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This astonishing 16th-century dressoir (or sideboard) was created in Lyon during the height of the French Renaissance, and is the only one of three known examples of its type created that is not held within a museum collection. Today, the pair to this dressoir is a prized possession of the…
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The mechanism of this captivating Congreve-type rolling ball timepiece is considered the most frustrating, yet fascinating of timekeeping instruments. The widely recognized design was patented by Sir William Congreve in 1808, and reflects the aspiration of clockmakers to find an…
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This exceptionally wonderful and quite rare antique musical automation box by the Mermod Frerès firm of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland is a marvel of music box craftsmanship. Though the window, the viewer can see a fluttering butterfly and four maidens twirling and dancing along on their…
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This French clock is an impeccable example of the complex artistry of industrial timepieces. Industrial clocks such as this, combining precision timekeeping with mechanically-inspired figural automata, were extremely popular during the 19th century, especially with wealthy barons investing…
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This magnificent, award-winning Australian billiard table is among the most important ever created in the vast British Empire and has an impressive royal provenance. Crafted of beautiful and highly valued Australian blackwood by master carver George Billyeald and accompanied by its…
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Once a fixture in bustling dance halls, cafés and fairgrounds throughout Belgium and the Netherlands in early to mid 20th century, this incredibly rare, early Orchestrion organ is a masterpiece of automated music. Crafted by the Arburo firm run by Arthur Bursens and Gustav Roels,…
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Imagine how it feels to enter a room filled with wondrous discoveries, treasures crafted by history's greatest artisans, each with its own story to tell. Imagine the most exquisite antiques from around the world, all in one place. For 100 years, Rau Antiques has helped generations of…
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View Part 2: Offering the Best of the Best. Third-generation owner Bill Rau takes you back to the humble beginnings of M.S. Rau Antiques in 1912. As the gallery prepares to celebrate it's 100th anniversary, we reflect back on the people and principles that have helped this business thrive…
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View Part 1: Bill Rau Looks Back to the Beginning As M.S. Rau Antiques approaches its 100th birthday in 2012, Bill Rau explains why this family run business has withstood the test of time. Through World Wars, natural disasters and economic ups and downs, M.S. Rau has been steadfast in…
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A marvel of technical innovation and classic beauty, this wonderful round dining table was patented by Robert Jupe in 1835. When expanded, this lovely table for six is transformed into dining for eight with a simple turn. Watch as Lyndon Lasiter demonstrates the amazing mechanism and shows…
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As rare as it is fascinating, this "No. 5" disk player by the Polyphon Musikwerke in Leipzig, Germany has the ability to change between 10 disks with a simple slide of a handle. Watch and listen to this extraordinary music box and discover why these antique marvels continue to enchant…
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Treasured for their fiery explosion of vibrant color, black opals stand among the finest of all gem stones. To find two large, exemplary stones such as those in this wonderful diamond necklace is simply remarkable. Watch as jewelry specialist Susan Lapene expounds on the beauty of this…
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By far the greatest silver service ever created was the "Grand Service" made by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell for King George IV of England. It took approximately 10 years to complete and cost an amazing £100,000 (this is about $15 million in today's money). The great majority of this…
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M.S. Rau Antiques is featured on New Orleans Television, the city's premiere visitor television station. Take a tour of the M.S. Rau gallery, and see for yourself why this landmark antiques business is a must see for visitors to New Orleans.
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Wealth TV featured M.S. Rau Antiques in a series of episodes, beginnig with a show focusing on English Antiques. Watch as Bill Rau shows you some of the finest English pieces on the market today, including this wonderful architect's desk by Gillows.
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In this segment of Wealth TV's feature on English Antiques, Bill Rau shows examples of some of the finest antique furnishings on the market, including a pair of Coronation Chairs used during the Coronation of King George VI. Their simple elegance only hints at their historical significance…
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Wealth TV featured M.S. Rau Antiques in a series of episodes, beginnig with a show focusing on English Antiques. Watch as Bill Rau shows you some of the finest English pieces on the market today, including this fine Hepplewhite sideboard.
