Sanaa: The General Authority for Antiquities and Museums published today the 34th list of looted Yemeni antiquities that have been monitored and tracked, which are being offered at auctions and in museums abroad.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Authority stated that it had monitored the offering of eight Yemeni antiquities for sale in the coming days at Bonhams Auction House and Apollo Art Auctions in London, United Kingdom. The statement emphasized the Authority's efforts to protect Yemeni cultural heritage by notifying relevant international bodies about these pieces and issuing list No. 34, which includes information on 28 Yemeni antiquities. Among these are eight pieces up for sale and various other items such as statues, Musnad inscriptions, panels, incense burners, amulets, and seals housed in the British Museum, originally taken from South Yemen during the British colonial period.
The statement detailed that the 28 Yemeni antiquities are divided into two groups. The first group includes eight pieces, such as statue heads, a statue, an inscription, and tombstones, being offered for sale at Bonhams Auction House and Apollo Art Auctions in London. The second group features twenty antiquities, including statues, Musnad inscriptions, panels, incense burners, and seals that were acquired by British Colonel William Francis Prideaux, who served in the British colonial government in Aden in the late 19th century.
The Authority's statement highlighted that some of these pieces were transferred to the British Museum through donation or purchase. Lieutenant L.A.R. Prideaux, Colonel Prideaux's son, sold a number of antiquities and coins to the British Museum in 1915. Additionally, the list includes pieces acquired by British antiquities dealer Henry Oppenheim, who, along with Morris Rosenheim, donated Yemeni antiquities to the British Museum in 1919.
The Authority for Antiquities and Museums reiterated its commitment to monitoring and tracking Yemeni antiquities that have left the country and notifying relevant international bodies as part of its documentation and follow-up procedures for the protection of antiquities and cultural property. The Authority called on international bodies to halt the auctions, citing violations of international laws, and to ensure the return of the antiquities to their rightful owners. It also invited individuals with information about looted antiquities and sites to contact the Authority through the designated form on its official website.