Installed in 1997 on three floors on the rue Verdaine, Phoenix Ancient Art is the type of gallery that seems more than a tad intimidating. What amateur would dare to push open the door to this gallery with its deep gray walls, where they are surrounded by the glittering wealth of antiquities? When they are not particularly advanced for their time, or miraculously intact, they possess, in effect, both qualities.

“’Les Animaux dans l’Antiquité’ is the first exhibition that our gallery has formally organized,” explained the managing director Michael Hedqvist.

The exhibit, which brings together 111 pieces from the dawn of time to the first centuries of the Muslim expansion, passed en-route through their New York branch before arriving in Geneva. “We have regrouped the objects, which are often of small size, to illustrate that almost all the Ancients had a passion for animals, whether they were domestic species or totemic figures.”

To fill the display cases, the beautiful are mixed with the rare. Often, the place of origin and the age of the works are reason enough for the visitor to give pause. Is it from Elam, during the 3rd millennium B.C., from Christian Byzantium, or from Babylon at the height of its power? An accompanying catalogue provides the necessary information, helpfully specifying what animal each piece is supposed to be. The cat of the Seljuk incense burner is, in reality, a lion. On the other hand, the Sumerian shell amulet resembling a pig represents exactly what it looks like.

With the exception of about ten objects – such as a fabulous classical Greek rhyton in silver, one of the more modern pieces considering its birthday was 2,500 years ago – the works are for sale. The range of prices is revealed as being very large. The prices peak, however, at much less than those for modern art.

Les Animaux dans l’Antiquité, Phoenix Ancient Art, 6, rue Verdaine, until April 30th, open Monday-Friday from 10.30 AM – 6.30 PM, telephone: 022 318 80 10