Phoenix Ancient Art S.A.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W6L0_hmHxIc

Date April 22, 2007

Time 08:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Station CNBC

Location Network

Program High Net Worth

TYLER MATHISEN, host:

Call it a new twist on the art of the deal. Many high net

worth individuals looking for investment opportunities in

the art market.

The global financial market boom has meant a flood of new

wealth into the art markets, and that has sent fine art

prices through the roof. But one lower

priced--relatively--art category is gaining ground:

antiquities; making headlines grabbing the attention of

savvy investors.

CNBC's Margaret Brennan on the art of the deal.

MARGARET BRENNAN reporting:

It was a party the god of wine would approve of: Dionysus

himself watched out over the crowd that turned out to toast

the Metropolitan Museum of Art's new Greek and Roman

galleries.

Bulgari's CEO Francesco Trapani threw the coming out party

in a nod to its Roman roots...

Mr. FRANCESCO TRAPANI (CEO, Bulgari): My uncle was, and

is, a passionate of antique coins. He was collecting when

he was a kid.

BRENNAN: ...and used the opportunity to introduce a

collection of coin accessories.

Mr. TRAPANI: This is a very precious object because you

have piton, you have four antique coins (unintelligible).

BRENNAN: This $16,000 snakeskin and coin handbag and

antique Jewelry, which is only available in New York.

'A high profile launch like this will only reinforce the

growing trend art collectors to invest in antiquities,'

says dealer Hicham Aboutaam of Phoenix Ancient Art.

So why is everything old suddenly new again for investors?

Artifacts are less expensive than popular contemporary

art.

Mr. HICHAM ABOUTAAM (Phoenix Ancient Art): Gold Roman

bracelets that date to the third or fourth century.

BRENNAN: At $220,000 these ancient pieces are priced at a

fraction of what an old master would cost at auction.

Mr. ABOUTAAM: I see fewer and fewer items in the market.

BRENNAN: Government regulation to protect the historic

value of objects, like this $440,000 Greek piece from the

4th century BC, has increased over the past few years. And

that means new no pieces will enter the market

Mr. ABOUTAAM: In the last three years we're seeing the

value appreciating between 18 and 20 percent.

BRENNAN: There is always risk involved in buying artifacts

whose provenance cannot be verified. Aboutaam's advice?

Be prepared to spend a few thousand more for scholars to

investigate the artifact's origins, and invest in

insurance.

Most financial experts advise not to put more than 5

percent of your individual net worth into art, but for some

owning a piece of history is priceless.

For HIGH NET WORTH, I'm Margaret Brennan.