New Orleans Treasure Hunt M.S. Rau Antiques Celebrates its Centennial in March
January 2012
Art of the Times...As owners of the country's largest and oldest antiques, fine arts and estate jewelry dealers in the US, the Rau family has seen its share of ups and downs over the decades at its historic gallery located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Three generations of the Rau family have weathered the best and worst of New Orleans and been an integral part of the city's economy and recovery.Like this city that keeps bouncing back,…
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Recent Press
M.S. Rau Antiques Celebrates Its Centennial in March 2012 as One of the Country's Oldest & Largest Antiques, Fine Arts, Estate Jewelry Dealers
February 2012
GlobeNewswire...Located in the Historic French Quarter for 100 years, Three Generations of the Rau Family Have Been an Integral Part of New Orleans and Its EconomyNew Orleans, LA, Feb. 2, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bill Rau, third generation owner of M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Arts in the… Read More »
Favorite Antiques Store: M.S. Rau Antiques
January 2012
N.O. MAGAZINE...ENTER THE DOORS OF M.S. RAU and you're immediately transported to a place filled with treasures from around the world, Tum the corner and you'll find one of the world's first cash registers. Walk a little farther and you'll spot a 12-and-a-half-foot-long billiard table that… Read More »
M.S. Rau Antiques Celebrates its Centennial in March 2012 as One of the Country's Oldest & Largest Antiques, Fine Arts, Estate Jewelry Dealers
January 2012
ARTFIX Daily...Bill Rau, third generation owner of M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Arts in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, started 2012 already thinking ahead to the next one hundred years that his family's world renowned antiques gallery will be in business. Steeped in history,… Read More »
M.S. Rau Exhibits Newly Acquired Impressionist Paintings at Naples Show in February 2012
January 2012
ARTFIX Daily...As a kick off to another strong season for fine arts sales, M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Arts in New Orleans will offer several significant Impressionist paintings during the Naples Art & Antique Show, February 9 to 13. Starting its 100th year in the business, M.S. Rau… Read More »
Color Analysis by Gemewizard
January 2012
GEMEWIZARD... On November 29, 2011, a cushion-shaped Kashmir sapphire of 26.41 carats sold for $3,838,508 at Christie's Hong Kong. The $145,342 per carat price was highest ever recorded for a Kashmir sapphire.To mark that event, we selected this time to focus on Kashmir sapphires, and… Read More »
New Orleans Treasure Hunt M.S. Rau Antiques Celebrates its Centennial in March
JANUARY 2012
Art of the Times...As owners of the country's largest and oldest antiques, fine arts and estate jewelry dealers in the US, the Rau family has seen its share of ups and downs over the decades at its historic gallery located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Three generations of the Rau… Read More »
Forecast Calls for a Colorful Winter Season in 2012 with M.S. Rau's Vibrant, Mega-Carat Precious Cocktail Rings
DECEMBER 2011
ARTFIX Daily... Celebrating its centennial in 2012, M.S. Rau Antiques continues to assist discerning clients who seek the finest in antiques, fine arts and estate jewels from its historic location in New Orleans' French Quarter. The country's largest gallery, M.S. Rau has clout and… Read More »
Holiday Party Decorating Ideas from MS Rau Antiques
DECEMBER 2011
ARTFIX Daily... Are you in the mood for setting a festive table, or getting some ideas for a memorable New Year's Eve party? Famed antiques dealer MS Rau Antiques offers premier and one-of-a-kind items that will get the party going. If you need an excuse to dazzle your guests, or… Read More »
Poética del Tiempo: Rau Antiques Watches: más que relojes, verdaderas joyas de arte
October 2011
LUHHO... Si gusta de las piezas únicas en u tipo, M.S. Rau Antiques, una de las galerías más reconocidas de antigüedades en América del Norte, lo deleita con su colección Rau Antiques Watches. Esta serie de relojes lo deslumbra por la forma en la que el… Read More »
The Art of War: Tower of Katoubia Mosque by Winston Churchill
October 2011
SUR LA TERRE... Sir Winston Churchill is possibly one of the world's most famous historical figures. A world leader in every sense of the word. However, while he successfully captained the good ship Britannia through the stormy waters of War on more than one occasion, few will know that he… Read More »
