Nonius, a Roman Senator, preferred exile to parting with the Ethiopian Opal that Marc Antony demanded from him. Furthermore, the famous 1^st century author Pliny wrote that Opals combine the best possible characteristics of the most beautiful of gemstones.

One look at this magnificent opal bead necklace and you instantly understand why these stones have been revered for thousands of years. The necklace juxtaposes the cool glimmer of over 4 carats of diamonds with the warmth of 33 gleaming Ethiopian opals. Each bead contains a lightning storm of fiery hues within, sure to make the wearer glow.  While the stones are, as they have been for millennia, beautiful in their own right, cut into the round bead form, they really exude radiance.

In their natural state, opals tend to exist in thin, flat layers making them rare to find of a size that allows them to be cut into large beads.  The layout of graduated beads (often pearls) in this necklace is classic, but to display opals in this way brings an unexpected twist to the elegant design. The quality, size, and shape of these opals make them highly sought after and they are without a doubt some of the finest to be offered on the market today.

To say that this necklace has an ethereal quality would be an understatement; every bead mesmerizes, seemingly containing its own cosmos. We all deserve the right to own something this beautiful, so, now is your chance!

To see all of our opal jewelry in stock, click here.

Water. In most of our day to day lives, we take it for granted. We might consume it daily, but most people seldom have the opportunity to gaze upon in its natural state. For the French Impressionists, water became an integral part in expressing their new artistic vision. Celebrated artist Claude Monet particularly valued the effects of light on water. Furthermore, he pursued this study of water en plein air, enabling him to capture the elements of a scene at that particular moment in time.

Monet’s experimentation with color developed over the course of his career, many of his earlier canvases having muted palates. In this particular painting, De Voorzaan, Monet depicts a harbor scene from his travels to Holland in 1871. Inspired by the light in Holland, Monet set out to capture the effect of the gray sky on the water. We see his lively and expressive brush strokes, which most represent the weather’s unrest that day in Holland. This canvas is bursting with anticipation of the heavens bursting open into a storm.

Monet’s appreciation for water remained an integral part of his artistic practice throughout his life, yet we get a sense of its origins here. By the time Monet bought his home in Giverny, he had calculated that light changes every seven minutes. He had an exceptional eye and wanted to render the slightest changes exactly. When working on a series, Monet had multiple canvases at work, sometimes ten, at times up to twenty. He gave a few brushstrokes on one, then noticed that the light was changing and accordingly changed the canvas on the easel. It was a slow process: Monet had to wait until the same light effect would come back to complete the canvas. With so many paintings evolving at once, it could take several months or even years before he considered them all to be finished.

It is such a treat to be able to observe this important artist in the formative years of his career. Even in this early work, we see experimentation with light and shadow, and with expressive brushstrokes. As the windmills and sails blow in the ominous breeze, Monet stands his ground, determinedly pursuing his image, and, eventually, a career of outstanding success.

To see all of our current Monet paintings in stock, click here.

Rockwell presents a stirring social commentary in The Common Touch, which was used as the January 18, 1930 cover of the Saturday Evening Post

No other artist has been able to capture the essence of the American experience like Norman Rockwell. Even in the early stages of his career, the aspect that distinguished his work was that it was about the Everyman, providing a chronicle of the simple joys, awkward moments and trying circumstances that give our lives depth.
Rockwell found success at an early age. He completed his first commission for a series of Christmas cards before he was 16. By 17, he illustrated his first children’s book, and at 22, he had earned his first Saturday Evening Post cover, published May 20, 1916. His work with the Post had skyrocketed his reputation, and before long, the young artist (though he was more confident referring to himself an illustrator rather than an artist) attained the rank of national celebrity. Though many changes occurred over the six decades he painted, the common thread that connects each and every work is the genuine, unmistakable sentimentality that makes Rockwell’s art stand out from all others.

Rockwell found inspiration in daily life and the events that touched every individual, regardless of their place in society. In The Common Touch (Stock Exchange Quotations) each person represents the segments of society, all equally touched by the Stock Market Crash of 1929. The wealthy businessman, the elderly woman, the homemaker, the grocer’s assistant, and even the dog, all had a steak in the economic downturn that gripped our nation. Rockwell’s brilliance shines even though troubled times, as he is able to tackle such a somber reality with heartfelt, yet witty sincerity.

