3,000-Year-Old Yemeni Bronze Statue Sold at London Auction

Yemeni antiquities expert Abdullah Mohsen revealed the sale of a 3,000-year-old Yemeni bronze statue. In a Facebook post, Mohsen explained that the statue, depicting a man from the first millennium BC, stands at only 13 cm tall and was sold at the Blackas Auction in London on July 3, 2023.

Despite its small size, Mohsen noted the statue’s intricate details impressed onlookers, showcasing the skill of Yemeni artists of that era. The auction house described the statue as a “bronze Arab man from West Asia,” a common term used for Yemeni artifacts abroad.

Mohsen pointed out that many auction houses avoid labeling these artifacts as Yemeni, especially those obtained through illegal means, instead referring to them as “Southern Arabian antiquities” to obscure Yemen’s cultural identity. He noted that only two types of artifacts are now labeled as Yemeni—those of Islamic origin.

Since the start of the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression on Yemen in 2015, rare Yemeni historical artifacts have been subjected to theft, looting, and smuggling abroad.

Reports tracking stolen and smuggled Yemeni artifacts revealed that approximately 4,265 Yemeni archaeological pieces were sold in 16 international auctions in the United States and Europe, hosted by renowned international auction houses specializing in antiquities in six Western countries between 1991 and 2022.

In recent years, Yemeni artifacts sold in international auctions reached 2,610 pieces, including 2,167 in the United States, with a total value exceeding 12 million dollars. Currently, 1,384 smuggled and stolen Yemeni artifacts are displayed in seven international museums.