U.S. to return three ancient bronze sculptures to India

The U.S. will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India, acknowledging their illegal removal from sacred temples.

The U.S. will return three ancient bronze sculptures to India that were illegally removed from the country’s temples.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington D.C. said Wednesday (January 28, 2026) that three sculptures will be returned to the Government of India, following “rigorous provenance research” that documented the sculptures had been removed illegally from temple settings. A statement issued by the museum said that the Indian government has agreed to place one of the sculptures on long-term loan, an arrangement that will allow the museum to publicly share the full story of the object’s origins, removal and return, and to underscore the museum’s commitment to provenance research.

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The sculptures are ‘Shiva Nataraja’, belonging to the Chola period, circa 990; ‘Somaskanda’ of the Chola period, 12th century; and ‘Saint Sundarar with Paravai’ of the Vijayanagar period, 16th century.

The sculptures “exemplify the rich artistry of South Indian bronze casting” and were originally sacred objects traditionally carried in temple processions. The ‘Shiva Nataraja’, which is to be placed on long-term loan, will be on view as part of the exhibition ‘The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas’, the statement said.

The Museum and the Embassy of India are in close contact, finalising arrangements to mark the agreement.