Four rare Yemeni antiquities, including a piece believed to be a "twin" to a renowned statue from the Beihan region, are slated for auction next month. This revelation, brought to light by Yemeni archaeologist Abdullah Mohsen, has ignited urgent calls for the Yemeni government to intervene and reclaim these cultural treasures.

According to Mohsen's Facebook post, monitored by "Bran Press," "Blackcas Auctions" will offer 228 ancient art pieces on July 9, with four originating from Yemen. He highlighted their "good condition, beauty, rarity, and the lack of a precisely verifiable source and acquisition history."
Dubious Provenance Raises Concerns
Blackcas Auctions claims the artifacts were "acquired by a European collector in the 1980s and then passed by inheritance." Mohsen, however, argues that the pieces' extreme rarity and historical significance demand immediate government action, urging negotiations for their return or outright purchase if legal hurdles prevent direct repatriation.

Among the artifacts, one stands out: a "twin" to a celebrated statue unearthed in Shabwa's Wadi Beihan, whose original was gifted to the Smithsonian. Mohsen stresses the unknown circumstances of this twin's discovery and its journey to the European collector, suggesting it may also hail from Wadi Beihan. He calls for clarification from the American institution and transparency from the organizers of the Sabaean Forum for Yemeni Antiquities. The auction catalog describes this piece as a female head carved from translucent alabaster, noted for its "elegant geometric form."
Also featured is a female statue adorned with a gold earring, a rare find where adornments have been preserved. The Blackcas auction further includes an exceptional limestone tombstone and a beautiful, translucent alabaster head depicting an ancient Yemeni man.

The impending auction has intensified pleas from Yemeni heritage experts for the government to take decisive action to safeguard these invaluable pieces of the nation's rich history.