The Birth of Brahma
Object or Group Name
The Birth of Brahma
Case Summary
In the late 1960s, this pink sandstone lintel was removed from the eastern entrance to the central sanctuary of Khao Phanomrung temple, Buriram Provance in northeast Thailand. It depicts a reclining Vishnu or Vishnu Anantasayin, known in Thai as Thap Lang Narai Banthomsin (ทับหลังนารายณ์บรรทมสินธุ์).
Fragments of this lintel were photographed in situ in 1932 and 1960, and published in a book in 1967, around the time of their removal. One fragment was acquired from a private collector in Bangkok, while other fragments went to Chicago. In 1967, the Alsdorf Foundation loaned the largest fragments of the lintel to the Art Institute of Chicago, where they were displayed for 20 years. At the time, many Thai citizens believed that American soldiers at the end of the Vietnam War had used helicopters to remove sections of this temple, including the lintel. American Embassy officials rejected that assertion.
As Thailand prepared to open the restored temple to visitors in 1988, government representatives called on the Art Institute and US Government to return the lintel. Picketing in front of the Art Institute, as well as petitions circulated within Thai-American communities in Chicago and Los Angeles organized by the 'Thai Vishnu Lintel Committee' also swayed public opinion.
The museum did not agree to return the lintel voluntarily, but did so in exchange for a comparable piece from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. Such an exchange was illegal under Thai law, but a work-around was negotiated between the Thai government and the museum.
The lintel arrived back in Thailand on 10th November 1988, and was returned to its original position on December 7th to much media coverage and fanfare.
Since the 1988 return, several additional looted antiquities donated from the Alsdorf Collection have been repatriated from the Art Institute and other collections.
Fragments of this lintel were photographed in situ in 1932 and 1960, and published in a book in 1967, around the time of their removal. One fragment was acquired from a private collector in Bangkok, while other fragments went to Chicago. In 1967, the Alsdorf Foundation loaned the largest fragments of the lintel to the Art Institute of Chicago, where they were displayed for 20 years. At the time, many Thai citizens believed that American soldiers at the end of the Vietnam War had used helicopters to remove sections of this temple, including the lintel. American Embassy officials rejected that assertion.
As Thailand prepared to open the restored temple to visitors in 1988, government representatives called on the Art Institute and US Government to return the lintel. Picketing in front of the Art Institute, as well as petitions circulated within Thai-American communities in Chicago and Los Angeles organized by the 'Thai Vishnu Lintel Committee' also swayed public opinion.
The museum did not agree to return the lintel voluntarily, but did so in exchange for a comparable piece from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. Such an exchange was illegal under Thai law, but a work-around was negotiated between the Thai government and the museum.
The lintel arrived back in Thailand on 10th November 1988, and was returned to its original position on December 7th to much media coverage and fanfare.
Since the 1988 return, several additional looted antiquities donated from the Alsdorf Collection have been repatriated from the Art Institute and other collections.
Number of Objects
1
Object Type
Architecture – antefixes, doors, sconces, friezes
Culture
Khmer
Private Collector
Alsdorf Foundation
Museum Name
Art Institute of Chicago
Receiving Country
Thailand
Sources
Art Institute Agrees To Return Thai Sculpture
https://web.archive.org/web/20151025120737/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-10-25/news/8802100130_1_art-institute-thai-government-museum
Roll IV : Phnom Rung ‘The most beautiful stone temple in Thailand’
https://apsarainsitu.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/roll-iv-phnom-rung-the-most-beautiful-stone-temple-in-thailand/
Some of the Art Institute’s prominent antiquities from Nepal likely looted, investigation says
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/03/22/some-of-the-art-institutes-prominent-antiquities-from-nepal-likely-looted-investigation-says/
Images
MOLA Contributor(s)
Jason Felch; Damien Huffer
Peer Reviewed By
Damien Huffer
Citation
“The Birth of Brahma,” Museum of Looted Antiquities, accessed October 14, 2024, https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/990.