Head of Goddess
Ali Aboutaam, proprietor of Phoenix Ancient Art in Geneva contributed a marvelous Hellenistic head of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite to AN art exhibit sponsored by the French watchmaker Audemars Piguet. The marble bust, dating back to the 4th or beginning of the 3rd century B.C.E. IS part of the exhibit “Art and Watch making, Le Temps au Féminin,” which is part of the “Association pour l’Art en Vieille Ville – AVV” in Geneva. The exhibit runs from May 1st to May 9th, 2009.
Having a reputation as the “older, quieter brother” of the two Aboutaam brothers, a story is told of one of Ali’s earlier ventures into acquisition of antiquities.
“I remember there was an auction in London, “explains Ali. “I was 25 years old, wearing a jean jacket, and it was an auction of really tiny things. I was trying to buy the whole thing- everything.”
Outbidding even his most motivated competition, Ali continued to bid until he paid £14,000 for a piece which was listed at £200-£400; about 70 times more than Christie’s estimated value.
Laughing, Ali described the auctioneer as making comments like, “This is a record!”
When the auction was over, Ali sent a friend who was working for the Aboutaams to collect the pieces they had purchased for a total of £400,000. “Everything could fit in his hand!” Ali exclaims.
What seemed to some as reckless purchases at the time turned out to make excellent business sense later, when much of what Ali had purchased at auction that day has since sold for double, and even triple what was originally paid.
Some of the finest miniature pieces that were purchased that day at Christie’s are still in the brothers’ collection.
Ancient art is of twofold significance, as implied by the name. When an object is ancient its importance comes from the mere fact that it is an example of something that no longer exists, or something that teaches us about ITS culture or civilization. This is true even of objects that were not created as works of art but as artifacts, such as ancient tools or eating utensils.
But when an object is not only ancient, but is also considered an art object, either when it was created, such as a sculpture or paintings, or in the present day, such as coins or pottery, the object takes on a significance much more meaningful than the mere fact that the object is old.
Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam of the Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery understand the special significance of ancient art. They have earned international recognition as dealers with expertise and impeccable judgment when it comes to finding and acquiring artwork that is rare, beautiful and valuable.
Phoenix Ancient Art, a family business managed by brothers Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam, has galleries located in Geneva and in New York. Phoenix’s exclusive galleries are considered to be leaders in rare and exquisite antiquities – with the Phoenix team considered to the leading dealers in these fields.
There are many cultures that are represented in the displays and works of art that the Phoenix Ancient Art galleries display and offer for sale. These works stem from the fundamental cultures that gave birth to our world and Western civilization. These include the ancient civilizations of the Near east and the Far East, Mesopotamia, Central Europe, the Balkans, the Roman Empire and Egypt among others.
Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam have taken the business started by their father and made it into an internationally renowned art dealership. Phoenix Ancient Art is worth a visit if you are in Geneva or New York.
The Aboutaam’s Phoenix Ancient Art Galleries are exclusive antiquities galleries in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland.
Phoenix Ancient Art is considered to be one of the world’s leading galleries and dealers in rare and exquisite art works and antiquities.
Where do Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery’s works of art originate? (The Aboutaam brothers travel the world to secure the best items for their galleries.)
In general, and in short, from the cultures that comprise the essence of Western Civilization, These ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Near East, Central and Northern Europe, the Greek World and the Roman Empire, the Balkans, Eurasia, Southwest Asia, the Steppes, Byzantium and Christian, Islam, and European Dark Ages.
Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam run the successful and highly regarded Phoenix Ancient Art galleries that are widely considered by many to be the leading dealers in rare and high quality exquisite antiquities.
There are two galleries where you can get lost in history, or chat to Ali Aboutaam:
Walking into Ali Aboutaam’s Phoenix Ancient Art is like stepping into a glorious world of antiquities and history. The immense displays and beautiful layout make you feel right!
So, what are Antiquities?
That’s what this site is about – explaining Ancient Art, Phoenix, and antiquities.
The term “antiquities,” generally used in the plural, is a term defining objects from Antiquity, from the distant past. This term especially applies to the Mediterranean civilizations. These are the Ccassical antiquities of Greece & Rome, Ancient Egypt and other Ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Join Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam at their Phoenix Ancient Art galleries to learn more.
All of us have heard about the Pyramids and Pharaoh, but very few of us know much about ancient Egyption history. Understanding ancient Egypt, its history, and most importantly its contributions to modern culture is essential to understand today’s world. There is no better way to understand and learn about ancient cultures than to experience them through the art, artifacts and antiquities they have left for us.
Phoenix Ancient art, run and managed by Ali Aboutaam and his brother Hicham Aboutaam, is the perfect place to take a walk down history. Antiquities can bring the past to life!
Shopping for antiques can be difficult. Not easy to know what you are looking for, and whether what you are looking at is an antique.
When it comes to art – as with any sphere of life – it is important to go to the professionals in order to learn. Ancient Art is a field that is even more specialized, and therefore it is essential to know what period you are interested in and what the important factors about that period in history as well as the artifacts that remain and what their part is.
For an understanding as to art from the ancient world, it is worthwhile to start off by simply taking in some of the information available – whether from printed materials, lectures, or even simply take a walk around galleries.
A good place to start would be Phoenix Ancient Art galleries run by Ali and Hicham Aboutaam.
Phoenix Ancient Art is run by brothers Hicham and Ali Aboutaam. The Phoenix site (www.phoenixancientart.ch/phoenix_ancient_art) is always a good place to start, and it is also a good idea to look here, of course. The good news is that a sister blog, or more accurately, a brother’s blog has been born, check it out – www.hichamaboutaam.com.