The bronze statue of the goddess Durga - a typical and rare artifact of the Champa culture that has been repatriated.

Attending the announcement ceremony were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong; Mr. Marc Knapper, US Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Marcus Winsley, Deputy Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Vietnam; and representatives from ministries, departments, and units under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong and delegates unveil the statue of the goddess Durga.

The repatriation of the bronze statue of the goddess Durga is the result of years of cooperation and information exchange, and the efforts of Vietnam as well as related countries, especially the United States, in the spirit of complying with international treaties, including the UNESCO Convention of 1970 on Measures Prohibiting Unauthorized Trade, Import, Export and Transfer of Property of Cultural Property.

Specifically, in August 2023, the Vietnamese Embassy in the United Kingdom informed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that the US Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Metropolitan Police of London, had seized a bronze statue of the goddess Durga, of Vietnamese origin, as part of an investigation into illegal antiquities trafficking, and proposed the possibility of returning the artifact to Vietnam. Immediately after receiving this information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism directed relevant units to research, compare documents, and identify the bronze statue of the goddess Durga, and proposed a plan for receiving and repatriating the statue.

In January 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a working group to the United Kingdom to assess the current situation, prepare handover procedures, supervise, and finalize a plan for transporting the bronze statue of the goddess Durga back to Vietnam.

Immediately after receiving information from the Vietnamese Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Vietnamese Embassy in the United States regarding the return of the bronze statue of the goddess Durga to Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism instructed relevant agencies and units to urgently study and develop a plan for receiving this valuable artifact from the US Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Police of London, United Kingdom.

During the process of receiving and repatriating the bronze statue of the goddess Durga, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism received active and effective cooperation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance , the US Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, the Metropolitan Police of London, the Arts Council of England, and many other relevant agencies to ensure the safe safekeeping of the bronze statue of the goddess Durga at the National Museum of History of Vietnam.

Numerous tourists admire the statue.

On February 21, 2024, the statue was transported from the United Kingdom to Noi Bai Airport. After a long repatriation journey, the statue of the goddess Durga arrived at the National Museum of History, where the handover procedures were completed and the statue was placed in secure storage. On June 24, 2024, the Museum established an appraisal council, inviting leading experts in the fields of history, archaeology, culture, art, and antiquities to examine and assess the current condition, determine the nature, age, origin, and value of the statue, and take samples for alloy composition analysis. According to expert assessments and evaluations, the Council determined: "This is a four-armed statue of the goddess Durga, possibly a large piece (total height 191cm, of which the statue itself is 157cm tall and weighs 101kg), dating back to the 7th century and in relatively intact condition. The statue originates from Vietnam and belongs to the Champa cultural art style. However, information regarding the origin and specific location where the statue of the goddess Durga was discovered, as stated in the dossier, needs further research."

Statue of Goddess Durga

This is the largest bronze statue, a representative and distinctive example of Champa art and culture discovered to date. It is a rare and valuable artifact, possessing immense cultural and artistic value for Vietnam throughout its historical periods. Due to its exceptional and rare value, the bronze statue of the goddess Durga is currently stored in a secure warehouse under special conditions and standards. After its announcement, the bronze statue of the goddess Durga will undergo legal documentation, preservation, and further research for display and presentation to the public both domestically and internationally in the near future.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed: "The repatriation of the bronze statue of the goddess Durga is the result of active coordination from the United States in the repatriation of artifacts to Vietnam and is one of the typical events marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership. In addition, the timely coordination and facilitation of related procedures by the relevant authorities of the United Kingdom to bring the bronze statue back to Vietnam is considered one of the outstanding activities in Vietnam-UK cooperation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023)."

The Deputy Minister and delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Champa Treasures Exhibition - Marks of Time.

The Vietnamese artifacts that have been received and repatriated in recent times are the result of years of cooperation and information exchange, and the efforts of Vietnam as well as related countries, especially the United States, in the spirit of complying with international treaties, including the UNESCO Convention on Measures Prohibiting Unauthorized Trade, Import, Export and Transfer of Property of Cultural Property.

Some images of treasures of Champa culture.

The Deputy Minister also expressed confidence that, in the coming time, countries will actively and diligently cooperate with functional agencies and units of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in identifying, negotiating, and bringing back Vietnamese artifacts that have been illegally taken abroad, while strengthening measures to limit and prevent the illegal trade of cultural assets, contributing positively to the protection and promotion of the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage in particular and the cultural heritage of humanity in general.

Following the unveiling of the Durga statue, the National Museum of History held the opening of the exhibition "Treasures of Champa - Traces of Time". The exhibition consists of two parts: Part 1 features religious statues and mascots; Part 2 showcases jewelry and artifacts bearing religious symbols and royal authority.

Through this exhibition, the National History Museum hopes that the public, both domestic and international, will have the opportunity to admire artifacts of exceptional historical, cultural, and artistic value, and gain a deeper understanding of a period of Champa's cultural history that seems to be little known. This will foster appreciation and raise awareness of the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation.

Furthermore, the exhibition contributes to further strengthening the role of the National History Museum and other public museums in coordinating and supporting private museums and collections to promote the value of heritage to a wider audience.

The exhibition will run from August 28, 2024 to October 2024.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/tuong-dong-nu-than-durga-co-vat-tieu-bieu-quy-hiem-cua-van-hoa-champa-hoi-huong-20240828141348384.htm