A BITTER BATTLE has erupted between the authorities and inheritors over a collection of artefacts contained in what is believed to be the country’s biggest ‘private home museum’.
The vintage and rare items belonging to the late, renowned collector of antiques Ali Musaed, are set to be auctioned off on November 19.
Treasures
“We cannot risk some of these irreplaceable treasures being taken out of the country as they have too much historical significance to Bahrain,” said Muharraq Governor Salman Bin Hindi. “We must put a stop to this auction, or at least delay it.”
Mr Musaed, whose love of collecting treasures was highlighted in the GDN, tragically died at the age of 51 in June from Covid-19 complications. His pleas earlier this year for financial support to continue his project were ignored by the authorities.
The retired Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) supervisor’s home museum in Busaiteen covered three storeys on an area of 240sqm. It was divided into 10 sections: Government offices, classrooms, library, photography and telecommunications’ studios, majlis, pearl diving, music and art gallery, medical libraries and hospitals, restaurants and kitchens, plus cold stores.
Mr Musaed had been collecting items of interest for more than 40 years and he admitted that a childhood passion had grown into an expensive hobby when interviewed.
The Muharraq Governor has appealed to the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) to urgently step in and sort out valuable items in the museum before the auction’s due date.
“We are speaking about authentic, original and non-replicated collections of documents and items that represent the identity of Muharraq and Bahrain as a whole,” Mr Bin Hindi told the GDN.
“These vintage and rare collections shouldn’t be sold off to the highest bidder – century-old documents that speak about Bahrain shouldn’t be going anywhere, especially out of the country.
“This is why we have raised the alarm with Baca to immediately visit the property and inspect the belongings as we are only around two weeks away from the auction, which we are also trying to push back.”
Mr Bin Hindi claimed that he had expressed an interest in securing selected rare documents in the collection but had been informed by an authorised broker, on behalf of the late collector’s family, that it ‘was all or none’.
“I understand that the family has been living in just part of the three-storey house, while the remaining three-quarters had been turned into the museum. They want to make space and expand the living area and are also in need of money.
“I showed interest in buying some rare documents but was told that was not possible.
“It is heart-breaking to think that the history of my country is open for bargaining, when protecting it should be a joint responsibility.
“We are working to get local banks or investors to buy the whole place should we fail to reach a deal with the family.”
The family de clined to comment and the auctioneers would not expand on the fact that the sale was set to go ahead.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has also in its meeting yesterday asked for the auction to be pushed back until the relevant authorities should strike a deal with the current owners.
“That auction shouldn’t go ahead even if the family is in need,” blasted Busaiteen councillor Waheed Al Mannai. “My country’s history is not for sale.
“The collections that Mr Musaed had in the museum were one of a kind and many tourists interested in the history of Bahrain would often rather visit his museum than go to Bahrain National Museum.
“He was mourned by a lot of people across the world when he died.”
The councillor said that international antiquity experts had praised the collection and Mr Musaed was recognised at home and abroad, even picking up awards from as far away as South Korea.
The GDN reported in October last year that some of the rare antiques that Mr Musaed owned dated back 200 years. His pleas for support from the authorities to help financially with maintaining and insuring his collection fell on deaf ears.
He said that ministries and government bodies often requested items and documents in his possession to display at special events or when VIP delegates visited from abroad.
Parliament public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Khalid Bu Onk said it was a shame that what he considered to be the ‘best home museum in the country’ was closed and the contents set to be put up for sale.
“I am an avid antiques collector myself and it saddens me to think that some of these treasures could disappear into a private collector’s hoard abroad.”
Baca was unavailable for comment.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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