A Selection of Eerie Antiques for Halloween from MS Rau Antiques
October 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... Hunting for ideas for Hallowe'en, whether it's for decorating your home for trick or treaters, or designing your costume? MS Rau Antiques in New Orleans's French Quarter, the country's largest antiques and fine arts dealer, has some haunting ideas to fuel the… Read More »
M S Rau Antiques Defines "Decorative Monumental” with Giant Silver Urns and Rare Antique Carousel Horse from America’s First Carousel Maker
October 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... At the recent fall Armory Antiques Show in Manhattan, M S Rau Antiques of New Orleans surprised visitors with a worldly mix of American memorabilia (a 1900's stock ticker, for example), as well as with some of the biggest, decorative silver pieces (a pair of 4ft tall … Read More »
Rau Antiques Offers South African Artist Irma Stern's Portrait of Pierre Ryckman for Sale
SEPTEMBER 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... Irma Stern, one of the few female Expressionist painters to reach worldwide fame with 100 solo shows and a museum in her name, was a master at capturing the haunting facial features of General Governor Pierre Ryckman in this portrait of him that was painted in… Read More »
Rare Landscape Painting By Sir Winston Churchill and Given to Franklin D. Roosevelt for Sale from MS Rau Antiques
JULY 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... Anglofiles and history buffs already know that Sir Winston Churchill is considered "The Greatest Englishman of All Time," according to a recent poll released in Britain. But did you know that besides Churchill being in the same league as legendary statesmen Thomas… Read More »
A Painting that Winston Churchill Did for Franklin Roosevelt is on Sale for $3 Million
AUGUST 2011
BUSINESS INSIDER... Among his many talents, it turns out that Sir Winston Churchill was also a pretty gifted artist.A New Orleans antiques shop is selling an oil painting done by the onetime Prime Minister, which he gave to his friend President Franklin Roosevelt following the 1943… Read More »
Discoveries
SUMMER 2011
ANTIQUES & FINE ART... Considered "The Greatest Englishman of All Time," for his stoic political and military leadership during World War II, Sir Winston Churchill was also an accomplished painter. Although he did not take up painting until the age of 40, he completed 500 works… Read More »
Out of This World: Antique Telescopes
JULY 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... When was the last time you went outside on a clear night for the sole purpose of looking at the night sky? I sometimes wonder about the level of amazement that must have gone through the minds of early man, observing comets, eclipses and moon phases with a surreal… Read More »
Natural Disasters: How To Survive, And Even Thrive
JULY 2011
AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN FORUM... MS Rau of New Orleans has been described as “the finest antiques gallery in the world.” Its 30,000 square-foot showroom in the heart of the French Quarter boasts such exalted inventory as Renoirs, Monets and Paul Revere sterling bowls. But… Read More »
The Right Snuff: Antique Snuffboxes
JUNE 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... The "taking of snuff" was a very social activity among Europe's upper class, beginning in the early 16th century. It's hard to believe a habit that caused frequent, and at times messy, sneezing fits would become so en vogue, but it did. And, with such… Read More »
101 Piece Flora Danica Dinner Set – The World’s Most Prestigious Dinnerware
OCTOBER 2010
EXTRAVAGANZI... Regarded as one of the most prestigious and stunning porcelain patterns ever created, this most rare and remarkable 101-piece Flora Danica dinner set was crafted by the RoyalCopenhagen Porcelain Manufactory. The stunning service can serve up to 12 people, and each of… Read More »
Top Gifts for Father's Day from MS Rau Antiques
JUNE 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... It's never too late to consider giving Dad a Father's Day gift that can increase in value over time, like that retirement fund or stock portfolio. Even with a rocky economy, luxury spending is making a slow and steady comeback, so this might be the year that you… Read More »
We're Obsessed! If money were no object
JUNE 2011
IN STYLE... Rau Antiques Victorian Micromosaic Necklace Egyptomania was at all-time high during the nineteenth century when western tourists made their way to the pyramids at Giza and photographs of the ancient sites were first published around the world. This vintage gold and… Read More »
