Ali Aboutaam explains the philosophy of the aggressive acquisition of antiquities practiced at Phoenix Ancient Art.
“We are buying so much all the time, but it is because these things will not come back. Most people don’t understand, but when you feel that you are not going to see something like this again, you try as much as you can to get it. Sometimes more than you can.”
This philosophy was passed down from Ali and Hicham Aboutaam’s father, the founder of the family business. At the time the brothers took over, the world of antiquities was undergoing enormous upheavals, and what was once a “by appointment only”gallery is now open to the public, in both New York and Geneva.
Phoenix Ancient Art publishes glossy catalogs, and produces curated exhibitions of their varied and extensive collections. The brothers Aboutaam have made every effort to broaden their client base, including speaking out in favor of regulation and courting the press.
Hicham Aboutaam describes to what extent antiquities deals have changed from they way they used to be done:
“We just sold a $150,000 piece over the web,” Hicham says. “We never met. The buyer just wired the money, and we sent the piece. That’s it.”