Dr. Souria Mouloudji, the Minister of Culture and Arts, received Ambassador Saïd Mousi, the Algerian Ambassador to Paris, at the ministry’s headquarters, where he presented a valuable historical artifact: Prince Abd al-Qadir’s sword, which was scheduled to be auctioned in Paris.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture, this artifact was retrieved through close coordination between the Algerian Embassy in Paris and the Ministry of Culture and Arts. The operation to uncover the scheduled sale was carried out by a newly established vigilance unit within the ministry, dedicated to identifying, tracking, and recovering national cultural assets located abroad.
It’s worth noting that this historical sword measures 107 cm in length and is crafted from silver. It features a wooden scabbard covered in silver, adorned with leaf-like scrolls, and equipped with two rings attached by a chain. The sword is dated to the period between 1808 and 1883.
The recovered sword and accompanying documents will be preserved as part of the national museum collections, joining other historical and artistic treasures recently recovered.
This successful retrieval of Prince Abd al-Qadir’s sword stands as a testament to Algeria’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural heritage on the international stage.
