Yemeni bronze antiquity set for auction in Tel Aviv

A rare ancient Yemeni bronze bust is scheduled to be sold at an auction in Tel Aviv in late September. Archaeological expert Abdullah Mohsen identified the piece as part of the collection of the late businessman and jeweler Shlomo Mosayef (1925–2015).

Mosayef, who moved to the United Kingdom in 1963, amassed a collection of over 60,000 artifacts, including hundreds of rare Yemeni items. The current auction item is described as a bronze bust of a young figure with soft features, an oval face, large almond-shaped eyes, and a detailed headpiece featuring floral decorations resembling grape clusters.

Other notable items previously associated with the Mosayef collection include bronze lions from Al-Jawf dating to the 6th century BCE, a solid gold bull head, and various artifacts inscribed with the ancient Musnad script. Experts have noted that such sales highlight the ongoing issue of the movement of Yemeni antiquities abroad.