Burma Ruby and Diamond Fountain Pen

It is easy to forget the pleasure of the quickly disappearing art of writing.  Away from the distractions of technology, and more capable of infusing your personality and character into your work than

Paul Storr George III Silver Inkstand

the modern alternative, hand writing anything is epically more satisfying.  I wanted to share with you some of my favorite pieces that I hope will inspire you to once again return to the pen.

Of course, we must start with this stunning triumph of precision and unbridled elegance, a Burma ruby and diamond encrusted fountain pen. More than 150.00 carats of invisibly set Burma rubies and 15.00 carats of diamonds embellish this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Putting ink to paper from this piece is to deposit a perfect line from a nib and body crafted of platinum and 18K gold.

On a more traditional, but no less elegant note, we have this George III Silver Inkstand by the preeminent silversmith Paul Storr. Although the three cut glass jars set upon an elevated pen tray once served as an inkwell, quill stand and pounce pot, these versatile items are still useful for modern necessities, whether in the home on a vanity or on your office desk. This set also boasts the rare inclusion of a chamber stick and snuffer.

If doré bronze is more to your taste, however, than you may appreciate this opulent turn-of-the-century inkwell.  This fine antique desk accessory retains its original clear glass insert and its top is set with a large malachite cabochon.  The vivid green of this mineral, which was prized by the most elegant homes of the time, provides a wonderful contrast to the doré bronze body.

Important French Bureau a Cylindre and Fauteuil de Bureau

Malachite Cabochon Inkwell

If there is one piece certain to invite you to sit down and write a while, it is this absolutely stunning French Restoration-era roll-top desk.  The finest ormolu fixtures swathe rich Cuban mahogany in this matching pair of desk and swivel chair; these exquisite details elevate this piece from merely functional to a work of art.  Just as with the ormolu adornments, every aspect of the desk itself is crafted with the utmost care.  In fact, the interior drawers and compartments are crafted of quarter-sawn oak, which is harvested from the inner most sections of the oak log. This intensive and costly process produces sections of wood that resist warping and help ensure that this desk will maintain its beauty for generations to come.  The desk is appointed with a fitted interior of compartments, lockable drawers and a retractable red leather lined writing surface. For added security, the lower right compartment contains a hidden, lockable coffer to store precious valuables.

Any of these pieces, alone or paired with the others, would serve as a welcome step back from the ever-extending reach of technology, if only for a moment. Click here to view more of our writing-related antiques and reminisce about the lost art of writing.

This has been an exciting week at M.S. Rau Antiques. Every spring we receive a shipment from our latest buying trip in Europe, which sent us to the very best estates and collections to find the rarest and most fascinating antiques and fine art available on the market. After a whirlwind buying excursion, all the objects are carefully packed for freight and then sent to New Orleans on a ship. With great anticipation, we await the delivery of our container, and once it clears customs, the fun begins.

The staff gathers before the gallery opens and unpacks the container’s boxes, which provides the first glimpse for many of us of our newest acquisitions. This year’s first container held a trove of fascinating objects – from a majestic onyx and doré bronze clock to a gleaming art deco bar. Although the newly acquired items have not been through our research and photography departments, I have a few pieces I would love to share with you.

We have had many desks over our 101 year history, but a Thomas Chippendale desk we just bought really captivates in both size and design. The desk is a stunning example of Chippendale’s late 18^th century aesthetic, with demure neoclassical design and excellent detailed workmanship unique to Thomas Chippendale pieces. Crafted of lavish mahogany and doré bronze fittings, this desk possesses an outstanding patina that intrigues with its evident use by a dedicated businessman.

A very heavy and very secure crate contained an impressive early 17^th century safe. With a robust design, and clever locking mechanism, our newly acquired Italian safe would have provided the utmost safety in storing precious documents and possessions. Three locks on the front of the safe require three separate keys and three different turning methods to gain entry to the interior. An additional lock inside provides extra security. The back of the safe allows for wall mounting, further securing this monumental, 400 year old safe.

Dozens of other pieces accompanied the above treasures. We can’t wait to share with you all the newly acquired items, and we will be sending an email in a few weeks showing you even more. Better, yet, why not come down to the gallery on Royal street to see them for yourself?

Treaty of Nanking Silver Tray, for Sir Henry Pottinger

I love antique silver, as much for its beauty as for its history. A remarkable amount of time went into the crafting of fine silver – from the intricate development of design to the highly technical process of mixing alloys and molding the objects. Each antique silver piece is a spectacular example of the dedication earlier artisans had for creating the very best, which is what made silver such an honor to receive as a gift.

