Stolen Chola-Era Idols to return home from U.S. Museum after decades

Three rare Indian sculptures , including a 9th-century Shiva Nataraja bronze , are set to be repatriated from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art to India after research confirmed they were illegally removed from temples in Tamil Nadu .

The agreement was signed between India’s Deputy Chief of Mission Namgya Khampa and museum director Chase Robinson , marking another step in global efforts to return stolen cultural heritage.

The artefacts include a Chola-era Nataraja bronze (9th century) , a 12th-century Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma) sculpture, and a 16th-century depiction of Saint Sundarar with Paravi . Provenance research, including archival photographs from the French Institute of Pondicherry, established that the idols were present in Tamil Nadu temples during the 1950s , indicating they were likely stolen sometime after that period , though exact dates of theft remain unclear.

The Nataraja sculpture originated from the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Thanjavur district , while the Somaskanda and Sundarar bronzes were traced to temples in Alathur and Veerasolapuram villages respectively.

While precise market valuations have not been officially disclosed, experts suggest such Chola and medieval bronzes can fetch millions of dollars in the international art market , reflecting their immense historical and spiritual value .

The museum acknowledged that the pieces entered its collection through past acquisitions and donations, including items linked to collector Arthur M. Sackler . Following internal research, it concluded the objects had been wrongfully removed from India .

In a notable arrangement, the Nataraja bronze will remain on temporary loan for public display in the U.S., allowing global audiences to engage with India’s artistic heritage even as ownership returns home.

The repatriation underscores India’s intensifying efforts to recover stolen antiquities , amid growing international cooperation to address illicit art trafficking.