They are to be sold in the auction session Collection Michel Gontier - Decorations of The Annam Empire of French auction house Drouot. The highlights of 273 items on auction are the royal insignia of Emperor Khải Định (1885-1925) and the ceremonial sabre of Emperor Hàm Nghi (1871-1944).
KATHMANDU, Dec 13: In the first week of December, the U.S. government helped repatriate four ancient statues stolen from Nepal and smuggled to the US by traffickers. The statues, including two Bhairabh masks and stone idols of Shiva Parvati (Uma Maheshwar) and Durga dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, were officially handed over to the Government of Nepal on December 5.