On December 11, the National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA), part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., announced it is returning three Khmer period sculptures to Cambodia. The works—a 10th-century Uma, a 10th-century Harihara, and a circa-1200 Prajnaparamita—were determined to have been likely looted during Cambodia’s civil war (1967–1975), based on research with Cambodian authorities, lack of export documentation, and links to dealers known for trafficking looted antiquities.
This return is the first under the Smithsonian’s Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns policy, adopted in 2022, which allows voluntary repatriation without a formal restitution claim. The NMAA has deaccessioned the sculptures, and Cambodia has agreed in principle to a long-term loan of the objects back to the museum. The move reflects a growing trend among major museums—including the Metropolitan Museum of Art—to proactively review collections and return looted artifacts, balancing ethical obligations with legal considerations.