Artefact was recovered 36 times after being taken from a church in Phayao state.
PUBLISHED: 6 Dec 2024 at 20: 14
A ceremony was held by the Ministry of Culture on Friday to give Phra Chao Tong, a 700-year-old metal Buddha statue stolen from Wat Sri Ping Muang in Phayao state, a gift on the day.
The meeting was presided over by Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol in the National Museum’s Ishra Vinijaya Throne Hall in Bangkok.
According to Ms. Sudawan, Phra Chao Tong, which was first residing at Wat Sri Ping Muang in the Chun city of Phayao, has a significant historical significance and has provided locals with a sense of trust.
The monument, which is 78cm broad and 110cm large, represents a blend of Lanna and Sukhothai art designs from the early 14th to 15th centuries. It went missing for 36 times after being reported stolen from the church in October 1988. It was thought to have been brought in and sold abroad.
The Fine Arts Department learned about the statue’s disappearance in August from Visuth Chainaroon, the general government whip, and a native of Phayao who was a member of a local job power searching for it from a local group. He claimed that a piece of art imitating Phra Chao Tong had been sold at an European traditional bid. This led to the district’s effective treatment of the monument.
Phra Chao Tong was returned to Thailand on October 24 before its integrity was verified based on picture data and detailed records from 1985.
Under the guidance of the Fine Arts Department, the statue is currently being installed at the Bangkok National Museum. The move day to Phayao has not yet been determined.