The Buggy Ride is a touching portrayal of young love. This early work was published for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, September 19, 1925

The Buggy Ride, on the other hand, takes a nostalgic look at a moment everyone can identify with-young love. The perspective is that of the viewer, whether a third party or the subjects as adults, looking back upon fond memories of a time long past, but not forgotten. One can even imagine Rockwell reminiscing of such a moment in his own adolescents as he painted the two shy youths enjoying an evening ride and each other’s companionship.

Original paintings, like the above, that were created early in Rockwell’s career are quite exceptional. In 1943, the artist’s studio caught fire, and numerous paintings were destroyed in the blaze. Adding to their rarity is the fact that each served as a Post cover, The Common Touch on January 18, 1930, and The Buggy Ride on September 19, 1925.

Rockwell once stated, “I don’t want to paint for the few who can see a canvas in a museum, for I believe that in a democracy art belongs to the people.” Rich or poor, young or old, male or female, anyone could personally identify with each painting he composed. Both technically superb and emotionally powerful, Rockwell’s paintings capture the resilience and beauty that is the American spirit.

To learn more about these incredible paintings, click here.

This desk was named after the Cardinal Mazarin, regent of France from 1642 to 1661. It was, in fact, originally created 10 years later. Mazarin did hire Pierre Gole to create two grand cabinets to donate to Louis XIV’s palace, however, what later became known as the “Bureau Mazarin” was an earlier request from King Henri IV for a piece of furniture that would provide ample locked storage space.

Given the importance of letter-writing in the 17^th century, Gole decided to create a three drawer cabinet, an early rendition of what would later become the common pedestal desk. Essentially an elevated chest, Gole had created something entirely new. The piece had the functionality of a writing surface, equipped with drawers and locked storage space. The particular desk was raised by eight legs joined by two “x” shaped stretchers, giving the piece an elegant architectural feel.

A Vase of Flowers by Margareta Haverman, 1716

Pierre Gole, originally from Amsterdam, was known for his ambitious and intricate marquetry, inspired by the floral still life tradition in Dutch paintings of the 17th century. In order to achieve this affect, he used countless types of woods for the inlay, including ebony, boxwood, barberry, various shades of walnut, amaranth, and pear, among many others. Today cabinet makers typically utilize only a handful of woods, instead staining them to achieve a variety of shades. Upon close inspection of this desk, it is intriguing to observe the grains and textures that each type of wood contributes to the overall design.

The top of the desk is a great example of his talent and reveals some of the legendary Jasmine design of inlaid ivory flowers, which is the mark of the highest quality works. It is particularly difficult to incorporate ivory into marquetry because it shrinks at a different rate than wood, so it must be executed absolutely perfectly in order to stand the test of time! We are proud to offer this museum piece for sale and would love to share its history and grace with you.

Sapphires can be called the gemstones of the sky . . .they lie well hidden in just a few places and have to be brought to light through extremely hard work. Sapphires are found in India, Burma, Ceylon, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Brazil, Madagascar, Tanzania and Kenya. From the gemstone mines, these raw crystals are first taken to the cutting-centers where they are turned into sparkling gemstones by skilled hands. When cutting a sapphire, the cutter has to muster all his skill, for these gemstones are not only hard; depending on the angle from which you look at them, they also have different intensities and shades of color. So it is the job of the cutter to orientate the raw crystals in such a way that the color is brought out to its best advantage. Just as they have done with our Purple Sapphire.

Purple sapphires are, in fact, quite extraordinary and far rarer than more traditional blue sapphires. Unlike most blue and pink sapphires which need to be heat treated in order to obtain their best color display, purple sapphires very rarely require any heat treatment. Furthermore they tend to change color in different lighting!

This purple sapphire not only radiates beauty, magnificent color, and transparency, but also constancy and durability associated with these stunning gemstones. The sapphire belongs to the corundum group, the members of which are characterized by their excellent hardness (9 on the Mohs scale). Indeed their hardness is exceeded only by that of the diamond, the diamond being the hardest mineral on Earth! Thanks to their durability, sapphires are exremely easy to look after, requiring no more than an occasional cleaning on behalf of the wearer.

