The Geneva branch of Phoenix Ancient Art will be opening a new exhibit from October 29 and to extend until November 25, 2009. Ali and Hicham Aboutaam cordially invite you to visit and enjoy:
“DÉESES”
Divinités Féminines des Civilisations Méditerranéennes
Roughly translated as Goddesses: Feminine Deities of Mediterranean Civilisations.
“The Geneva Gallery is located at 6, rue Verdaine. The Aboutaams hope to see you there.
Hicham Aboutaam will be representing Phoenix Ancient Art at Phoenix’s booth at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show this autumn. Among the stars of his booth is what the New York Times describes as “a bigger-than-life ancient Roman sculpture of a muscular man’s torso smoothly carved from green basalt anchors the Phoenix Ancient Art booth.”
Other beautiful, rare and unique artworks you will be privileged to see on view include ancient Egyptian sculptures, antique armor and weaponry, jewelry, glassware paintings and much, much more. from the ancient world, antique armor and weaponry, masks from Africa, rugs, jewelry, glassware, clocks, modern paintings as well as old, plus much, much more. When visiting the show, be sure to stop by Phoenix Ancient Art and say hi to Hicham Aboutaam. It will be his pleasure to show you his treasures.
The brother team that makes Phoenix Ancient Art, Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam, believes that collecting antiquities is more than just a hobby or even a financial investment option, but that the collector acquires a personal connection to the objects. Articles that have existed through the ages are more than mere items of beauty for they carry with them tremendous worth as testimony to ages gone by.
Antiquities have always served as an inspiration to writers, artists and others. This art connects us to the past cultures in which we can find the roots of our civilizations. When you collect antiquities you also connect to the past and the ancestors and fathers of modern society.
Phoenix Ancient Art, founded by S. Aboutaam, and now under the management of his sons, Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam, ensures that their clients always sense the history, culture and beauty contained within each piece that is exhibited and sold by Phoenix and the Aboutaam brothers.
Scarab Beetle Amulet
Ever since he was a child Hicham Aboutaam was fascinated with antiquities. He was especially enthralled with ancient cylinder seals and scarabs, and to this day Aboutaam is actively acquiring miniature masterpieces for his own personal collection.
Today, as one of the owners of Phoenix Ancient Art, Hicham is constantly on the lookout for remarkable art objects which are not only of great beauty and magnificent workmanship, but also of historical interest.
During his university studies Hicham Aboutaam focused his learning on archeology and art history. Upon finishing university Aboutaam went on to join his father and brother Ali running their successful dealership in antiquities. From that time until today the brothers Aboutaam have been relentlessly building their reputation as ancient art dealers with impeccable taste and exemplary judgment.
Scythian Bamboo Weapon
Hicham Aboutaam of Phoenix Ancient Art offers objects from a huge range of time periods and geographical locations. One of the more astounding artifacts on offer is a Scythian bamboo bow and quiver set. This remarkably preserved set is from the 3rd to 1st century. The state of preservation is astounding, with wood and leather paint almost perfect.
Also incredible is the fact that this set has remained together through the ages. The bamboo bow is shaped into a triple curve, the center curve for hand placement, and the top and bottom curves to increase the action of the bowstring.
Scythian refers to a group comprised of many tribes which were nomadic. They spoke the Iranian language and roamed throughout the area from the Danube river plains to the Central Asia steppes and eastward to Siberia.
The Scythian main occupation was as warriors, and even Scythian women were welcomed to fight in battles.
This artifact is quite a find, not just for its inherent beauty but for its historical value as well.
Carnelian Bezel Gold Ring
Have you always wanted to peruse the world of antiquities, but without leaving your house? Beginning on May 1st, 2009 all you need is a computer with internet to travel back to the art of ancient cultures and contemplate adding an artifact to either your already existing collection, or to begin a collection of your own.
Phoenix Ancient Art offers antiquities for sale or auction both on-line or in-person which were created as long ago as the 6th millennium BCE from cultures located in the areas surrounding and including the Mediterranean Basin such as but not limited to Greece, Rome, Egypt, Byzantium and the world of Islam.
No need to worry about the authenticity of an object, or overpaying. Over the years Phoenix Ancient Art has developed an impeccable reputation for honesty, and this reputation will be passed on to all purchases made on-line.
Alexander Gherardi, president of e-tiquities, explains how e-tiquities simplifies entrance into the world of collecting antiquities:
“Many people are intimidated by the thought of purchasing antiquities. They fear buying something that is inauthentic, illegally acquired or overpriced. E-tiquities.com eliminates this anxiety. Our researchers have worked to make e-tiquities an educational site as well as an accessible way to collect elegant, guaranteed authentic antiquities. It is truly an innovation in the field.”
A fascinating new trend seems to be developing in the world of collecting art and antiquities; and that is the increase in the number of children participating in this unquestionably sophisticated and pricey hobby.
