Phoenix Ancient Art Launches Its First E-Commerce Platform

NEW YORK - Internationally Renowned Antiquities Dealer Makes Collecting Valuable Pieces More Accessible Than Ever; Auction Feature Showcases Rare Finds

For many people, antiquities collecting seems like something for only the very wealthy, inaccessible to a general audience. But now, with the launch of Phoenix Ancient Art’s innovative e-commerce site - www.e-tiquities.com - the world of high-end antiquities has been opened to a larger audience than ever before.

The site, e-tiquities.com, which went live as of May 1, 2009, features e-tiquities(TM) antiquities available for purchase online, ranging in price from US$500-25,000. E-tiquities(TM) originate from the cultures that thrived in and around the Mediterranean basin and represent more than 7,000 years of human creativity, from the Neolithic Period of the 6th millennium B.C. through the 14th century A.D. They include a wide range of works of art, including jewelry, figurines, amulets, sculptures, and pottery from areas such as Greece, Rome, Egypt, Byzantium, and the Islamic World.

As an example, one e-tiquity(TM) currently on the site is an Attic Greek terracotta lydion (a vase) with two roosters in black figure, from about 500 B.C., which is available for US$7,000. New pieces will be added weekly, ensuring a constant flow of e-tiquities(TM) on the site.

“In launching e-tiquities(TM) by Phoenix Ancient Art, we hope both to introduce a new audience to the cultures of the ancient world, and to give our existing clients an easy way to expand their collections,” said Hicham Aboutaam, co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art. “One of the things which makes Phoenix Ancient Art special in our field is the guarantee of authenticity that we provide to our clients, whether they buy works in our galleries or on our new website. Over the years, we’ve developed procedures to establish provenance (chain of ownership) to ensure that our pieces are both authentic and on the market in accordance with international law.”

In addition to the several dozen pieces available for direct purchase online, e-tiquities.com will also have pieces available for auction. The first auctioned piece is a Greek Hellenistic core-formed glass amphoriskos - a small vase used to hold perfumes - dating from 3rd-2nd century B.C. Bidding starts at US$8,000.

“Given current economic conditions, people of all financial status are looking for safer havens for their investments,” said Mr. Aboutaam. “Antiquities have always been a good alternative through both booms and busts, and unlike stocks or bonds, the return on investment includes a piece of timeless beauty.”

The e-tiquities(TM) have been carefully selected for their aesthetic quality, as well as for their price point to make them accessible to new or beginning collectors. By showcasing a broad range of cultures and periods, as well as various types of objects, e-tiquities.com illustrates just how diverse a collection can be. In addition, the site includes a wealth of information on collecting and about each of the featured cultures, making it a valuable reference tool.

Alexander Gherardi, president of e-tiquities(TM), added, “Many people are intimidated by the thought of purchasing antiquities. They fear buying something that is inauthentic, illegally acquired or overpriced. E-tiquities.com eliminates this anxiety. Our researchers have worked to make e-tiquities(TM) an educational site as well as an accessible way to collect elegant, guaranteed authentic antiquities. It is truly an innovation in the field.”

E-tiquities.com offers free shipping worldwide. Purchases can be made with a credit card and can be returned within 14 days.

About Phoenix Ancient Art

With galleries in New York City and Geneva, Switzerland, Phoenix Ancient Art (www.phoenixancientart.com) is one of the world’s leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities from cultures that make up the essence of Western Civilization. Its works of art have been purchased by world-class museums around the world, as well as by private individuals. Formally incorporated in 1995, Phoenix Ancient Art is a second-generation family business that was founded by Sleiman Aboutaam in 1968 and continues today under the leadership of his sons, Hicham and Ali.

Source: Phoenix Ancient Art

Alexander Gherardi, +1-212-288-7518, info at e-tiquities.com