On 25 April 2023 at 15.00 hrs., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand organised the handover ceremony of 13 Ban Chiang archaeological artifacts by a Thai national who resides in the United States to Thailand. During the event, Mr. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Phnombootra Chandrajoti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, represented their respective organisations. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Director-General of the Department of Information, Miss Nitaya Kanokmongkol, Director of the Office of National Museums, Fine Arts Department, and other staff from the two organisations were also in attendance.

The aforementioned Ban Chiang archaeological artifacts consist of 5 pieces of pottery and 8 bronze bracelets. Mr. Mali Nongyow, a Thai national, informed the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles that he is a keen antique collector and he had auctioned Ban Chiang artifacts, and wished for their return to Thailand.

The handover ceremony was part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ and the Fine Arts Department’s mission to bring Thai antiquities from abroad back to Thailand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, for the long-standing cooperation in bringing Thai artifacts back to Thailand. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to thank Mr. Mali Nongyow for recognising the importance of Thai antiquities and his donations of the aforementioned artifacts back to Thailand as national cultural properties.

After the hand-over ceremony, the Fine Arts Department will undertake identification and inspection processes for the artifacts, before conserving them in an appropriate place.