From Myth to Masterpiece: Viennese Rock Crystal

2012-01-30 08:12:25 -0700

Australian aborigines called it the "stone of light" and the Celts believed its prismatic properties linked it to the sun. Even the fortuneteller's rudimentary crystal ball was originally crafted of the mysteriously alluring mineral we refer to today as rock crystal.

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 ...

Hot to Trot Collectibles: Antique Carousel Horses

2012-01-05 09:41:52 -0700

There was a time when no amusement park or playground was complete without a carousel ride. Children and even adults could take pleasure in a whimsical ride atop an array of horses and other fanciful creatures carved by the most skilled artisans of the day. Though quality examples of these nostalgic masterpieces come few and far between on the market, that doesn't seem to deter the demand for these magnificent figures.

The carousel reached its golden age in early 20th-century ...

Royal Ambitions: The Henry Dasson Boulle Commode

2011-11-16 08:16:05 -0700

One of the missions of M.S. Rau Antiques is to seek out and provide our clients with the absolute finest antiques, works of art and jewelry...something we like to call The Best of The Best. To come across pieces that embody the key elements of beauty, rarity and history is what really excites us.

This opulent

The Royal Roots of Sèvres Porcelain

2011-10-12 16:09:27 -0600

When King Louis XV took an interest in porcelain and became a primary shareholder of what would become the Sèvres factory in 1752, he intended to catapult the international status of French porcelain to the finest in the world. It's believed that his motivation came from his famed mistress, Madame de Pompadour, who possessed a penchant for the factory's creations. Regardless of the reason, it is the royal roots of Sèvres that provided the foundation for some of the most ...

A Table of 1,000 Words: The “History of Australia” Billiard Table

2011-08-31 16:28:40 -0600

One of the most fascinating aspects of collecting antiques is the story each piece has to tell. Each and every antique and work of art in our 30,000 square-foot French Quarter gallery embodies a moment in history that makes it beyond compare.

This breathtaking billiard table is certainly no exception. Known as the "

Brush Strokes of a Renaissance Man: The Paintings of Winston Churchill

2011-08-12 10:34:34 -0600

Few figures in Modern history evoke images of leadership, integrity and political prowess as does Winston Churchill. His iconic speeches and steadfast direction during World War II galvanized the Allied forces in Britain and abroad. Few people realized that, though he was most revered for his rolls as statesman, orator, historian, politician and writer, Churchill was also an accomplished artist.

M.S. Rau is honored to have two of his historically significant works currently in ...

Out of This World: Antique Telescopes

2011-07-19 10:30:26 -0600

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 combination of awe and trepidation. These first “astronomers” used what they observed with the naked eye to explain everything from the changing ...

The Right Snuff: Antique Snuffboxes

2011-06-30 14:56:35 -0600

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 widespread usage by seemingly every person of importance in the 16th century, the demand for a fashionable yet functional way to carry one's snuff inspired the greatest jewelers, enamellers, goldsmiths and silversmiths of the time to create ...

The Rebirth of Renaissance Art

2011-05-31 09:42:45 -0600

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 centuries-old masterworks.

To give you an idea of what I mean, Sotheby's has held six sales that comprised mainly of works by the "Old Masters" which brought in over $117 million in sales...and that's only since January! ...

An Image is Worth 1000 Words: The Triptych

2011-04-19 12:57:36 -0600

Whether it's meant to tell you what to wear, what to eat or what to admire, images surround us in our media-rich society. But not that long ago, images served a much higher purpose. Images were a visual representation of the world and its principles of both order and morality. Various forms of ecclesiastical art immerged primarily to convey these principles to the masses, and the triptych was one of the first of these stunning art forms.

Often referred to as the "traveling icon," ...

For the Love of Tiffany: Silver and Jewelry by Tiffany & Co.

2011-03-23 13:13:49 -0600

When Charles Lewis Tiffany opened his stationary and fancy goods shop in 1837, he could not have imagined the indelible mark the name "Tiffany" would leave on the history of American decorative arts. Its mere mention conjures images of the timeless elegance and refinement seen in every work of silver and fine jewelry the firm ever created.

Tiffany and his partners John Young and J.L. Ellis recognized early on the importance of becoming prominent force in silversmithing. The great ...

The Thrill of The Hunt: The Francis I Renaissance Sideboard

2011-02-22 11:33:22 -0700

As both an antiques dealer and a collector, I'm always actively searching for items that embody the greatest qualities of their type. Now, it may sound odd to say that a piece of furniture is exciting, but this 16th-century sideboard is certainly one piece that would top off a museum curator's wish list. Created during the French Renaissance, this Francis I-period sideboard, or dressoir, is over 425 years old, and represents an inconceivably small number of furnishings from this era to ...

