Cambodian statues in New York

Kneeling Attendant
New York MMA 1987.410 / 1992.390.1
www.metmuseum.org
© MMA

I have made a point of not commenting on the discussions about the Cambodian sculptures and the claims on them. However there is clearly a parallel with my main research interests in the classical world. We are seeing objects that are being reconstructed from separate donations over several years, a pattern seen for material returned to Italy. There are more detail discussions elsewhere, such as Chasing Aphrodite, and the New York Times.

So just for interest I note:
a. Kneeling male figure, Cambodia, Angkor Period. New York, MMA 1987.410 (head), gift of Spink & Son Ltd. and Douglas Latchford, in honor of Martin Lerner; 1992.390.1 (body), gift of Douglas Latchford, in honor of Martin Lerner. Bibl. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 118 (1987/88) 19 ['A.N. Gardner and D. Latchford, in honor of Martin Lerner']; 'Curatorial Reports and Departmental Acquisitions', Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 123 (1992/93) 18 (list); Martin Lerner, 'Recent acquisitions: a selection 1992-1993', MMA Bulletin ns 51, 2 (1993) 93 (ill.); Martin Lerner, 'Introduction', MMA Bulletin ns 51, 4 (1994) 14 (ill.). [The Arts of South and Southeast Asia]

"The most significant gift to the South and Southeast Asia collections in 1992 was undoubtedly  rare pair of large Cambodian kneeling male figures dating to the first half of the tenth century ... It is particularly gratifying that the monumental bodies join up with heads already in the collection."

b. Kneeling male figure, Cambodia, Angkor Period. New York, MMA 1989.100 (head), gift of Raymond G. and Milla Louise Handley [and reportedly purchased from Spink]; 1992.390.2 (body), gift of Douglas Latchford, in honor of Martin Lerner. Bibl. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 119 (1988/89) 19 (list).; 'Curatorial Reports and Departmental Acquisitions', Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 123 (1992/93) 18 (list).

c. Head of Buddha, Cambodian, Khmer period, stone. New York MMA 1983.551. Gift of Douglas Latchford. Bibl. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 114 (1983/84) 33 (list)

For other Latchford gifts in New York:
d. Seated Bodhistattva, Nepali. New York MMA 1989.237.1. Gift of Spink & Son Ltd. and Douglas A.J. Latchford. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 120 (1989/90) 15.
e. Standing Bodhistavva Maitreya, Thai. New York MMA 1989.237.2. Gift of Spink & Son Ltd. and Douglas A.J. Latchford. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 120 (1989/90) 15.
f. Plaque with a figure standing in a portal, Gandhara. New York MMA 1989.237.3. Gift of Spink & Son Ltd. and Douglas A.J. Latchford. Annual Report of the Trustees of the MMA 120 (1989/90) 15.

Image source: Metropolitan Museum of Art