Ali Aboutaam

If you’re looking for a unique antique, Phoenix Ancient Art with Hicham Aboutaam and Ali Aboutaam is certainly the place to look.  One of their most recent additions is the Greek Head of a goddess from the Greek World in the Late 5^th century B.C.  This head is complete and is carved from a block of fine-grained white marble.  The nose was added in plaster and the upper skull was completed with other materials.

The indications of the diadem or crown with or without a veil or helmet indicate that this figure wasn’t a mortal.  The mythological figure could have been Hera, Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite or Artemis.  It may even have been Athena, if the head were protected by a helmet.

The style of the statue certainly fixes the date to the Classical period, between the last decades of the 5^th or the early 4^th century B.C.  During this period, the Greek world was shaken by the fratricidal Peloponnesian War.

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.

Ali Aboutaam, co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art, is currently selling lots of jewelry and gems from different historical periods.  Currently on sale is a Byzantine gold ornamented disk that has a cruciform Greek monogram, which is filled with niello on the surface.  According to the e-Tiquities website where these gems are sold, chances are this piece of jewelry probably originally formed part of a set which included a necklace, box and valuable dishes.

Byzantine Period and Phoenix Ancient Art

During the Byzantine era, monograms were very popular and used to identify groups.  This one, currently on sale by the Abotaams, has the owner’s name engraved, saying ‘this object belongs to,’ and his title.  The Byzantine Era (also known as Eastern Roman Empire) focused around the capital of Constantinople.

Ali Aboutaam, co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art, specializes in various different time periods of historic art.  One such era is the Geometric and Orientalizing Greek Era.  This spans the 9th and 8th centuries BC and was produced throughout Greece, especially Athens.  In fact, in Athens during this time, much geometric pottery was being produced.  In fact, since people seemed to desire good quality dishes around 900 BC, potters really focused on what they were making and put much more detail into their pottery than they had done previously.  Vases with geometric and animal designs are typical of the Geometric Era whereas the Orientalizing Era typically depicts near-eastern motifs through metalwork.
Geometric Art Sold Through Phoenix Ancient Art

The Aboutaams currently have five pieces of art from this time period on sale through e-Tiquities as well as a number of catalogues.  These gems are: a Geometric bronze bird stamp seal; 2 Geometric bronze bulls; a Geometric bronze pendant Pyxis; and a Geometric bronze spherical pendant. This last piece – the pendant – sells for $1,600 and comprises three parts: vertical incisions in the middle; triangle incisions both at the top and bottom; upper stem pierced and curved.

Ali Aboutaam, co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art, lives in Switzerland. He is about to put on an exhibition, (with his brother Hicham), of the company’s art entitled “Horse in Antiquity.” The exhibition will run for two months from April 30 to June 30. The exhibition will take place at Geneva’s gallery. The company also had an exhibition in Brussels in January at the Antiques and Fine Arts Fair.

Art Exhibitions and Phoenix Ancient Art

Art exhibitions are a great way of promoting art. Thankfully for a successful company such as Phoenix Ancient Art, this is not so necessary. The company has an online site, e-Tiquities which sells many antique art objects. But art exhibitions will usually focus on a specific period in time.

The buzz was felt by all at the recent International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show at the Park Avenue Armory in October. Apter-Fredericks of London, which sells 18th-century English furniture, had a fantastic opening night. London book dealer Bernard Shapero sold a large “Ricci map” which is one of seven copes of the map fo the world that was made by Italian Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci in 1602.

Certainly, Phoenix Ancient Art, with Ali Aboutaam and Hicham Aboutaam, was there, showing their exceptional antiques. At the opening, the Aboutaam gallery sold a Greek oinochoe-shaped head vase that dated from the 5th century B.C. It went for $300,000. They also sold a large fragment of a basalt turtle from Egypt or Mesopotamia from around 3000 B.C.

Another antiques dealer, James Ede, sold 13 pieces on the opening night and had three more on reserves. A great success for everyone!