Nepali Deities Fetch Millions in International Auctions Amidst Official Ignorance
Summary
A 12th-century Manjushree statue from Nepal has sold at a Hong Kong auction for 137.35 million Hong Kong dollars, intensifying concerns over stolen heritage items in foreign markets. Nepal’s archaeology officials say they had no prior information about the sale, while activists allege a long history of collusion and theft behind the global trade in Nepali deities and artifacts.
Key Points
- A 12th-century Manjushree statue was sold at Christie's in Hong Kong for 137.35 million Hong Kong dollars, setting a new auction record for a golden-plated bronze statue from the Himalayan region.
- The Department of Archaeology says it had no official information about the statue and has begun its own investigation into where it was stolen from and how it left Nepal.
- Nepal has formally reported 409 stolen heritage items, of which 203 have been returned and 105 are still being pursued from 11 destinations worldwide.
- Heritage activist Alokshiddhi Tuladhar says statue theft from Nepal involved diplomats, corrupt officials, and members of the former royal family, and that recovery remains legally difficult.