Classic 1905 Rolls-Royce Picnic Case for Sale
MAY 2011
HALAPIC... A classic, Rolls-Royce picnic case designed in 1905 has been put on sale by M.S. Rau Antiques for $14,800.In perfect condition, it contains a picnic service for four, two leather-wrapped stainless steel thermoses, four dishes with recesses for teacups, a matchbox and a variety… Read More »
New Orleans Dynasty
May 2011
RAPAPORT... Poised to celebrate its l00th anniversary, M.S. Rau has an inventory of fine art, furniture, collectibles and diamond jewelry.The M.S. Rau dynasty began in 1912, when Max Rau estabhshed a small antiques store on a stylish street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Today, the… Read More »
The Rebirth of Renaissance Art
MAY 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... As redundant as it sounds, interest in Renaissance art really is in the midst of a tremendous rebirth. Evolving discoveries coupled with the strong sales performance within the past few years has led to a resurgence in and renewed appreciation for collecting these … Read More »
M.S. Rau's Le Salon Commemorates Napoleonic Era with Decor Inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte
MAY 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... Emporer Napoleon Bonaparte's bee emblem was a fitting symbol for his tenacious behavior, almost as steadfast as the expression "bee in a bonnet", that won him conquest after conquest. Revived by Napoleon for its heraldic symbolism, the honey bee allowed the… Read More »
Royal Wedding Gifts for Any Special Couple
MAY 2011
THE EPOCH TIMES... Royal or not, M.S. Rau Antiques offers some regal gifts for a wedding or any other special occasion.When it comes to last-minute wedding gifts for Prince William and Kate Middleton, the British royal-couple, Bill Rau, the third-generation owner of America’s… Read More »
First Dibs Shop Talk: M.S. Rau Antiques
APRIL 2011
FIRST DIBS INTROSPECTIVE MAGAZINE... "Until the day she died at ninety-nine, she was the most famous woman in New Orleans," recalls Bill Rau of his grandmother, Fanny Rau First, who helped found M.S. Rau, their family gallery in the French Quarter with her husband, Max Rau, back… Read More »
Go-Go Gauguin! A Sumptuous Floral Still Life and a Charcoal Sketch Now at Rau Antiques
APRIL 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... Gauguin lovers usually recall the lush landscapes and voluptuous women that Gauguin painted using his trademark bold brushstrokes and muted colors during his self-imposed exile in Tahiti that began in 1891. Others may or may not know that Gauguin was involved in a… Read More »
The Perfect Ring
APRIL 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... If you know of someone who is popping the big question, "Will you marry me?" --- tell them to hurry it up. This Friday is when the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton hits the airwaves and there's no better time to give your fiancée… Read More »
Royal or Not, M.S. Rau Antiques Offers Some Regal Gifts for a Wedding or Any Other Special Occasion
APRIL 2011
ARTFIX DAILY... When it comes to last minute wedding gifts for Prince William and Kate Middleton, the British royal-couple-to-be, Bill Rau, the third generation owner of America's largest antiques and fine arts gallery MS Rau Antiques, has come up with a few pedigreed suggestions.… Read More »
M.S. Rau: New Orleans Antique Shopping at its Best
March 2011
BLUEGREEN COLORFUL PLACES... Want to make a Bluegreen vacation all about the antiques? The French Quarter in New Orleans has 17 antique shops. Some 12 of the 17 shops can be found on Royal Street. Royal Street is known as the refined and elegant epicenter of New Orleans' artistic… Read More »
When Comedy Went to Church: 19th-Century Cardinal Paintings
March/April 2011
FINE ART CONNOISSEUR... Comedy and the Roman Catholic Church have rarely crossed paths in history. For centuries, clergymen commissioned portraits exuding dignity and reverence, the qualities they sought to define their public image. With the Church's inner workings hidden behind closed… Read More »
Egyptian King Farouk Empire Bedroom Suite,
January 2011
LUHHO... This extraordinary mahogany and mercury-gilded bronze bedroom suite was once owned by the last Egyptian monarch, King Farouk. Luxuriously decorated in the Empire style, this important set was crafted by one of the premier Parisian ébénistes of the 19th century,… Read More »
Exploring the Appeal of Rare Globes: Antique Cartography Appeals to Collectors
MARCH 2011
