Ali Aboutaam

Much artwork spanning many areas are sold through Phoenix Ancient Art.  One time frame covered is Scythian art and currently on sale through their e-Tiquities website is a Scythian Bronze Axe Head and a Scythian Bronze Deer.  For more information on Scythian art, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythian_art

Phoenix Ancient Art, co-owned by brothers Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam, sells art from many different Eras, including the Cycladic culture.  Art from this culture can be categorized by three time periods: 2800-2500 BCE; 2500-200 BCE; and 2200-2000 BCE.  The art often overlaps these time periods (rather than being restricted to just one period).  The images were often used in graves, suggesting that they were important to the deceased during their lives, as opposed to being made for burial.  Central to Cycladic Art are best described as idols or figurines (most well-known as musicians: harp or pipe players) and gained popularity among the people of mainland Greece and Crete.  Ali Aboutaam is currently selling a Cycladic Marble Plate for $12,500.

Certainly, it’s always interesting to learn about antiques that galleries have for sale.  One beautiful and intricate item is the Syrian Seated Female Satuette of the Tell Halaf type.  This piece was acquired by Hicham Aboutaam and Ali Aboutaam of Phoenix Ancient Art on the English Art Market in 1995 in London.

It is from the 6^th Millennium B.C. from Syria and is 7.2 cm high.   The statuette was part of the Tell Halaf culture, a famous site in Northern Syria which was excavated in the 1930s.  While many pieces from the period were not well preserved, this piece is in great condition.

This image was hand-shaped and represents a seated woman with her legs drawn back towards her body and her long arms framing her large breasts.  The representation of a female image with generous proportions was very common and showed the importance that the agro-pastoral communities during that time placed on fertility and fecundity for survival.

Ali Aboutaam, through the e-Tiquities website and with his brother Hicham, sells many different types of ancient elegant artworks, spanning a variety of different time periods.  One of these is the Persian Empire which is actually a combination of a group of empires: Median, Achaemenid, Parthian, Sassanian.  This is what makes Persian art so interesting.  One cannot say that there is standard or classic Persian art because it was made over so many different periods, spanning a variety of cultures.  Yet there are still a few motifs that can be seen on all art associated with the Persian Empire, such as the hunt.

Ali Aboutaam and Persian Flask

Currently on sale by Phoenix Ancient Art from this time period is a Sassanian pinched glass flask which is made from yellow-tinged blown glass.  It was probably used for pricey cosmetics or perfume and originally had a stopper.  It has a very narrow neck which suggests the contents were quite precious, restricting the flow.  It is called Sassanian due to its decorative motif, common on Sassanian vessels from the 3rd century AD.