An Australian citizen has returned nine wooden Buddha sculptures to Thai officials, marking the return of more Thai antiques to the country.
The Foreign Ministry has scheduled a ceremony to give over the nine wooden Buddha sculptures to the Fine Arts Department. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Sathaporn Thiangtham, Deputy Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, were also present during the transfer ceremony.
Murray Upton gave the sculptures, informing the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra that he received them from his father, who had had them since 1911. Since then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed thanks to the Australian national for his choice to return the items to Thailand and praised all parties for their efforts in repatriating Thai treasures.
The Fine Arts Department stated that the sculptures would be identified and examined, and that the artifacts will be maintained at the National Museum Storage in Pathum Thani province.