THE EPOCH TIMES... What is it about globes that fascinate people and collectors? Is it their perfectly round shape? Is it the real and far-away places they take you? Is it the imaginary places they invite you to dream about? Whatever the reason, celestial and terrestrial (earth) globes… Read More »
Rare, Exquisite Pink Diamonds For Sale At M.S. Rau Antiques
January 2011
THE LUXURY HUB... Earlier this month, Switzerland-based luxury group Richemont had warned that the first quarter of 2011 could prove challenging for the jewellery industry. The group is known for exercising caution, so many in the industry brushed off the warning. At the same time, whether… Read More »
Blockbuster Pink Diamonds For Sale At M.S. Rau Antiques
January 2011
LUXIST... There's no question that pink diamonds are hotter than hot lately. Last month a modified rectangular-cut fancy vivid purple-pink diamond of 6.89 carats sold for $6.91 million at Christie's New York Jewels auction on December 7. You won't have to pay quite that much to make the… Read More »
Silver Unstandard: It's Not Just for Table Service
Winter 2010
ART AND ANTIQUES... At Christie's sale of important silver on October 19, the top lot was not a table service or a tea set but a pack of cards. Made in 1616 in Augsburg, Germany, it was a complete set of 52 playing cards made of silver, parcel-gilt and engraved. The artist, Michael… Read More »
The Luxury Hub, Century Old Rolls Royal Picnic Set Up For Grabs
December 2010
THE LUXURY HUB... When was the last time you hurled up the family in your Rolls Royce and headed for a picnic? Picnics are steadily losing their charm, but someone who knows the beauty of this lovely outdoor activity, will always ensure to have at least one picnic a year. And if you are… Read More »
Hester Bateman: A Woman Before Her Time
December 2010
ANTIQUE WEEK... It's the stuff of great literature: the setting is 18th century England, and a woman's lot is completely dependent upon the men in her life. Her options are few, and her rights are even fewer. When one uneducated woman finds herself widowed, she beats all odds when she… Read More »
Antiquariato
December 2010
ANTIQUARIATO... Le origini di questo mobile contenitore risalgono al Medioevo, ma è nel corso del Rinascimento che assume le linee che ancora oggi lo caratterizzano. Squadrato e funzionale, ha attraversato secoli e tendenze, impreziosito da intarsi, placche di porcellana, pietre… Read More »
The Empress of Austria’s Jewel Case
December 2010
A TO Z MINERALS AND GEMS... An extraordinary gemstone encrusted jewel case specifically created for Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary, and Royal Princess of Bavaria. Designed in a castle form, this magnificent case is generously adorned with polished and carved… Read More »
Mirrors, A History Through the Looking Glass
December 2010
FRENCH QUARTERLY... Mirrors. They are everywhere... in our homes, in our cars, in our pockets and in our purses. Of course, most mirrors are purely functional while precious others provide glorious decoration. Today, we find value in the ornate frames that encompass the actual mirror, but… Read More »
Ultimate Gifts: Wilde Card
December 2010
ROBB REPORT... OSCAR WILDE ONCE SAID, "One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards." And Wilde likely wagered many bets at this very table, an intricate survivor of the Albemarle Club in London. When the club, established in 1874, disbanded in the early… Read More »
Shopping for Antiques Among NYC's The Frick Collection
November 2010
ANTIQUES DIVA... Dear Diva Readers, One of my favorite museums in NYC is the The Frick Museum. Originally a private residence, it was built by Carrere and Hastings – the same two architects who designed the New York Public Library. It was built with the intention of outshining the… Read More »
Sir Winston Churchill Puts Brush to Canvas
December 2010
ARTFIX DAILY... After retiring as one of the world's most famous statesmen, Sir Winston Churchill hung up his diplomatic hat and developed his skills as an artist. Having scarcely visited a museum during his tenure as Great Britain's Prime Minister, he nevertheless painted 500 works on… Read More »
Antiques Can Mean New Life For Your Portfolio
October 2010
CNBC... Though things may be looking up for the stock market, the next time the Dow Industrials drops hundreds of points in a few minutes, you may want to consider pulling funds out of the market and putting them in your bed.It may not be a bad idea if your resting place is part of an… Read More »
Unique. Bespoke. Exclusive. New Orleans Antiques
September 2010
