Safely Returned to Homeland
Antique
Ticy City – It is indeed happy news for Thailand that an important antiquity, missing from the country for over 60 years, has finally been returned. The bronze sculpture arrived in Thailand on the morning of May 20, 2024, and today the Ministry of Culture will hold an official handover ceremony.
As some may remember, on December 15, 2023, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) in New York, USA, officially announced that it would return two pieces of antiquities to Thailand: 1. the bronze sculpture of Shiva (The Standing Shiva) or Golden Boy, and 2. the sculpture of a kneeling female (The Kneeling Female). The items were sent through the Thai Consulate in New York after being missing for more than 60 years.
The bronze sculpture of Shiva (The Standing Shiva) or Golden Boy dates back to the 16th Buddhist century. It is adorned like a noble figure, standing 129 centimeters tall, and was crafted using a special technique involving bronze casting and gilding. It is considered one of the finest antiquities in the world.
The ASEAN “Looking at Thailand” page has revealed that the bronze sculpture of Shiva (The Standing Shiva) or Golden Boy represents King Jayavarman VI, the first monarch of the Mahidharapura dynasty, originally from Phimai in the Korat Plateau, now Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
The Mahidharapura dynasty was the last “Varman” dynasty of ancient Cambodia, ruling Angkor for 250 years until King Jayavarman IX. Then, another significant change occurred when the new “Tangwhan” or “Trassak Paem” dynasty overthrew the Varman dynasty, ending the tradition of the “Varman” suffix in the royal names.
It is speculated that the sculpture depicts King Jayavarman VI, who built Phimai Temple. The long, crested loincloth points to Phimai-style art, not found in Cambodia, indicating the sculpture represents a person, not a deity, aligning with the fact that King Jayavarman VI was a Buddhist.
Sources
Matichon ASEAN “Looking at Thailand” page Ancient Times page Image source: www.finearts.go.th
