Phoenix Ancient Art, along with the large gathering of other art dealers, were pleased with the turnout and results of the 21st International Fine Art and Antique Dealers fair which was held this past October at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City.
Not sure what to expect from collectors this year due to the economic turn down, Anna Haughton, one of the organizers of the fair commented that sales were better this year than they have been in the most recent past.
According to Ms. Haughton, “Some dealers have said they’ve seen clients they haven’t seen in two or three years,” and she added that they detected a “sea change in the mood when dealers were clearly apprehensive” about sales
Especially pleased with the sales at the fair, Ali and Hicham Aboutaam of the New York and Geneva branches of Phoenix Ancient Art, described sales at their booth as “feverish.” The Aboutaams accepted six different bids for a unique Roman figure of a female dating back to the first century. They had strong sales for other pieces, including a head-vase in the shape of an oinochoe (wine jug) dating to 450 BCE, which sold for $300,000 and for $120,000 Phoenix Ancient Art sold an early Roman bust.