Stolen Ancient Jewels Returned to Cambodia
The 77-piece jewelry collection dates back to the Angkor kingdom that ruled Cambodia from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
The age-old jewels, dating back to the Angkor kingdom that ruled Cambodia from the 9th to 15th centuries, included crowns, necklaces, bracelets, belts, earrings and amulets made of gold and other metals.
Many of these objects have never before been seen by the public, said the ministry.
“The repatriation of these national treasures opens a new era of understanding and scholarship about the Angkorian empire and its significance to the world,” Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, minister of Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said in a statement.
The jewels were the latest goods retrieved from the estate of British antiquities collector and dealer Douglas Latchford.
An expert in Cambodian and Indian antiques, Latchford supplied auction houses, art dealers, and museums around the world with Cambodian antiquities from the ancient Khmer Empire, starting in the 1970s, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
In November 2019, U.S. federal prosecutors charged Latchford with wire fraud, smuggling, and conspiracy related to the alleged trafficking of stolen and looted Cambodian antiques.
Latchford is accused of creating fake documents to hide the objects’ illicit origins, including provenance information, invoices, and shipping papers.
A number of the items were stolen from Cambodia during periods of turmoil and unrest, like during the 1970s under the rule of the Khmer Rouge, according to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
He died in August 2020 at the age of 88, and so the indictment against him was later dismissed.
Documents leaked as part of the Pandora Papers revealed how Latchford allegedly used offshore trusts to obscure information about his antiquities.
Following his death, Latchford’s daughter, Nawapan Kriangsak, who had inherited his collection, stated she would return all of his Cambodian artifacts to the country’s national museum in Phnom Penh.
“Over the last few years, I became increasingly convinced that the best way to deal with this legacy would be to give all his Khmer art, irrespective of origin, to the people of Cambodia,” she said in a statement to CNN.
The monetary value of Latchford’s collection is estimated to be around $50 million, according to The New York Times.
In August 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced the return of 30 looted antiquities to Cambodia, including two 10th century sculptures taken from the ancient Khmer capital Koh Ker.
The recent return of this jewelry collection was a group effort, spearheaded by Cambodian lawmaker Hun Many, who is also the youngest son of the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Se.
He worked with the team at his country’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and U.S-based legal advisers Bradley J. Gordon and Steven Heimberg.
The handover of the goods took place Feb. 17 in the presence of several contributors to the effort, including Hun Many and U.K. representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Art and Antiques Unit of London’s Metropolitan Police, and the Arts Council England.
Cultural minister Sackona encouraged private individuals, museums, and other institutions who own Cambodian cultural heritage objects to return them to their home country.
“We consider such returns as a noble act, which not only demonstrates important contributions to a nation’s culture, but also contributes to the reconciliation and healing of Cambodians who went through decades of civil war and suffered tremendously from the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge genocide,” she said.
“The ministry will continue to search for and bring home its national treasures back to Cambodia for the benefit of the Cambodian people and the world.”
The Latest
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Tobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
Stars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
The branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
The six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
The highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
The “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
The Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
The Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
It will award a graduating high school student with about $10,000 toward a GIA diploma and an internship with the Seattle-based jeweler.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
The jeweler credits its recent “Be Love” campaign and ongoing brand revamp for its 17 percent jump in sales.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.
Elvis Presley gifted this circa 1967 gold and diamond watch to Dodie Marshall, his co-star in “Easy Come, Easy Go.”
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.