Officials learned that prior to its arrival in Ann Arbor, the 9th century statue may have been taken from Nepal without authorization.

A 1,100-year-old Buddha statue, known as the “Figure Buddha,” is set to return to its native Nepal from the University of Michigan Museum of Art. The statue, which has been part of the museum’s collection since 2016, is believed to have been taken from Nepal in the mid-1970s without permission. The university’s Board of Regents is considering the statue’s deaccession, a process that would allow for its repatriation. Museum officials stated that returning the statue aligns with best practices for managing cultural artifacts. Although the statue was purchased from an antiques shop in London in 1988, there is strong evidence suggesting its origins in Nepal.