The museum said it learned that the sculpture, "Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda," was stolen from that country.

A 12th century Nepali sculpture that had regularly been on display at the Art Institute of Chicago is being returned to its native country — after new research found that the object had originally been stolen, the museum said Monday.

The museum’s researchers collaborated with the government of Nepal to determine the sculpture had been stolen from the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.