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Saudi Crafts Shine at Banan Exhibition

The Banan Exhibition brought together artisans from over 25 countries. SPA
The Banan Exhibition brought together artisans from over 25 countries. SPA
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Saudi Crafts Shine at Banan Exhibition

The Banan Exhibition brought together artisans from over 25 countries. SPA
The Banan Exhibition brought together artisans from over 25 countries. SPA

The Saudi International Handicrafts Week Exhibition (Banan) served as a cultural forum, bringing together pioneers of handicrafts from across the globe, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

With participation from more than 25 countries, alongside Saudi artisans, the exhibition provided a vibrant space to explore diverse traditional arts that reflect the unique cultures of different peoples, SPA said.
Amid this diversity, Saudi handicrafts held a prominent position. The international participation offered Saudi artisans an opportunity to present their heritage in a global context, showcasing traditional crafts such as Sadu weaving, metal engraving, and palm frond weaving. These displays underscored Saudi heritage as an essential component of the international cultural landscape, SPA said.
One participating Saudi artisan remarked, “The exhibition is not only an opportunity to display our work but also a chance to learn from other cultures and discover similarities between our heritage and that of other nations.”
A visitor expressed his admiration, stating, “The exhibition allowed us to witness this incredible cultural diversity in one place. It gave us insights into the similarities and differences among various peoples through their handicrafts.”
By bringing together artisans from over 25 countries, the Banan Exhibition significantly contributed to fostering cultural understanding and dialogue among nations.

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Culture

Sotheby’s Says a Diamond Brooch Lost by Napoleon as His Forces Fled Waterloo Sells for $4.4 Million

A staff member holds a 132.66 carats green beryl worn by Emperor Napoleon I at his coronation and an old mine-cut diamond brooch or pendant owned by Emperor Napoleon I during an auction preview for Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2025. (Reuters)
A staff member holds a 132.66 carats green beryl worn by Emperor Napoleon I at his coronation and an old mine-cut diamond brooch or pendant owned by Emperor Napoleon I during an auction preview for Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2025. (Reuters)
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Sotheby’s Says a Diamond Brooch Lost by Napoleon as His Forces Fled Waterloo Sells for $4.4 Million

A staff member holds a 132.66 carats green beryl worn by Emperor Napoleon I at his coronation and an old mine-cut diamond brooch or pendant owned by Emperor Napoleon I during an auction preview for Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2025. (Reuters)
A staff member holds a 132.66 carats green beryl worn by Emperor Napoleon I at his coronation and an old mine-cut diamond brooch or pendant owned by Emperor Napoleon I during an auction preview for Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2025. (Reuters)

A diamond brooch that French emperor Napoleon lost while fleeing from the Battle of Waterloo in the early 19th century sold for more than 3.5 million Swiss francs (about $4.4 million) at a Geneva auction on Wednesday, Sotheby's said.

The brooch, which can also be worn as a pendant, features an oval diamond weighing over 13 carats surrounded by smaller cut diamonds. The sale price vastly outstripped the high end of the pre-sale estimate of 200,000 francs.

The hammer price was 2.85 million francs, excluding fees and other charges that were included in the final aggregate price.

The circular jewel was found in a stash of Napoleon's personal belongings in carriages that got held up on muddy roads as he and his troops fled the Duke of Wellington's British forces and the Prussian army under Field Marshal von Blücher, Sotheby's said.

For more than two centuries, the jewels featured as part of heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern. Sotheby's did not disclose the identity of the seller, and said that the buyer was a "private collector."

Among dozens of lots on the block was a green beryl weighing over 132 carats, which Napoleon was said to have worn at his 1804 coronation. The jewel sold for a hammer price of 838,000 francs, or more than 17 times the high-end pre-sale estimate.

One diamond expert said the sale took on added allure in the wake of the much-ballyhooed robbery of Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last month.

"Given the recent Louvre heist and the provenance of arguably the most famous French figure in history, I’m not surprised the jewel achieved a majestic 3.5 million francs," said Tobias Kormind, managing director of online jeweler 77 Diamonds. "The brooch arrives at a moment of renewed global fascination with Napoleonic jewels, and its story is irresistible."

Later Wednesday, Sotheby's was holding a "high jewelry" auction featuring a 10-carat pink diamond tentatively known as the "Glowing Rose," which is expected to fetch about $20 million. The stone was unearthed in Angola’s Lulo mine.

