The Return of Khmer Artifacts from Chicago to Phanom Rung, Northeast Thailand
Date and Time
Location
RSVP not required, but appreciated.
Nicolas Revire, the Art Institute of Chicago
The recent decision by The Art Institute of Chicago to deaccession and return to Thailand a 12th-century Khmer pilaster depicting the Hindu god Krishna represents a significant advancement in the labyrinthine field of provenance research. Initially misattributed to Cambodia, comprehensive archival research, detailed stylistic analysis, and on-site investigations verified that the pilaster originally adorned Prasat Phanom Rung in Buriram province, northeast Thailand. This mirrors the earlier return to Thailand of the reclining Vishnu lintel in 1988, which also originated from the same doorframe at Phanom Rung and has since been reinstalled during the temple’s modern restoration.