. Starting a trend of looting that still exists today.
During the the Vietnam War era in the 1970s, a number of statues were looted and taken out of the country. In 1975, The racial Communist movement, Khmer Rouge seized the country. In the four years that they were in power, the Khmer Rouge were responsible for the genocide of an estimated 2 million Cambodian citizens.
While in rule, they were responsible for destroying thousands of temples, written records, and antiquities. When they left the country, the Cambodian people were destitute. They were desperate to feed themselves in any way they could. This is when Cambodian's own started looting the antiquities.
By the '80s and '90s many temples and statues were being stripped of treasures by the Cambodians. Many of these looters were ex-child soldiers that were forced to fight for the Khmer Rouge.
These stolen treasures were sold to the art market/dealers and in turn sold for millions of dollars to museums. Museums such as the New York MET, the Cleveland Museum of Art, California’s Norton Simon, and the Denver Museum of Art. It is believed that over 100 museums unknowingly purchased what was stolen goods. Totaling around 2,000 statues in museums and another 2,000 in private collections.
Did you know this about the Denver Art Museum? Let us know in the comments.
Looted from the Koh Ker temple complex in Preah Vihear. Thirty-three years in the Cleveland Museum of Art. Returned to Cambodia.Photo byArt Net
The Main Suspect
Douglas Latchford was a British art dealer and many of the contemporary purchases by museums and private collectors can be traced to him. It is estimated that he stole anywhere from 500 and well into the thousands of Cambodia's antiquities. Making millions on the stolen art. He is now dead, and his private collection of Cambodian antiquities are being returned to their rightful place.
When you see these statues in museums, you will notice that they have no feet. Because it was too hard to remove the statues during the pillaging without just breaking them off from their pedestals. But when they find these feet still on the stone pedestals in the temples. They become forensic clues. If the looted statue shows up in a museum or in a private collection. They can use the feet left behind as a matchup to the stolen antiquity. They should interlock like a puzzle.
According to the Denver Post , Denver Museum of Art officials returned the 10th-century sculpture the “Torso of Rama” in 2016. The sculpture was acquired in 1986 from the Wiener Gallery. The Cambodians claim the piece originally came from Latchford. The Denver Post has also reported that The Denver Art Museum has been removing plundered artworks from its website.
In a 2021 press release by the museum, they state:
Goddess of Transcendent Wisdom (Prajnaparamita), Cambodia, 1150 to 1200, Bayon period. Sandstone.
Sun God (Surya), Cambodia or Vietnam, 600s to 700s, Pre-Angkor period. Sandstone.
Sleep of Vishnu and the Birth of Brahma, Cambodia, 700s, Pre-Angkor period. Sandstone.
Bell, Cambodia, 1st Century BCE, Iron Age. Bronze.
Torso of Rama from the Denver Art MuseumPhoto byDenver Post
In Conclusion
I recently visited the Denver Art Museum in April 2023. At the time I was surprised how many pieces of Southeast Asia they had in their collection on display. It was months later I learned of this story and am now eager to return to see what is still on display.
What about you? Are you going to go to the Denver Art Museum or your local museum to see if you see any of these possible statues? Let us know in the comments.
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