INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 6The Rubin Museum of Art has returned a circa 16th-century mask of the deity Bhairava to Nepal
after receiving new evidence concerning its provenance
The large mask displays iconographic features of Bhairava such as the third eye, the crown decorated with skulls and crawling snakes, and
blazing red hair with a crescent moon
The back of the mask is concave to hold a round earthen pot.
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According to the statement issued by the Rubin Museum, The return
ceremony took place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office on December 4, 2023, and included three additional works from other
Acting Consul General Bishnu Prasad Gautam received the object on behalf of the Government of Nepal.In September 2022, social media posts
and news coverage suggested the mask was stolen from a site in Dolakha in the 1990s
Per the Museum's process, the Rubin immediately placed the work under review with its Collections team as well as independent researchers
Public signage was also placed in the galleries acknowledging this process, the Rubin Museum said.
"Additionally, the Rubin
reached out to the Consulate General of Nepal in New York to request support from the Government of Nepal in locating additional information
pertaining to the circumstances and documentation of the reported theft."In March 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney's office shared with
the Rubin corroborating evidence that the mask was stolen from a site in Dolakha in March 1994
Upon review of this documentation, the Rubin deaccessioned the work, and on March 16, 2023, voluntarily agreed to turn the work over to the
DA's office to facilitate the return to its lawful owner, it added."The Rubin acquired the mask in 2005, and there was no evidence of theft
or unlawful removal from Nepal at the time of acquisition until evidence was provided by the Manhattan District Attorney's office
Prior to the Rubin's acquisition, the work had been transacted on the art market, including a public auction at Sotheby's in 1996.""While we
have treasured this exceptional mask and enjoyed sharing it with visitors in our galleries since 2005 as well as through several scholarly
publications, the evidence presented is clear, as is our decision to return the work to Nepal
We're deeply sorry for the loss its removal has caused community members in Dolakha
We hope the work can return to its former location, yet also understand that the return will not remedy the wrongs that were done," states
Jorrit Britschgi, Executive Director of the Rubin Museum of Art
"The Rubin is a responsible actor and carefully considers any claims regarding works in our collection, most recently demonstrated in spring
2022 with the return of two objects to Nepal-one of which resulted in a partnership with the Itumbaha monastery in Kathmandu to support its
effort of establishing an onsite museum for the study and display of their collection, which opened this past summer
Such projects are a reflection of our commitment to the Himalayan region and its cultural heritage."The Rubin is opposed to looting and
believes that collecting activities should adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice
If the Rubin learns, through its own research or by another party, that objects in its collection are claimed to have been stolen, looted,
or illegally excavated, the Rubin immediately addresses these claims carefully and seriously and works collaboratively with the relevant
authorities in the United States and the Himalayan region, the musuem stated.The Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea, New York City, explores and
celebrates Himalayan art, cultures, and ideas across history and into the present.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com