Culture

Syria Opens Probe into Robbery at National Museum

People visit the National Museum of Damascus after it reopened, a month after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 9, 2025. (Reuters)
People visit the National Museum of Damascus after it reopened, a month after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 9, 2025. (Reuters)
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Syria Opens Probe into Robbery at National Museum

People visit the National Museum of Damascus after it reopened, a month after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 9, 2025. (Reuters)
People visit the National Museum of Damascus after it reopened, a month after the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, January 9, 2025. (Reuters)

Syrian authorities have temporarily closed the national museum in Damascus and launched an investigation after thieves made off with several pieces, an official told AFP on Wednesday.

The robbery took place overnight Sunday to Monday in the so-called classical wing of the facility, which was spared during Syria's civil war between 2011 and late last year and which houses priceless artifacts dating back to antiquity.

"Official investigations have begun and the museum will remain closed temporarily until the collection of evidence has finished," the official said, requesting anonymity.

"An inventory of all the archaeological items is currently underway to ensure no other pieces are missing," they added.

An official from the department overseeing museums, also requesting anonymity, told AFP that "six small Roman-era statues of the goddess Venus" were taken.

An official had previously told AFP that gold ingots were stolen.

Syria's antiquities and museums department said in a statement Tuesday that an official investigation had been opened in coordination with security authorities, without specifying which items were stolen.

It said it had taken "immediate measures to ensure the safety of the collections and support the protection and monitoring system inside the museum".

The classical wing is one of the museum's most important sections, home to artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras.

The museum was closed on Wednesday and a security guard told AFP that "there are no tourist visits until next week".

The national museum had shut its doors due to fears of looting shortly before longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was deposed last December by an opposition coalition. It reopened in January.

The collections include tens of thousands of items from Syria's long history, ranging from prehistoric tools to Greco-Roman sculptures to pieces of Islamic art.

During the civil war, many pieces stored elsewhere in the country were brought to the facility for safekeeping.

The war saw archaeological sites bombed, museums looted and many artifacts stolen, generating millions of dollars for traffickers.

Culture

Saudi Museums Commission Inaugurates Pavilion at ICOM Dubai 2025

The commission affirmed that its participation in ICOM Dubai represents an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s experience in building an integrated museum sector - SPA
The commission affirmed that its participation in ICOM Dubai represents an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s experience in building an integrated museum sector - SPA
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Saudi Museums Commission Inaugurates Pavilion at ICOM Dubai 2025

The commission affirmed that its participation in ICOM Dubai represents an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s experience in building an integrated museum sector - SPA
The commission affirmed that its participation in ICOM Dubai represents an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s experience in building an integrated museum sector - SPA

The Museums Commission participated today in the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), being held in Dubai from November 11 to 17, 2025.

 

The conference, themed "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities," has drawn a diverse group of museum experts and institutions from across the globe, according to a press release issued by the commission on Wednesday.

On the first day of the conference, the Museums Commission unveiled its pavilion, showcasing the Kingdom's efforts to develop its national and regional museum ecosystem. The exhibit highlights the commission's key initiatives and projects aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, as part of its mission to transform museums into vibrant community hubs that enhance cultural communication and revitalize values of identity and heritage.

The pavilion features interactive and visual displays highlighting the transformation of the museum sector in Saudi Arabia. These displays showcase the diversity of exhibited experiences, the adoption of modern technologies in presentation and documentation, and programs that empower national talent in conservation, research, design, and the overall museum experience.

The release added that the commission’s representatives will also participate in various conference panels and sessions. These speakers will highlight the evolution of Saudi Arabia's museum landscape over the past decade and discuss the crucial role museums play in documenting social and cultural shifts. They will also explore how these institutions are strengthening the Kingdom's presence on the global cultural landscape.

This participation reinforces the Museums Commission's presence in international forums and reaffirms its commitment to fostering professional dialogue within the global museum community. It also underscores the importance of exchanging expertise in areas of museum management, exhibition development strategies, and the adoption of digital solutions that keep pace with the rapid changes in modern communities.

The commission affirmed that its participation in ICOM Dubai represents an opportunity to showcase Saudi Arabia’s experience in building an integrated museum sector that contributes to preserving national memory and safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage. Additionally, it allows the commission to explore the future of museums as open spaces for dialogue, creativity, and education.

The ICOM conference is considered one of the world's most influential events in the museum sector, bringing together distinguished experts, cultural leaders, and museum professionals to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing cultural institutions amidst rapid technological and social transformations. This underscores the Kingdom's growing stature and leadership role on the global cultural landscape.