ELITE TRAVELER... It’s perfectly reasonable to buy off the rack from time to time, but sometimes owning the best means a one-off purchase that’s all your own. Whether it’s a custom-created fragrance or a handbag that follows your every specification, we’ve assembled… Read More »
Get a Grip - Antique Walking Sticks
September 2010
ART AND ANTIQUES... Though today we may think of a cane as no more than a crutch, in the 16th century well into the early 20th century, a walking stick was a fashionable accessory and a symbol of status for a gentleman, or even a lady. In fact, as Bill Rau of M.S. Rau Antiques in New… Read More »
Ultimate Gift for the Globetrotter
August 2010
ARTFIX DAILY... M.S. Rau Antiques has acquired the ultimate gift for the ultimate jet setter and connoisseur: a set of near-perfect condition, vintage Louis Vuitton trunks, circa 1900. Reminiscent of a by-gone era of sophisticated, leisurely travel, these two steamer trunks ($22,500 each)… Read More »
Pocket Watch Gifted by Jonathon Swift in 1728 For Sale at $14,500
August 2010
LUXIST... New Orleans based antiques store Rau Antiques has an interesting new acquisition. A pocket watch that was given as a gift by the English writer Jonathon Swift to fellow Englishman (also a writer and dramatist) John Gay. Personal engravings on the pocket watch allude to a… Read More »
Infamous Albemarle Club Gaming Table For Sale
August 2010
LUXIST... The beautiful card table shown above has quite the decadent history. This antique games table was made for the Albemarle Club in London. The Albemarle Club was a private members' club founded in 1874 and open to both men and women. The club is most famous in the annals of history… Read More »
Summer Selections: Three Impressionist gems unveiled by M.S. Rau
July 2010
ARTFIX DAILY... A striking trio of Impressionist oils have been secured from private collections by New Orleans-based M.S. Rau Antiques. The new acquisitions, two by the iconic Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and one by noted Belgian Neo-Impressionist Théo Van Rysselberghe… Read More »
Fairies Brought Life to Wedgwood
July 2010
ANTIQUES WEEK... Garden fairies; the tooth fairy; goblins, gnomes and elves: all very real in the minds of true believers. But even non-believers would have to take notice of certain fairies that saved a venerable English ceramics producer from almost sure financial collapse, assured the… Read More »
New Orleans' Very Own M.S. Rau Antiques Remains A Destination for Museum-Quality 18th and 19th Century Antiques, Fine Arts and Jewelry
May 2010
ARTFIX DAILY... M.S.Rau Antiques in New Orleans is considered by antiques experts and museum curators as one of the country's most respected dealers in 18th and 19th century antiques, fine arts and rare jewelry. A landmark destination for almost one hundred years, it opened for business… Read More »
Antiques Aplenty!
May 2010
DELTA SKY... As my faithful readers know-and hallelujah!, you are kind and generous souls who return to my sundry Jet Set installments time and again-I was recently down in New Orleans for a spirited long weekend.Naturally, the Crescent City is all about jazz, Mardi Gras and beignets. And… Read More »
Tops of the Town, M.S. Rau Antiques Named Best Antiques Store in New Orleans
January 2010
NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE... We have always known that our readers are the “Tops of the Town” in their own way, now they have a chance to tell us their picks of the Tops of the Town in other ways. Our October 2009 issue included a detachable, postage-paid, self-addressed ballot… Read More »
Brave New Art World
December 2009
ROBB REPORT... AMONG THE TREASURES currently available at M.S. Rau Antiques, a fine- and decorative-arts emporium on Royal Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, are an exquisite pair of early-19th-century English celestial and terrestrial globes by cartographers John Newton and Son, as… Read More »
M.S. Rau Antiques Named Best Antiques Store...The Best of New Orleans 2009
August 2009
GAMBIT... When it comes to bests, New Orleans wrote the book on superlatives — or, rather, you did when we put out the call for our annual Best of New Orleans issue. The Gambit staff spent days and days (and even some nights) poring over the results, nodding at your sagacity —… Read More »
Antiques Can Make Your Portfolio Young Again
August 2009
CNBC... Though things may be looking up for the stock market, the next time the Dow Industrials drop 500 points, you may want to consider pulling funds out of the market and putting them in your bed. It may not be a bad idea if your resting place is part of an exceptional Louis XV-style… Read More »
