Rare Ancient Yemeni Head Reappears in Global Art Market

London – A rare alabaster head linked to ancient Yemen has resurfaced in the international art trade, shifting from the auction floor at Sotheby’s to the private sales division of Christie’s, highlighting the discreet pathways of antiquities commerce.

The piece, described by Christie’s as a South Arabian portrait head in alabaster, dates between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE. Measuring about 13 centimeters in height, it is said to originate from Bayhan in Yemen.

According to Yemeni antiquities researcher Abdullah Mohsen, the head was once part of the collection of Antonin and Christian Bisse, acquired in Yemen during the 1960s and exported from Aden in 1967. It previously appeared at Sotheby’s London auction on December 7, 2021, listed as Lot 14 among the Bisse collection of ancient sculptures and artworks.

Its current reemergence differs from the public auction setting. Christie’s has placed the artifact under its private sales service, where transactions occur outside open bidding. 

In such deals, final prices are not always disclosed, and the identities of buyers and sellers may remain confidential. The firm also offers clients tailored searches for specific pieces not publicly listed.

Christie’s reported private sales totaling around $1.5 billion in 2025, underscoring the scale of this market alongside traditional auctions.

Mohsen noted that the alabaster head’s transition from public auction to private sale is significant, stressing that it is not an isolated case in the global trade of Yemeni antiquities.