The Yemeni researcher specializing in tracking Yemeni antiquities, Abdullah Mohsen, continues to monitor the latest international auctions that publicly sell and display statues and rare pieces of looted Yemeni antiquities.

Researcher Mohsen said, in a post on his Facebook page: The Catawiki online auction platform sold an ancient and rare antiquity from Yemeni history for only 900 euros, explaining that the piece is an exceptional and very rare female figure from the antiquities of Yemen. It is made of terracotta pottery with Musnad letters on each leg.

He added: The masterpiece was displayed from (13-18) October 2023 AD, and it is one of the artifacts from the private collection of Mr. J. Bahammond - a British antiquities collector, who studied the archeology of the ancient Near East and Roman Britain at the University of Manchester.

He pointed out that the model is of a rare and unique ancient Yemeni character that expresses fertility, with precisely drawn facial features, and the front body is separated by another stylized face around the abdomen, and rolls of abdominal fat form a large mouth. There are also two circular incisions on the top of the legs and one around the lower abdomen.

Researcher Mohsen stated, “On October 17, 2016 AD, Dr. Celine Rock conducted a thermal luminescence test at the Res Arts laboratories in France to determine the age of the archaeological artifact. The results indicate that the raw material of the artifact was likely heated during the first millennium BC, specifically.” The period (from 960 to 360) BC, meaning approximately 2500 years. He added: Fortunately, the participation of residents in the United States and Australia is prohibited from participating in the auction due to their customs laws, and we hope that the day will come when countries of the world will prevent the entry of Yemeni antiquities into them except what they participate in. Yemen in international exhibitions for tourism promotion.

The Yemeni researcher revealed, in a previous publication, the existence of a rare Yemeni statue dating back to the first century AD, which will be offered for sale at the Artimation auction of ancient jewelry and antiquities in the British capital, London, on November 30, 2023 AD, explaining that the statue is a “bronze ibex, standing On all four legs, with a short, erect tail, deeply etched almond-shaped eyes, and high-arched horns with curled tips resting on the head.

He also pointed out at the time that: “The auction did not specify where the ibex was obtained, but it presented an invoice and certificate of authenticity and source from a private British collection, which obtained it in the 1990s,” pointing out that international and regional museums acquire many bronze and gold ibex statues, the most famous of which is a necklace. The golden ibex in the London Museum, the Maryamah ibex in the House of Islamic Antiquities in Kuwait from the Al-Sabah Collection, and the Al-Thani Collection ibex in France.