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24th Paris Biennale
“The New York-and-Geneva-based gallery, known for having sold significant works of ancient art to major Western museums and collectors, is exhibiting at the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris for the second time. This year, Phoenix is showing 14 major pieces from Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Islamic and ancient Middle Eastern cultures. “What’s great about being at the Biennale”, says Hicham [Aboutaam], “is that we can take a client next door to the Louvre to show some of the best possible comparisons. Where else can you do that ? Our clients want to be dazzled by overall quality, and we try to provide that”.
Among the ancient treasures on the Phoenix stand is a Greek kylix dating from the late-fifth-century B.C. “It is quite rare to find a Greek silver vessel decorated with scenes we known mostly from Greek ceramic vases” says Ali [Aboutaam]. He goes on to describe an elegant enameled-glass Mamluk mosque lamp from Syria or Egypt, dating from the 13th or early 14th century, as “so beautiful that it recalls God through light and color. “This is one of two known example of early Mamluk mosque lamps: the other is in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. It comes from the collection of Charles Gillot, a French man who acquired it in 1900. “Preshow interest is exceptionally high for this piece, and it may well sell before the opening” says Ali.
International Herald Tribune
Brothers Ali and Hicham Aboutaam grew up in a house full of antiquities. “They were our toys and our joy”, says Hicham. Evenings were spent discussing works of art and conservation and both boys become collectors when they were around 13 years old, with Ali concentrating on Greek and Roman coins and Hicham on Greek and Roman seals. This passion was instilled in them by their father, Sleiman Aboutaam, who founded Phoenix Ancient Art in 1968.
The New York-and-Geneva-based gallery, known for having sold significant works of ancient art to major Western museums and collectors, is exhibiting at the Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris for the second time. This year, Phoenix is showing 14 major pieces from Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Islamic and ancient Middle Eastern cultures. “What’s great about being at the Biennale”, says Hicham, “is that we can take a client next door to the Louvre to show some of the best possible comparisons. Where else can you do that ? Our clients want to be dazzled by overall quality, and we try to provide that”.
Among the ancient treasures on the Phoenix stand is a Greek kylix dating from the late-fifth-century B.C. “It is quite rare to find a Greek silver vessel decorated with scenes we known mostly from Greek ceramic vases” says Ali. He goes on to describe an elegant enameled-glass Mamluk mosque lamp from Syria or Egypt, dating from the 13th or early 14th century, as “so beautiful that it recalls God through light and color. “This is one of two known example of early Mamluk mosque lamps: the other is in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. It comes from the collection of Charles Gillot, a French man who acquired it in 1900. “Preshow interest is exceptionally high for this piece, and it may well sell before the opening” says Ali.
“We keep some of our finest works for this event”, says Hicham, “because the Biennale is becoming one of the best venues for ancient art.” The other rarities on show include a majestic Greek polychrome terracotta kore; and Egyptian bust of a goddess in marble, a rare piece as this stone was seldom used in ancient Egypt; and a “glorious portrait of Emperor Caracalla of the finest-grained white marble”, dating from the beginning of the third century A.D.
