When: closing August 18, 2019
There's a small exhibit space at the back of the Sackler, next to the gift shop. It's easy to overlook, especially if you're there for one of the big shows that open right off the main staircase. I've seen several nice things tucked away back here, but never anything quite so small as the display of Yemeni artifacts there now.
In a recent issue of Smithsonian magazine, I read a piece on Wendell Phillips and his trips to South Arabia (what is now Yemen). So this display was quite timely for me. He traveled to the area in 1950 and 1951 and discovered quite a few objects; literally three of them are on display. There's also a video, which is informative.
Yemen was a center of the incense trade, as it was a major sources of frankincense and myrrh (and, yes, I thought of the Three Wise Men). Sadly, the current war threatens the nation's cultural heritage, in addition to causing such human suffering and loss of life. The metalwork in these pieces is quite sophisticated; it's a reminder that ancient people may not have had our technology, but they were every bit as artistically gifted as we are.
Verdict: This is a small show, but each item is lovely and worth seeing. If you're stopping by the gift shop, don't miss this! And if you're not stopping by the gift shop, don't miss it either.
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