Year of Object(s) Creation: 750 C.E. (approximate)
Estimated Value ($USD): 2,500,000
Object Type(s): Religious artifact, Statue
Object Material(s): stone
Provenience Nation: China
Provenience Location: Allegedly from the Longmen Grottoes/Caves (Luoyang city)
Year Removed from Findspot:

Provenance
Start Year:
End Year: 2018
Circumstance of Acquisition: Sotheby’s originally offered it for sale but soon withdrew it before the sale began
Nation: United States
Location: New York

Chinese Buddha Statue From Longmen Grottoes


Description:
This Buddhist Buddha head sculpture was originally put on sale by Sotheby’s, but it was soon withdrawn since its origins were contested. It may be a lost relic from the Longmen Grottoes/Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage site) in China, but there has not been an official reply from the Longmen Grottoes to confirm.

Case Status: Unresolved
Year Claim Initiated: 2018
Year Claim Resolved:
Means of Resolution:

Complainant Name: Chinese Government
Complainant Nation: China
Complainant Nation Economy: Developing
Complainant Type: Public: Government

Respondent Name: Sotheby’s (New York)
Respondent Nation: United States
Respondent Nation Economy: Developed
Respondent Type: Private: Institution

Reference Links:

Files:

Editor's Notes:
(Status: Ready for review) Edited by Keli Fisher Clarification Notes: . The Buddha head dates to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.).