Rare Yemeni artifact failed to be sold at auction in Netherlands

SANAA, Aug. 31 (YPA) -The Oriental Art Auctions has on Tuesday failed to sell a rare Yemeni artifact in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A Yemeni activist and researcher specialised in tracing looted and stolen Yemeni antiquities, Abdullah Mohsen, confirmed that the Oriental Art Auctions, which was held in the Netherlands, was closed hours earlier, without selling a so-called alabaster libation table, which dates back thousands of years, without mentioning the value announced in the auction.

He added that the table had a square shape, with a recessed upper surface with central channel leading to a bull’s head spout, with round incised eyes and nostrils. Its size is 50 by 63 by 11.5 cm.

It was used by Yemenis as part of religious rituals during ancient civilisations dating back to the eleventh century BC to slaughter offerings made to their pagan gods. The symbol of the bull in ancient Yemeni civilisations had a special meaning of fertility and blessing in these societies.

E.M