When you purchase an antique, it certainly has financial value.  It should also, however, have aesthetic value.  You can enhance the look of your  home and enjoy the antique that you’ve purchased by kleeping a few key ideas in mind.  Antiques from Phoenix Ancient Art, and many other esteemed locations, can add depth, beauty and style to the home.
1. Frame your antiques.  Rather than simply filing away an antique coin or postcard, have it framed and place it on a prominent wall in the house.
2. Recreate a time period.  One great way to use an antique is to design the décor of an entire room around the antique. If you’ve purchased a large Medieval sword, create a look of Medieval elegance in the dining room and display the piece prominently.
3. Mix old and new.  For an eclectic look, shake up your antiques a bit.  Place an antique in a room with a modern décor, calling attention to the juxtaposition and emphasizing this impressive piece.

For as long as humanity has attempted artistic expression of the world around it, the animal kingdom has been a primary object of this expression. The types of animals used by the ancients as models for their creative outlet can reflect not only the type of animals present in a particular culture, but also the way in which that culture related to various animal species. Which animals played a role of ritual life? Which were essential cogs in the economic machinery of the day? Fortunately, there are many and various form of animal representation available in existent antiquities. Beginning a modest collection of animal antiquities is as easy as finding a goat figurine.

In addition to object and figurines, ancient manuscripts and illustrations represent another fascinating area of the antiquities market. From medieval illuminated manuscripts with their distinctive illustrations to ancient texts with exotic lettering, manuscripts can be both intellectually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing. Purchasing a full manuscript can be quite pricey, but it is often possible to purchase one leaf, or two sided page. Of course, once you possess a manuscript or text for a bygone era, it is of course your duty to learn how to read from it, and understand its content. If you would like a catalyst to spur your interest in manuscript, try reading the gripping new novel People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. This work of historical fiction inventively creates a back story for the remarkable manuscript known as the Sarajevo Haggadah.

How has the world-wide economic downturn affected the market for antiquities? Like much of the discussion about financial markets, the answer is not simple. See, for example this article –
http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/29786/antiquities-soar-at-sothebys-clank-at-christies/ – which discusses some recent high end antiquities auctions. The article quotes Hicham Aboutaam, the co-owner of Phoenix Ancient Art, who maintains that even in these times quality pieces with good provenance will still manage to fetch top dollar. It shouldn’t be that surprising that quality antiquities hold their value over time – they certainly have been around long enough!

The amazing thing about an interest in antiquities and archeology is that you never know when some new discovery will appear. And then all of the sudden there is evidence for some historical debate. The dead world is amazing dynamic and vibrant. And also completely unexpected. A few weeks ago a high school student tried his hand and sifting through some debris taken from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem discovered an ancient coin, most likely minted at the Temple during the later part of the second temple period. The coin, with the words ‘Holy Jerusalem’ printed on it was likely used to pay the Temple tax and appears to have survived the burning of the Temple in the year 70. Though I wouldn’t expect to make this coin part of you personal collection, its discovery should excite anyone interested in the ancient world.

Though quite distinct in their significance and religious meaning, the holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah have, at least in the American consumer economy, become closely associated with each other. At one level the comparison is actually apt. Both indeed are festivals of light. Not coincidentally, the custom to mark the winter solstice – the darkest time of the year – with a festival of lights dates way back to ancient pagan practices. As such this is a perfect season to look into the purchase of an ancient oil lamp. Oil lamps are another antiquities item that ranges across many time periods and many can be purchased for quite reasonable prices. So get into the holiday season – with your oil burning lamps. And start rolling your own wicks!

If you spend any time investigating antiquities and ancient art, you will eventually come across a griffin or grypon. Not to be confused with Harry Potter’s house at Hogwarts – Gryffindor – whose symbol is a lion, the gryphon is a mythical creature with a lion’s body and an eagle’s head. This composite of the king of beasts and the king of birds appeared across many cultures of the ancient world – from Elam and Babylon to Egypt as well as Greece and Rome. The image of the gryphon adorns many antiquities, including coins and protome and pottery. You won’t find one at a pet store or zoo, but keep your eyes on the antiquities world, and you may own one some day .

Sure, I enjoy ancient coins and pottery shards and the occasional figurine. But the antiquity that I most covet is a fighting helmet, and make it a Corinthian one. These intricate helmets made of one sheet of metal were one of the most prized possessions of the ancient warrior. There are also somewhat hard to get a hold of, as they were usually kept in use, even passed from father to son, until they were damaged. Even a partially damaged one can be restored nicely and look quite impressive. If you happen to spot one for less than $15,000 let me know.

You are interested in antiquities and you love to travel. So why not choose vacation spots that also offer access to sites from the ancient world. You can even find plenty of tours that focus on archeology and antiquities. There is nothing like walking through ancient ruins to spark interest in the ancient world and the records left from it. I would recommend Greece and Turkey. Great spots with tons of history and archeology.

One easy way to enter the ancient world is to begin a collection of ancient coins. Many coins from ancient civilizations are available for purchase – Persian, Greek, Roman, Ancient Israelite coins to name a few. And though prices of coins vary greatly, you can certainly get started on a modest budget. However, be warned that trying to get a good handle on the different areas and values of coins can be quite challenging, even overwhelming. I suggests picking one area of interests and looking into coins from that one area. You also might want to invest in some collectors guides.