{
  "id": 4213682,
  "title": "Bronze bust from Yemen to be auctioned in Tel Aviv",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/bronze-bust-from-yemen-to-be-auctioned-in-tel-aviv",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T14:51:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/world/zur2r5owh"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An illicit bronze bust from Yemen will be auctioned in Tel Aviv, according to a researcher. The artifact is part of a collection once owned by Shlomo Moussaieff, a prominent businessman and jeweler known for accumulating a vast array of antiquities during his lifetime. The bust, featuring a serene facial expression, will be auctioned in late September at an Israel-based event. Moussaieff, who was born in Jerusalem in 1925 and passed away in 2015, amassed his collection of Yemeni artifacts in various locations, including the UK. The collection comprises diverse pieces, such as bronze lions from Al-Jawf dating back to the 6th century BCE, a gold bull's head, and a bronze cup with inscriptions in the ancient Musnad script. Other notable items include a bronze plaque depicting two young men and a statue of Qataban's king Yada Ab Gilaan. The bust set for auction in Tel Aviv depicts an unidentified young man with distinct artistic details, including an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and intricate hair styling. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the figure's identity, the artifact's unique characteristics have led the researcher to believe it holds significant artistic and archaeological value. This is not the first time a Yemeni piece from Moussaieff's collection has surfaced in the art market; a bronze bust of Amamim Yahamman Watar from the first century CE was previously auctioned in Vienna.",
  "summary": "A stolen Yemeni bronze bust will be auctioned in Tel Aviv, part of a collection linked to late jeweler Shlomo Moussaieff, researcher reveals.",
  "key_points": [
    "Illicit bronze bust from Yemen to be auctioned in Tel Aviv",
    "Belongs to collection of Shlomo Moussaieff, prominent Yemeni antiquities collector",
    "Auction scheduled for late September at Israel-based event"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}