In this photo provided by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an Indian statue believed to be from 8th and 10th centuries AD that authorities say was stolen is shown. (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)
Highlights
- Two ancient Indian statues seized from prominent auction house Christie's
- US officials say the 1,000-year-old statues were smuggled out of India
- The statues, valued between $150,000-$300,000, were to be auctioned off
Investigators have seized two Indian statues that date back more than 1,000 years from Christie's auction house in New York City. They say the items were smuggled out of the country and eventually landed in the US.
The seizure occurred on Friday. The antiquities were to be part of an auction next week called "The Lahiri Collection: Indian and Himalayan Art, Ancient and Modern."
One is a 10th-century statue depicts a cross-legged teacher flanked by standing attendants. It is valued at about $150,000. The second is an 8th-century representation of an equestrian deity, Revanta, worth $300,000.
Federal officials say they tracked both statues to a smuggler facing charges in India.
Christie's said in a statement it was working with authorities and would never knowingly offer a stolen work of art.