A Meeting of Masters: The Los Angeles Art Show 2011

2011-02-02 12:18:12 -0700

What happens when the works of 18th-century portraitist

America’s Artistic Pioneer–Louis Comfort Tiffany

2011-01-18 14:36:09 -0700

Louis Comfort Tiffany is internationally recognized as a master of the American decorative arts. Considered to be the driving force behind the Art Nouveau style in America, Tiffany worked with nearly every decorative medium imaginable, even serving as the first Design Director for his father's Tiffany & Co., but it is his personal triumphs in glassmaking that garnered the artist his highest recognition.

Though Tiffany first started his experiments with stained glass in 1875, it ...

So Many Choices…The Golden Age of Flatware

2011-01-10 10:03:29 -0700

Dining in the Victorian-era was truly an art form. The economic prosperity of the late 19th and early 20th centuries catapulted many into the middle and upper classes, and the desire to display just how wealthy you were was of the utmost importance to maintain, if not raise, your standing in high society. These displays took many forms, but it was the dinner party that proved to be an affair that could make or break a socialite.

Even the extravagance of the utensils you provided for ...

Spirited Ceramics: Tang Dynasty Sancai Pottery

2010-12-22 09:13:55 -0700

We've all heard the saying "You can't take it with you." But what if you could?

Death in pre-modern Chinese culture was of tremendous importance, and it was crucial that when one left this life for the next, the departed were given everything needed to enjoy the next chapter of their eternal life. This included everything from representations of houses, horses, guardians, camels and even young hand maidens, that stood as reminders of events that shaped the existence they left behind. ...

A Woman’s Touch: The Masterpieces of Female Silversmiths

2010-12-11 09:31:25 -0700

The contributions of women are one, if not the most, overlooked aspect in the history of silver craftsmanship. The natural elegance and refinement exhibited in the works created by the hand of female silversmiths set them apart from all others, and, in many cases, are considered the finest masterworks ever made.

It is imperative to remind ourselves that, until fairly recently, women had very little rights under the law in the industrialized world, and were at the mercy of the men in ...

Record-Shattering Auction Sales Bode Well For Art Market

2010-11-29 13:35:55 -0700

“Politicians anxiously trying to find out just how serious the current economic difficulties are might like to take a look at the art market…The numbers can leave no one in doubt about the buyer’s readiness to part with cash.” - Souren Melikian, “What’s in a Name? At Art Auctions, Lots of Money,” The New York Times, Nov. 5th, 2010

At the outset of Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art Sale on ...

Prime Provenance: The King Farouk Bedroom Suite

2010-10-27 14:03:56 -0600

Few things excite me more than discovering rare treasures that are distinguished by an incredible provenance. It's the provenance that turns a great piece into a phenomenal piece, and literally brings the events normally only read in history books to life. In the case of this amazing seven-piece Empire Bedroom Suite, made by Parisian ébéniste Antoine Krieger and owned by ...

Baccarat…Crystal Fit for a King

2010-10-13 07:58:43 -0600

In response to a wealthy landowner's request to make the best use of the natural resources of the infertile Baccarat region of France, King Louis XV created “Compagnie des Cristalleries de Baccarat” in 1765 by royal degree.

The company was the first French glassworks firm established to directly compete with imported Bohemian counterparts. For the next 245 years, the House of Baccarat would continue to garner the attention of kings, sultans and maharajas throughout ...

Elves, Nymphs and Fairies–Oh My!: Illustrious Fairyland Lustre by Wedgwood

2010-09-28 07:50:46 -0600

An over-200-year-old company finds itself on the verge of financial ruin as war rages on. It's only savior an unknown artist who rises through the ranks by determination, persuasion and sheer talent, only to be fired when she has outlasted her usefulness.

Sounds more like soap-opera fodder than real life, but in 1915, porcelain artist Daisy Makeig-Jones' extraordinary line of Fairyland Lustre porcelain saved Wedgwood from bankruptcy during World War I. The design of each piece ...

What’s in a Name? The Splendor of Imperial Jadeite Jewelry

2010-09-20 14:55:42 -0600

“Gold is estimable; but Jade is priceless.” –Chinese proverb

Shrouded behind a veil of verdant mystery for centuries, the brilliance of jadeite inspired fascinating legends of desire. One such tale tells of a Chinese emperor who offered fifteen cities for a jadeite carving so small that it fit in the palm of his hand.

Today, Imperial jadeite is ranked as one of the rarest minerals on earth. Jewelry crafted of this precious ...

The Un-cane-y World of Canes

2010-08-26 13:51:07 -0600

Canes and walking sticks, upon first mention, sound perhaps like the least interesting objects in the world to collect. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There was a time when no well-heeled gentleman or lady would have been seen in public without his or her walking stick. These often elegantly decorated sticks were not used to give support for walking, but were accessories that were actually “worn” and were, in many instances, symbols of status and wealth.

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