• In addition to complete sculptures, fragments are a lucrative part of the market. “Only if the damage detracts from the beauty of a piece does it detract from its value,” says New York private dealer Doris Weiner.

• Re-carved pieces are a bigger issue. Some sculptures have facial features that have been sharpened or reshaped, a condition that lowers the value considerably.

• Beware of modern fakes. “Look for logical weathering,” advises Hugo Weihe. “If the carving is too crisp, the edges too sharp, be suspicious.” Fakers, particularly Thai artisans churning out “Khmer” pieces, can be so clever about aging their work that they can fool even a trained expert.

• Do not buy sculpture while on vacation in Asia. Most countries bar the exportation of antiquities, and if a dealer says he can send a piece to the United States, it is probably new.

• Be careful about provenance. If authorities in the country of origin can prove that a work was illegally removed from an archeological site, they can reclaim it. Deal only with reputable, experienced dealers and auction houses that know the provenance of each object, and understand the treaties and laws that govern cultural property. “Ask about the chain of ownership,” says William Pearlstein, a lawyer at Golenbock Eisenman in New York, who represents collectors and dealers. “Find out how the object got to this country and how long it has been here.”

• On the other hand, John Eskenazi believes that a few much publicized cases of repatriation of Western antiquities have created an unwarranted climate of fear. “There is a lot of paranoia about countries taking back pieces, but in this field, it is extremely rare,” he says.

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