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A monumental English billiards table by J. Ashcroft and Sons of Liverpool is the focus of this Wealth TV episode, one in a series focusing on fine English furniture. Watch as Bill Rau describes this magnificent table.
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Wealth TV featured M.S. Rau Antiques in a series of episodes, beginnig with a show focusing on English Antiques. Watch as Bill Rau shows you some of the finest English pieces on the market today, including this important set of Hepplewhite chairs.
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In 18th-century France, you were taxed on the number of closets in your home, so many people used armoires instead. Phillip Youngberg tells a little about the history of armoires and describes this magnificent Louis XV example.
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John Finnegan describes in detail this wonderful Louis XVI period bureau à cylindre, or cylinder desk, giving you a glimpse of the beauty of fine 18th-century French furniture. The desk exhibits an exceptional blend of restrained, neo-classical elements and quality craftsmanship and is…
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Bill Rau discusses what is widely considered to be one of the finest sculptural clocks ever made. Crafted by the legendary French ebeniste Francois Linke, this amazing regulator clock is one of only six made as a collaboration between Linke and Leon Messagé for the 1904 St. Louis…
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See this whimsical clock in action. A resplendent arrangement of precious gems and metals comprise this outstanding Italian clock with whimsical insects animated to Antonio Vivaldi's Spring. Ladybugs, butterflies and bees are among the colorful characters that come to life in this…
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The Jennings Monte Carlo slot machine was a fixture in many hotels, gas stations and soda fountains in the 1940s, and for many of these they were a means of survival. Today, this is one of the rarest of the surviving slot machine models. Phillip Youngberg shows you why this wonderful…
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This superb mechanical desk by famed French ebeniste Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley is both an artistic and engineering achievement. As if the incredible inlay and exquisite bronze mounts weren't enough to distinguish this desk, turn the key for a wonderful surprise. Watch as Bill Rau…
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In this video, Jim Cottrell shows us why Meissen can be considered among the greatest porcelain ever created. These figures, representing the Four Seasons, were first modelled in the mid 18th century, but their craftsmanship and beauty is timeless. The Four Seasons were among the most…
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Bill Rau describes this wonderful Christofle silver plate meat carving trolley in detail. Created by Christofle & Cie around 1890, this trolley would have been a focal point for any fine French restaurant. It remains in excellent, complete condition, retaining its trivets, burners and…
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Considered one of the finest works of carved Victorian furniture, this amazing sideboard by English master Garrard Robinson tells the tale of Daniel Defoe's classic hero Robinson Crusoe. Watch as Bill Rau discusses the many fine points of this amazing work. 29-1051
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Bill Rau presents this extraordinary William III-period bureau bookcase by the English firm of Coxed and Woster. This early piece is a masterpiece of design and cabinetmaking, boasting exquisite line and scale and a wonderful veneer stained to resemble tortoiseshell. Open the bookcase to…
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This rare and extraordinary French eight-day timepiece celebrates the advances made in the industrial field in the 19th century. Bill Rau shows you why this finely constructed silver and brass clock was a marvel of its time.
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In this sensuous work entitled The Minuet, Dutch artist Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer deftly juxtaposes the grace and gentility of polite society with its illicit and scantily disguised underpinnings. As the ladies and gentlemen dance in the foreground, the activities of the party's other…
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Bill Rau shows why this Edwardian marquetry bookcase is so spectacular. Adorned with exquisite inlays of satinwood, amboyna and fruitwoods from to to bottom, this bookcase is a masterpiece of the cabinetmaker's art.
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Alma Parens by William Bouguereau is, without question, one of the most significant paintings we have ever offered in our gallery. An unparalleled composition depicting Mother France caring for her children, this painting dutifully illustrates why Bouguereau and his masterpieces are so…
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