Growing up in the mid to late 20th century, children’s collections were usually composed of stamps, postcards, bottle caps, and if the child had an extraordinarily large allowance, coins.
Today, however, as a general boom in art and wealth is experienced in society, especially among younger people who are raising their children with a keen desire to give them the best possible education and a taste for high culture, children are more often participating in auctions or purchasing great works of art in galleries.
According to Hugh Hildesley , executive vice president of Sotheby’s , when he joined the esteemed auction house in 1961 children were never present at sales. “Children were unheard of, and we would have discouraged their presence,” he remembers. In 2007 alone there have been upwards of a dozen children present, as onlookers or even bidders, at both auction previews as well as sales.
At age 4 Dakota King began collecting contemporary art in 2002. Among her more than 40-piece collection is a Panda from Andy Warhol’s series on endangered species. “Panda is darling and chubby and cute, and at night he protects me,” Dakota comments.
Along with modern art there are children that are also collecting antiquities. Soliman Aboutaam, age nine, collects Greek and Roman coins because he enjoys the “monsters” imprinted on the ancient currency, such as griffins and chimeras. Their father, Hicham Aboutaam, an antiquities dealer and co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art with his brother Ali Aboutaam, began the collection for his two sons. The younger son, Alexander, age seven is learning proper care for his 2,000 year old coins. They are always careful to just hold the coins along the rim, “so that the front doesn’t erase,” Soliman says.
Still, these “small collectors” are unusual despite the fact that the trend seems to be increasing. Andrew Reed, owner of a $3,000 painting called “Smurf” by Michael Vasquez, says his friends are not too interested in his prized painting. “What my friends really like are my baseball cards.”
Narbemann:Black Chlorite Demon
Having developed an impeccable reputation as ancient art dealers, the Aboutaam brothers, Ali and Hicham, of Phoenix Ancient Art, can be depended upon to acquire extraordinary works of art of high historical and artistic value.
Among the Aboutaams’ many offerings is a significant figure from circa 2200 B.C.E. of black chlorite believed to represent a Near Eastern demon known as the Narbemann, or “scarred man.”
Although the demon is frequently represented as a scaly man with a striking gash on his face, this particular representation is smooth-skinned. The tell-tale scar is present on the right side where the original ivory inlay is still complete clearly signifying that this is a representation of more than four thousand years old of the Narbemann.
Bringing ancient art to the widest possible range of people has been one of Hicham Aboutaam’s dreams.
Glass Amphoriskos
Now, with the lauching of e-tiquities, Hicham’s dream is virtually coming true. As of May 1st, 2009 anyone with internet access and a desire to enter the world of rare and beautiful antiquities can easily bring his desire to fruition.
Whether your interest is in an antiquities auction or in antiquities for sale, both can be achieved at e-tiquities. Ranging in price from only $500 to $25,000, there is something available to just about anyone on this on-line gallery/auction house.
E-tiquities is the virtual version of the very real and quite well known gallery Phoenix Ancient Art. Located in two central locales, New York City and Geneva, Phoenix Ancient Art is one of the world’s most respected and reliable outlets for beautiful and rare antiquities. Hicham Aboutaam, co-owner with his brother Ali, explains some of his goals for e-tiquities:
“In launching e-tiquities by Phoenix Ancient Art, we hope both to introduce a new audience to the cultures of the ancient world, and to give our existing clients an easy way to expand their collections. One of the things which makes Phoenix Ancient Art special in our field is the guarantee of authenticity that we provide to our clients, whether they buy works in our galleries or on our new website. Over the years, we’ve developed procedures to establish provenance (chain of ownership) to ensure that our pieces are both authentic and on the market in accordance with international law.”
It is clear that a piece of artwork such as the Greco-Roman mosaic glass bowl being offered at the Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery in Geneva was a luxury available to only the wealthiest individuals of the 1st century B.C.E. Extremely time consuming and labor intensive to produce, it is quite a rarity to find an example of mosaic glass of such immense quality and in such good, virtually intact, condition.
In response to a question about the significance of this particular millifiori glass bowl, Hicham Aboutaam, one of the owners of the Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery, along with his brother Ali, responded,
“Although mosaic glass was not uncommon in ancient times, few vessels of comparable quality and condition exist today.”
There are two similar bowls from the same time period and in the same style but of different color schemes. One is on display in the Museum of Glass in New York and another at the Yale University Art Gallery. These, and perhaps just a handful of others are the only surviving examples of the high level of beauty, craftsmanship and preservation that this bowl exhibits. Admitting the fortunate nature of the acquisition of this bowl by Phoenix Ancient Art, Ali Aboutaam remarked,
“We are quite fortunate to have found such a remarkable piece and feel very lucky to be able to present it for others to enjoy.”
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