Right now we have a most extraordinary silver tray, gifted to Englishman Sir Henry Pottinger, that is both visually stunning and historically important. We often have in our collection silver pieces that were given as gifts to noblemen and philanthropists as tokens of appreciation, as was tradition in 19^th century England. In addition to silver items, honorees were often given the Freedom of the City (equivalent to the Key to an American city). Robust, and with ample room for a visual narrative, silver trays were considered the most prestigious items given.

Pottinger is recognized as the chief negotiator of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, which officially ended the Opium War. History buffs will know this war as a dubious attempt by the British to manipulate the trade of Chinese tea into England. However, the most lasting and important consequence of the treaty that ended the war was the lease of Hong Kong to the British for a term of 99 years. This new British colony ended up bringing the East and West together and without any doubt, changed the world tremendously.

The silver embossed scenes depict the signing of the treaty in detailed, high relief.

Pottinger gained instant fame upon his return to England, and the great northern city of Manchester honored him with both the freedom of the city, and this magnificent silver tray. Commissioned from the Royal silversmiths Edward Barnard and Company, the tray measures an impressive 33 inches and weighs 219 troy ounces. It bears the crest of the city of Manchester as well as the family coat of arms of Henry Pottinger. A luxurious scalloped frame encompasses a gallery of pierced fretwork with floral accents while four Chinese dragons guard the handles. The silver embossed scenes depict the signing of the treaty in detailed, high relief.

Remarkable in size and in historical significance, the Pottinger Treaty of Nanking tray is one of the most important pieces of silver we have ever owned. Click here to learn more about the tray and to visit our website.

Schiller’s photographs of the famous “Something’s Got To Give” pool scene have become iconic
(Lawrence Schiller)

Monroe’s ex-husband, Joe DiMaggio, is captured in a somber and tender moment at Monroe’s funeral, August 8, 1962
(Lawrence Schiller)

This beautiful candid of Monroe was taken in 1960 behind the scenes of “Let’s Make Love”
Lawrence Schiller

Few names evoke thoughts of feminine beauty and Hollywood glamour quite like Marilyn Monroe. Arguably one of the most famous Americans in modern history, she captured hearts and imaginations around the world through the memorable characters she portrayed on the silver screen. Now, nearly 50 years later, it is the enduring images in these signed, limited-edition photographs taken by famed photographer, director and author, Lawrence Schiller, that are bringing this larger-than-life figure back in the spotlight. Many of them have never been printed until now.

Schiller shot Marilyn in May of 1960 on the set of Let’s Make Love. During this “golden age” of Hollywood, studios hired and depended heavily on photographers to take pictures on the set of their movies as a means to publicize their films. Movie stars had much more say over the pictures that were taken of them at this time, and of the dozens of shots Schiller took during filming, this adoring image is one of the only she personally approved.

Schiller didn’t photograph Marilyn again until 1962 when he was hired to shoot the starlet on the set of what would become the last film she would ever work on, the unfinished Something’s Got To Give. Marilyn had the idea of emerging from the water nude in the now-famous pool scene shortly before filming, but no one knew for sure if she would actually do it. She went in with a custom-made beige bikini, and true to her word, stepped out of the pool nude. Schiller describes the moment, saying:

“Marilyn was a photographer’s dream subject with her clothes on, and even more stunning with them off. Her wet skin glistened. Her eyes sparkled. Her smile was provocative…As I shot, I was sure the pictures I was taking were going to be beautiful and unforgettable. The flow of her spine complemented her natural curves as the water reflected the lights, and the whole scene came alive.”

On August 5, 1962, less than three months after these indelible photographs were taken, Marilyn passed away in her Brentwood, California home. She was interred at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, with arrangements made by her ex-husband, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. Schiller was there to document the events of the day, and his image of DiMaggio with his son in full Marine dress is one of profound emotion.

Schiller created only 75 sets of these telling photographs, all of which are signed and numbered and come in a signed, custom portfolio. The images measure 20” x 24” and include 10 black and white silver gelatin prints and two color photographs. Each photograph speaks volumes about a woman who was both a cultural phenomenon and, in many ways, a misunderstood, gentle soul ahead of her time.

To view and learn more about these limited-edition Marilyn Monroe photographs, click here.