The art of collecting ancient artifacts and coins from all periods of history has become an obsession of mine, one to which I am entirely dedicated, at times to the consternation of my loved ones. Collecting has consumed most of my time and thoughts for more than three decades, since I began learning as a child at the side of my father, grandfather, and renowned archaeologists.

As the collection has finally taken shape as a mirror of all ages and cultures, I feel an obligation to it and wish to share my experience and collection with all others who appreciate the art of collecting.

I owe much to those who along my path helped shape my cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic eye of discrimination; developed my sense of history; and fascinated my mind with their ingenuity, brilliance, and unusual possessions, obsessions for peoples, cultures, places, and great historical events. Each one, in his or her own way, polished a facet of my soul and inflamed my own humble desire to preserve for posterity the great art, the permanent history of past cultures.

To share with present and future generations who seek a link with an ethnic bond or merely to touch the lives of others with a sense of the beauty and truth of the ages, I have collected and now make available these wonderful works of art, which not only may be viewed, but touched, enjoyed, and possessed. In this way, I hope I may repay the enormous debt to my benefactors and contribute to an understanding of man’s awesome heritage of beauty, wisdom and spiritual history.

FAYEZ BARAKAT