To take a look at our other sapphires in stock, click here.

Well-established artists, like the so-called ‘Old Masters’ or the Impressionists, have a stable market value. By comparison, the more contemporary the artist, the more uncertain is his or her market value. (from “Investors find a safe haven in art,” DW, 10/16/11, by Chi Viet Giang)

…Given the history of art funds in the recent times, it would be perhaps more advisable at this juncture to buy art from galleries… (from “Invest in art to balance portfolio,” The Economic Times, 9/25/11, by Nalini S. Malavyia)

Steven Murphy, chief executive of the privately held Christie’s, said collectors and investors alike see art as a potentially safe haven for their cash at a time when the broader financial outlook remains volatile… (from “Auction Houses Clean Up as Investors Vie for Art,” Wall Street Journal, 2/1/12, by Kelly Crow)

After reading the above mentioned quotations and articles, you very well may be convinced that buying art now is the thing to do. That said, you may still question why to buy from M.S. Rau Antiques. That answer lies in the advantage of private galleries over auction houses. When buying from our 100 year old, internationally respected gallery, there are no premiums to pay. Furthermore, if there is a work of art by a particular artist and/or in a certain style, we are more than happy to find exactly what you are looking for!

So if you are still asking the question, Why Art? Why Now? or Why from M. S. Rau?,  here are just a few more great reasons…

Vincent Van Gogh

Pierre Auguste-Renoir

Paul Gauguin

Albert Sisley

and our favorite American son, Norman Rockwell

From myself, Lyndon Lasiter, and all of us at M.S. Rau Antiques, thank you for helping make our first 100 years successful and why not, BUY ART AND BUY NOW, as we begin our second 100 years of offering the rarest, finest and most desirable fine art available!

This extraordinary terrestrial globe, measuring an impressive 30 inches in diameter, was crafted by the reputable firm W. & A.K. Johnston, Ltd. The beautiful, accurately detailed map is set within a lavishly carved mahogany base on four cabriole legs.

Globes of this grand scale were incredibly expensive to make. It proved to be much more cost effective to update one’s plates than to buy an entirely new globe. From Edinburgh, the Johnston firm emerged during the second half of the 19th-century as one of the foremost globe makers in all of the United Kingdom, overshadowing their rivals in London.

The Johnston brothers, William and Alexander Keith, both worked for leading Scottish globe manufacturer James Kirkwood until the Great Fire of 1824, which destroyed the firm. In 1825 William founded his own firm and was soon joined by his brother the following year.  Their combined skills as geographers, engravers and printers truly set them apart. They quickly rose to the forefront of globe manufacturing in the UK, and were awarded a royal appointment from Queen Victoria. In 1851, at the Great Exhibition in London, the brothers introduced their 30-inch globe design, the first of its kind ever produced in the British Isles.

The firm remained intact even after the deaths of Keith (1871) and William (1888), and continued to produce spectacular globes well into the 20th century.

To see our various globes for sale, please click here.

Little cylinders, no more than 4 inches long and one inch in diameter, were crafted by hand in leather and precious metals, exotic materials like shagreen (shark or stingray skin),  tortoiseshell or semi-precious stones. They are the perfect romantic gift in which you can stash a very personal love note or even a small gift of jewelry.

M.S. Rau Antiques and Fine Art has acquired an extraordinary collection of 18^th century “étuis” which are decorated using different types of gold and agate. Agate was highly prized in the 18^th century for its marbled look and used as an amulet or talisman to divert storms in ancient civilizations. French phrases like “Nul Plaisir Sans Vous” (“no pleasure without you”) intensify the sentiment of the gift tucked inside, as shown on the one below.

This incredibly intricate, Swiss Louis XIV-era etui (below) is only 4 inches long and is made of 18K yellow gold and features a Neoclassic design representing Music and Gardening motifs in bas-relief cartouches and laurel borders.

This exuberant, English Rococo era étui is formed of beautifully carved agate and 18K yellow gold. It is carved to resemble an enchanted landscape with trees.  Sealed with wax for security, it opens with the push of a diamond studded button. Truly, a gift to have and to cherish.

