From a press release:

Leading Antiquities Gallery Showing Rarely-Seen Collection of Exotic Ancient Art at the 52nd International Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique, in Brussels, from 19-28 January

Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world's leading dealers in rare and exquisite antiquities from Western civilizations, today unveiled its latest exhibition, "Exotics of the Classical World," to the delighted crowd at the 52nd International Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique, in Brussels, Belgium. On display through 28 January, Phoenix will display rarely-seen works of ancient art featuring representations of dancers, actors, Africans, grotesques, those with unusual physical maladies and house servants -- all of whom were vital and often overlooked members of ancient society.

"The popularity of antiquities has been growing significantly the past several years, with most collectors clamoring for vases, portraiture and mosaics," said Ali Aboutaam, president of Phoenix Ancient Art. "Now, we believe that exotic representations of these unusual but important figures of ancient times will introduce yet another type of antiquity to people who appreciate and love their timeless beauty."

Usually on the fringe of modern perceptions of the ancient world, the incredible range and artistry of these exotics are finally brought into the light. A charming terracotta vase from the 3 rd century B.C. is molded in the shape of a young slave who has fallen asleep curled up against the wine jar that he was carrying. His nude form is painted black and his short, tightly curled hair indicates that he is of African origin, a reflection of the cultural diversity of Hellenistic society.

Physical diversity was also closely observed and represented in antiquity, like in a wonderful Roman cameo ring with a head of a grotesque, a figure of an older man with exaggerated features such as a large, domed skull, jutting brows, a pronounced hooked nose and wide mouth. It is extremely unusual to see frontal representations of grotesques, and this ring is carved with great sensitivity, giving the face a sweetly melancholy look.

A fourth century B.C. Greek bronze statuette of an actor displays a dramatic pose that one could easily imagine on a modern stage. Wearing the exaggerated open-mouthed mask commonly associated with ancient theater, this figure is probably one of a street performer who would entertain crowds with his comedic routines.

Perhaps the least documented category of exotic is that of individuals with physical illnesses. As astute observers of the world around them, the Hellenistic craftsmen responsible for this genre of figures were able to represent the various maladies that they saw with near scientific precision. A 2nd century B.C. bronze of a nude dancer in the exhibition displays an emaciated physique and the telltale signs of being a hunchback. The details of his skeleton and musculature are rendered with exceptional precision, indicating that the Greeks must have possessed intimate knowledge of human anatomy by this period.

Phoenix Ancient Art's Hicham Aboutaam is proud of the attention that the show has been receiving. "With 'Exotics of the Classical World,' our intentions were to present these unusual and rare subjects to the public while showing that they could be wonderful objects in and of themselves, displaying the same high level of artistic quality that Phoenix is known for, from the smallest cameo to large marble statuary."

The show also has on display a selection of works from other areas of antiquity to supplement the main exhibit of exotics, including an incredibly beautiful, rare and important Egyptian black granite head of a woman in a double wig from the Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1080 - 721 B.C.), formerly from the private collection of the Wertheimers, the owners of the House of Chanel.

The 52nd International Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique is being held at the Tour & Taxis exhibit Center at Avenue du Port, 86C / B - 1000 Brussels, Belgium. The show runs from 19-28 January.

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.

Some folks might recognize the Aboutaam brothers as the frequent targets of Michael van Rijn's attentions. A visit to Phoenix Art's website, interestingly, demonstrates what increased attention of various kinds seems to be having on these auction houses ... every piece is listed with a provenance (all collections, of course) ... among the things displayed on the website, check out this interesting head of Augustus (which strikes me as one of the more 'realistic' portraits of the emperor) ...