Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdullah al-Thani of Qatar has successfully filed a legal claim against Phoenix Ancient Art for allegedly selling him a forged statue of the goddess Nike. The case, taking place in London's High Court, also questioned the authenticity of additional antiquities provided by the gallery. Phoenix, led by brothers Hicham and Ali Aboutaam, claims that it possesses extensive evidence supporting the legitimacy of the items and criticized the court's dismissal of its defense based on procedural issues, including costly document reviews. Phoenix intends to appeal the ruling, which they believe undermines their business and reputation in the antiquities market.
Phoenix Ancient Art insists that its items, including the disputed Nike statue, have been vetted, with extensive records and scientific reports affirming their authenticity, citing the exclusion of evidence in court as unprecedented.
The court ruled based on technicalities that resulted in the dismissal of Phoenix's considerable defense including expert documentation and past exhibition records, raising questions about fairness in high-value antiquities transactions.
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