Repatriation of Stolen Artefacts
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has announced the successful repatriation of four antiquities, collectively valued at more than $1 million, to Nepal. The restitution is a significant development in ongoing investigations into Nepalese trafficking networks, with connections to the alleged prolific looter Subhash Kapoor.
Recovered Antiquities: Unmasking the Stolen Treasures
The repatriated artefacts include a pair of 16th-century gilt bronze Bhairava masks, valued at $900,000 collectively, and a Ten-Armed Durga Statue of unlisted age and value. A fourth item, a stone image of the gods Shiva and Parvati, was also recovered but not extensively detailed in the press release by the Consulate General of Nepal in New York.
Investigations and Alleged Trafficking Networks
Three of the repatriated objects are linked to ongoing investigations into Nepalese trafficking networks, notably that of Subhash Kapoor, who faces accusations of prolific looting. The masks, depicting the god Shiva, were initially stolen in the mid-1990s from the annual Indra Jātrā festival in Nepal and later smuggled to Hong Kong. After passing through a New York auction, the masks found their way into the collections of the Rubin Museum of Art and Dallas Museum of Art before their recovery by the Manhattan District Attorney earlier this year.
Executive Apology and Cultural Considerations
Jorrit Britschgi, the executive director of the Rubin Museum, expressed regret over the removal of the exceptional mask, acknowledging the evidence presented and the decision to return the work to Nepal. While the museum has treasured the artefact since 2005, Britschgi recognised the loss experienced by the community in Dolakha, emphasising the return as a step toward acknowledging and rectifying the cultural wrongs.
Trafficking Network Connections: Ten-Armed Durga Statue
The Ten-Armed Durga Statue, allegedly smuggled by the Zeeshan and Zahid Butt trafficking network, made its way to New York and was eventually recovered from a storage unit owned by Subhash Kapoor. This repatriation adds to the Manhattan District Attorney’s efforts in reclaiming over 2,500 items, collectively valued at more than $143 million, allegedly trafficked by Kapoor’s network between 2011 and 2023.
Pending Extradition and Legal Proceedings
Subhash Kapoor, currently residing in India, faces extradition to the United States following his indictment in 2019 on charges of conspiracy to traffic stolen antiquities. The repatriation of these artefacts underscores the ongoing commitment to rectifying cultural theft and trafficking in the art world. The return of these treasures to Nepal represents a significant step in addressing the global issue of looted cultural heritage.
Feature Image: Two recently repatriated 16th-century gilt bronze Bhairava masksPhoto: Courtesy the Consulate General of Nepal in New York
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