NEW YORK, U.S., March 13, 2016 (IANS) Four days before two ancient Jain and Hindu statues estimated to be worth $450,000 were to be auctioned off, US officials swooped on the international art auction house Christie’s here and seized them, according to the Homeland Security Department. The statues seized Friday by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in “Operation Hidden Idol” were of Rishabhanata, the first Jain Thirthankar, and of Revanta, a son of God Surya, the HSI said.
They were to have been auctioned on Tuesday during Asia Week in New York, an event that draws top-tier art collectors and museum curators from around the world. Christie’s said it was unaware the statue of Rishabhanata and the panel of Revanta were stolen in India and brought into the US illegally. On behalf of the Indian government, Consul General Riva Ganguly Das commended the “HSI for the exceptional work done in locating and retrieving the sculptures brought into the United States by organised crime syndicates.”
The 10th century Rishabhanata sandstone statue is from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh and is valued at about $150,000, according to the HSI. It stands about 22 inches tall and depicts the Tirthankar seated in vajrasana position (crossed leg pose) and flanked by two devotees. The sandstone panel of Revanta and his entourage is from the 8th century. It is considered “a very rare representation of the equestrian deity”, and is estimated to be worth $300,000, according to the HSI.