The national museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia was inaugurated in 1917 during the mid of the WWI. It was constructed since 1915 under the budget of the French protectorate governance at that time. The museum was built to keep and show the rich collection of Khmer art from the prehistory to the early of 20th century, especially the collection from the Angkor era from the 9th to the 13th century. The building itself was built taking a plan from part of Angkor Wat temple, the Preah Poan gallery.
Thanks to the huge collection of those Khmer art objects that could preserved Khmer arts from being looted after the conflict and civil war in Cambodia from the early of 1970 until this 21th century. Since Khmer art is counted as one among the precious ancient/classic arts; there are many looters looted those art object to sell in Thailand and then those objected was sold to art collectors and museums in the west. Fortunately, recently some of those objects have been returned to Cambodia after a long negotiation including going to the court.
We, Cambodian really proud of our ancestor's works, and we really hope that Khmer art will be returned back to their own country when we are now in peace and manage to take-care of our patrimonial objects.
