The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be returning 15 sculptures to the government of India, after having learned that the works were illegally removed from the country. The pieces range in date from the 1st century BCE to the 11th century CE, made from terracotta, copper, and stone. The Met released a statement saying, “The Museum is committed to the responsible acquisition of archaeological art, and applies rigorous provenance standards both to new acquisitions and to works long in its collection.  The Museum is actively reviewing the history of antiquities from suspect dealers.  The Museum values highly its long-standing relationships with the government of India, and is pleased to resolve this matter.”

The works in question were sold at one point by Subhash Kapoor, a dealer who is serving a prison sentence in India currently. The Met reached out to Homeland Security about its works from Kapoor in 2015 and acted on the matter following a criminal investigation into Subhash Kapoor by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Through this cooperative partnership, the museum received new information from the Manhattan DA’s office about 15 works of art that made it clear that the works should be transferred, resulting in the constructive resolution. 

Also Read: Jacquemus, The French Fashion Label Forays Into Interior Design