Denver Art Museum voluntarily repatriates objects associated with Subhash Kapoor

Denver—October 17, 2022—In July 2022, the Denver Art Museum voluntarily relinquished 22 objects from its collection associated with Subhash Kapoor, an art dealer indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney for illegal art trafficking. The museum transferred the pieces to the DA for eventual return to their nations of origin.

The museum’s return of the pieces follows its proactive outreach in 2021 to the Manhattan DA alerting the prosecutor’s office of the objects associated with Kapoor in its collection.

The Denver Art Museum continues its commitment to ethical collection practices, and engages in detailed provenance research for acquisitions as well as objects currently in its collection. [Updated June 4, 2024, with collection images and known provenance.]

Statue of the head of Shiva — Head of Shiva. India. Terracotta, Gupta Period, 5th century C.E. 9 ¾” H x 6” W x 5 1/8” D. Funds from the Asian Art Association. 1986.51. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Temple Art Inc.) New York, purchase, Denver Art Museum, 1986

Egg cylinder-shaped bronze statue — Mandala. India. 11th–12th century C.E. Carved crystal and bronze. 7.375” H x 7 ½” W x 8 ¾” D. Purchased with funds from the Christian Humann Foundation. 1990.140. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum, 1990. Exhibition History: “Focus on the Lotus,” Denver Art Museum, June 1, 2015 –October 11, 2015. Publications: Pal, Pratapaditya. *The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India*. Los Angeles County Museum of Art in association with Thames and Hudson (New York and London), 1994. pp. 122-123, fig. 13.

Terracotta sculpture of the Vishnu figure sitting on a throne — Standing Vishnu Figurine. India, Gupta Period, 5th–6th century C.E. Terracotta. 7.125” H x 3 ¾” W x 1.375” D. Gift of Dr. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.195. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Piece of a terracota stone sculpture — Plaque. India, West Bengal Province. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 2.625” H x 2 ½” W x 5” D. Gift of Dr. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.196. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990

Stone carving plaque of a woman figure — Plaque. India, West Bengal Province. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 3 ¼” H x 3” W x ¾” D. Gift of Dr. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.197. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Terracotta stone plaque featuring a figure from West Bengal — Plaque. West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 3 ¼” H x 2 ¾” W x ¼” D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.198. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Plaque of three Indian figures etched into stone — Plaque. West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 5” H x 3.5” W x .625” D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.199. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Plaque of Indian woman figure in stone — Plaque. West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 7.125” H x 4 ½” W x 1” D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.200. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Oval shaped stone carving of an Indian royalty figure — Rattle. West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 4” H x 2.375” W x 2.125” D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.201. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Cart toy in the shape of an elephant — Cart toy (Elephant). West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 5” W x 3 ¾” W x 2 ¾” D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.202. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Cart toy in the shape of a ram with horns — Cart toy (Ram). West Bengal Province, India. 2nd century B.C.E. – 1st century C.E. Terracotta. 4 ½”H x 3.375”W x 3”D. Gift of Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer. 1990.203. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Drs. Ann and Robert Walzer, West Redding, CT, 1990; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1990.

Rock crystal statue of Seated Jain Tirthankara, in a legs folded with hands in lap position — Seated Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. India. 14th – 18th century C.E. Rock crystal. 2 ½” H x 1 ½” W x ¾” D. Gift of Subhash Kapoor. 1992.166. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1992.

Vertical marble slab with circles and patterns carved in — Cenotaph Lid. India. 16th century C.E. Marble. Funds from Todger and Mary Ellen Anderson. 61 ½” L x 15” W x 3” D, 1993.106. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum, 1993.

Stone rounded carving of Indian royal figures — Chamunda. India. Pala Dynasty, 11th-12th century C.E. Stone. 13 ½” H x 9 ½” W x 2 ¾” D. Gift of Subhash Kapoor. 1993.332. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; gift, Denver Art Museum, 1993.

Stone relief with Islamic writing etched on the side — Relief. India. Islamic, 15th-16th century C.E. Sandstone. 9 ¾” H x 17 ½” W x 2 1/2” D. Gift of Subhash Kapoor. 1994.525. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum, 1994.

Large dagger with red patterned sheath — Katar (Dagger and Sheath). India. Mughal, 18th century C.E. Steel, iron, gold inlay, wood, and textile. Blade: 16” L x 5/8” D; Sheath: 9” L x ¾” D. Bj Averitt Islamic Art Fund. 1996.127A-B. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum. 1995.

Stone sculpture of a headless male figure — Figure. India. 1st century C.E. Stone. 39” H x 21” W x 10” D. Gift of Subhash Kapoor. 1995.268. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum. 1995.

Silver dagger-shaped sculpture — Finial. India. Mughal, 19th century C.E. Silver. 15” H x 5 ½” W x 1 ¼” D. Bj Averitt Islamic Art Fund. 1996.51. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum. 1996.

Islamic marble stone slab with letters etched on the side — Panel. India.1691. Marble. 8.875” H x 11 ½” W x 2” D. Bj Averitt Islamic Art Fund. 1998.417.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum. 1998.

Silver layer circular mandala sculpture — Universal Mandala. Tibet. 1800s. Silver, turquoise. 5 ¾” max. diam. Asian Art Association Acquisition Fund in honor of Ronald Otsuka twenty-five years at the Denver Art Museum. 1999.5A-E. Deaccessioned July 2022.
Known Provenance: Subhash Kapoor (Art of the Past), New York; purchase, Denver Art Museum. 1999.

About the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its mission is to enrich lives by sparking creative thinking and expression. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro residents support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, visit www.denverartmuseum.org or call 720-865-5000.

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