Southeast Asia

Physical identification

Khmer, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese and regional sculpture, ceramics and ritual objects. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Architectural fragments require heightened caution.
• Conflict and looting histories matter.
• ICOM Red Lists can identify vulnerable categories.

Provenance and lawful movement

Determine likely source country or countries, the date the object left, applicable patrimony laws, export-certificate requirements and destination-country import restrictions.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.