Today, we're excited to announce an historic agreement with the Republic of Yemen to research and temporarily care for four ancient carved stone funerary stelae, which were likely illegally looted from the Republic of Yemen. The works will be exhibited to the public as part of a new Culture in Crisis display, at V&A East Storehouse from 2025.

The objects, which most likely date from to the second half of the first millennium BCE, feature on ICOM's ‘Emergency Red List of Cultural Objects at Risk’. They were discovered by an archaeology enthusiast in an interior design shop in east London, and recovered by The Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit, which investigates art theft, illegal trafficking, and fraud.

The agreement, signed by the Director of the V&A, Dr Tristram Hunt, and Dr Yassin Saeed Noman Ahmed, Ambassador for the Republic of Yemen based in the UK, sees the V&A take responsibility for the care of the stelae on a temporary basis, until the Republic of Yemen deems it is safe to return the objects to their country of origin.

While at the museum, the team will research the four carved stone funerary stelae ahead of a new rotating Culture in Crisis display at V&A East Storehouse opening in 2025.

The agreement is unique, in that in most similar cases, objects might be stored by museums for a short time before being transferred to their country of origin. This partnership enables further research and conservation, with the unique potential for the objects to also be enjoyed by the public.

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Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with the Republic of Yemen’s Embassy in the UK and The Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit to store, research and display these four incredible ancient carved funerary stelae. This is an historic agreement that will give the public the chance to appreciate these exceptional examples of Yemeni culture and creativity, before the objects are repatriated, and shine a light on how the V&A’s Culture in Crisis programme helps curtail the illegal trade of looted objects and the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide.”

Commander Clayman, Central Specialist Crime, Metropolitan Police, said: “The Art and Antiques Unit seized these four stelae from a shop in London following information received from a concerned member of the public. The police investigation established that they are ancient archaeological artefacts from Yemen, and came from necropoli that have been subjected to looting in recent years. When the seller was given this information they made the generous decision to disclaim them, and asked for them to be returned to Yemen. I am pleased that we have been able to achieve this today. I hope that when these pieces go on display at V&A East Storehouse, they may encourage people to consider antiquities from a legal perspective as well as an aesthetic one. By establishing an artefact’s provenance before purchase they may avoid inadvertently fuelling the demand for stolen cultural goods. The Art and Antiques Unit would like to thank everyone who contributed to the investigation and this positive outcome.”

Charles Harper, UK Chargé d'affaires and Deputy Ambassador to Yemen, said: “Arts and culture can play an important role in rebuilding a society from conflict and this agreement is a fantastic way to ensure Yemeni culture remains in Yemeni care. The war has taken a devastating toll on Yemenis. The UK will continue to support UN-led efforts to bring about a sustainable and inclusive peace in Yemen.”

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The forthcoming display at V&A East Storehouse is curated by Georgia Haseldine, Senior Curator, V&A East Storehouse, in collaboration with Laura Searson, the V&A’s Cultural Heritage Preservation Lead. The display will tell the story of these unique objects, alongside an overview of the work the V&A does promoting and protecting cultural heritage around the world.

Established in 2015, the V&A’s Culture in Crisis Programme brings together those protecting cultural heritage, and has for many years worked closely to support the Metropolitan Police, as well as law-enforcement around the world, to help prevent the illicit trade of cultural artefacts.

Opening in 2025, V&A East Storehouse is one of two new V&A East sites currently under construction in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. V&A East Storehouse will be a unique new cultural experience giving unprecedented access to the V&A’s collections. A working collection store open to the public year-round, it will take visitors behind the scenes to encounter their national collections at a scale and in ways never possible before.

Interested in learning more?

• Read the full Press Release
• Read our V&A Blog Post

Image Credit: L-R: Commander Clayman, Central Specialist Crime, Metropolitan Police; V&A Director Dr Tristram Hunt; Dr. Yassin Saeed Noman Ahmed, Yemen's Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland photographed at the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, on the occasion of the V&A and Republic of Yemen signing an historic agreement that will see the V&A research and temporarily care for four ancient carved stone funerary stelae, which were likely illegally looted from the Republic of Yemen, ahead of their safe return to their country of origin.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London