Rock crystal, or clear quartz, has been revered by nearly every ancient culture in history. It’s clear, ice-like appearance, enhanced by light refracting fissures gave the mineral an air of mystique that carried on well into the Renaissance. The mineral’s innate beauty piqued the interest of 14th-century European royals and aristocrats and they began amassing stunning collections that largely included rock crystal objets d’art in rooms known as “curiosity cabinets.” Even today, many royal collections throughout the world contain pieces crafted of rock crystal.

The use of rock crystal in the creation of precious objects required highly skilled artisans that were proficient in a multitude of disciplines, including gem cutter, jeweler, goldsmith, and enamelist. No other group of craftsmen excelled in this art better than the Viennese. Their ability to marry so many varied techniques, with the utmost level of perfection and beauty, led to the creation of the most exquisite objects of virtu ever made.

This resplendent Viennese charger is inset with nine intricately engraved panels of rock crystal

This brilliant Rock Crystal Charger of Chateau de Chenonceau is believed to have been commissioned by the daughter of Scottish businessman Daniel Wilson, who purchased the Chateau de Chenonceaux for her in 1864. Created by a Viennese craftsman of obviously tremendous skill, a precise rendering of the chateau is carved into the central panel of rock crystal, while the surrounding insets are etched with an intricate network of Neoclassical scrolls. The silver and silver gilt frame of the charger boasts relief figures adorned with vivid enamel, pearls, rubies and emeralds. In terms of history and craftsmanship, this is arguably the finest example of Viennese rock crystal on the market.

A breathtaking rendering of the Chateau Chenonceau at the center of the charger

A single block of rock crystal was used to create this fanciful Rock Crystal and Enamel Vessel, in the form of a double-headed bird. From the exquisite carving to the intricacies of the silver gilt enameling, it would be easy to envision this elegant masterpiece in a most prestigious collection.

The fanciful form of this Viennese rock crystal vessel is similar to prized specimens currently held by museums.

M.S. Rau Antiques is incredibly fortunate to offer these and several other Viennese rock crystal wonders for sale. Rarely does such a large number of these desirable objets d’art become available for acquisition, as most can only be found in the most prestigious museum collections. Immersed in legend, sought by royalty and matchless in beauty, the reason why these treasures continue to lure collectors throughout the world is crystal clear.

To view M.S. Rau Antiques entire collection of rock crystal treasures, click here.

George III Silver Gilt-Covered Monteith

If you were to ask someone from New Orleans, “What are the seasons,” they would definitely not give the answer, winter, spring, summer or fall.  You are much more likely to get the response of, “it’s Mardi Gras season, or football season, (or more specific, Saints season),  Jazz Fest season, creole tomato season, strawberry season, hunting season, fishing season, shrimp season, the season of Lent and I could go on and on. We all look forward to that next great season and a reason (or excuse) to celebrate.

Right now we are in Mardi Gras season and I am having a, “Twelfth Night Party”. What is a Twelfth Night Party? It’s just a great reason to have a party! The twelfth night was actually on January 6^th or 12 nights after Christmas and it’s our official date to kick off the Mardi Gras season.  Today is January 14^th, so I am a little late but who’s counting?

Style is such an intricate part of any celebration. If there were one thing in this entire gallery that I would love to have at my party it would be the George III Silver gilt Monteith. It screams style! For those of you who don’t know, a Monteith is an elaborately decorated vessel with notched rims allowing a wine glass to suspend inside the bowl which is filled with either ice or ice water.  Hence the chilled glass! The name monteith was derived from a very dapper dressing Scottsman, Monteith,  who wore a cloak of notched edges.

I can just imagine serving wine in chilled glasses from this magnificent silver gilt monteith elaborately decorated in repousse’ of huntsman, stag and hounds, flower garlands, winged figures and bearded satyr masks…stylish and great fun!

Whatever season you’re celebrating, do it with style. Make this Monteith your new centerpiece.

Measurements:

11” diameter x 15 1/2” high

Asking Price: $68,500

Wouldn’t this exquisite piece be perfect for your next festive occasion?