Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
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Jeddah Historic District Program Unveils New Archaeological Finds at Heritage Nassif House

Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA
Nassif House is open daily with two visiting slots: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, offering both morning and evening visits. - SPA

The Ministry of Culture's Jeddah Historic District Program is currently showcasing a plethora of archaeological discoveries at the heritage Nassif House, unearthed during a recent excavation campaign. Among these treasures are ancient ebony pillars from the Othman bin Affan Mosque mihrab, dating back to the early Hijri centuries.
The program had earlier revealed the discovery of about 25,000 artefacts and remnants of archaeological materials dating back to the first and second Hijri centuries at historical sites, including the Othman bin Affan Mosque, sections of the eastern moat, and the northern wall. This discovery is part of an archaeological initiative managed by the Jeddah Historic District Program, SPA reported.
Situated in the Al-Alawi Market within Historic Jeddah, Al-Balad, Nassif House holds immense historical importance, particularly since it served as the residence of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud during the initial years of his reign in Jeddah.
This initiative reflects the program's commitment to enriching the visitor experience, showcasing the region's archaeological treasures, emphasizing historically significant sites, and preserving them. It also aims to bolster Historic Jeddah's position as a cultural hub, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 regarding heritage preservation.



Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
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Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP

A Vincent van Gogh painting displaying the artist's shift from dark realism to vibrant impressionism sold for US$32.2 million at a Hong Kong auction on Thursday, falling short of expectations that it would fetch a record-breaking price.
"Les canots amarres" -- or "the moored boats" -- was the centerpiece of an inaugural evening sale held to celebrate the opening of auction house Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters.
According to Christie's, it was expected to fetch HK$230-380 million (US$30-50 million) on the auction floor, AFP reported.
If bidding had reached the higher end of the estimated value, it could have surpassed Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Warrior" -- which went for HK$323.6 million in 2021 -- as the most expensive Western painting sold in Asia.

But the hammer of auctioneer Adrien Meyer fell Thursday at HK$250 million.
Cristian Albu, deputy chairman and head of 20th/21st century art at Christie's Asia Pacific, said the price was the "record of a Van Gogh in Asia.”
The auction house was "cautious" with its lineup on Thursday in hopes of boosting market confidence, added Ada Tsui, head of evening sale and specialist for 20th/21st century art.
Owned by the Italian royal family of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the Van Gogh painting is "the most important painting by the artist ever to be offered in Asia,” Christie's said in its introduction.
"'Les canots amarres' marks a vital stepping stone in his career," it said.
The painting is one of about 40 works Van Gogh developed around the scenic French town of Asnieres, a boating hub on the outskirts of Paris, during the summer of 1887.