Oxford's Ashmolean Museum Returns 16th-Century Bronze Idol to Tamil Nadu Temple

The Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford has returned a 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Thirumankai Alvar to its original temple in Tamil Nadu, India. Acquired in 1967 at a Sotheby's auction, the idol's origins were identified in 2019 by an independent researcher. After confirming its provenance with Indian authorities, the museum formally handed over the artifact, believed to have been stolen and replaced by a replica, marking a significant repatriation effort.