M.S. Rau

M.S. Rau One of the world's largest dealers of fine art, rare antiques, and important jewels since 1912.

06/03/2026

Moser glass so rarely survives as a complete set — this one even has its original Karlsbad stickers.

A complete six-piece dressing table set by Bohemian master Ludwig Moser, circa 1880–90. Rendered in luminous straw-colored glass, each piece is richly decorated with polychrome enamel scrolling oak leaves, scattered insects and applied gilt-metal acorns. Founded in Karlsbad and favored by royalty and global dignitaries, Moser set the standard for luxury European glassmaking — and complete sets of this quality are exceptionally rare.

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 32-2519.

Centuries before Western collectors took notice, Chinese artisans transformed s***f bottles into miniature masterworks.T...
06/02/2026

Centuries before Western collectors took notice, Chinese artisans transformed s***f bottles into miniature masterworks.

This 19th-century example is crafted from agate and 18K gold in a graceful teardrop shape, its amber surface adorned with intricate white agate flowers. A green enamel stopper fashioned from jade and cultured pearls — finished with a braided gold cord — completes this remarkable objet d'art. While French s***f bottles remain familiar to collectors, Chinese examples of this caliber are exceedingly rare.

What's the smallest object in your collection?

Discover this piece on our website. Link in the comments.

06/01/2026

A royal gift made silver.

In 1864, Empress Eugénie — wife of Napoleon III and the last Empress of France — commissioned London silversmith John Samuel Hunt to create this extraordinary 32-piece picnic set for her dear friend Baron Brolin. Engraved with the Baron’s initials and crown, each piece bears Hunt’s hallmark lineage to the legendary Paul Storr. The brass plaque reads: “To my favorite tenant Baron Brolin with my sincere gratitude, Eugenie.”

Would you take this on a picnic?

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 31-9383.

05/29/2026

A mantel clock that tells a story 2,500 years in the making.

Signed Deschamps à Paris and dating to circa 1810, this Empire mantel clock depicts Tekmessa presenting the legendary shield of Ajax to their son Eurysakes — a moment rooted in Greek mythology and cast in mercury-gilded bronze. Relief scenes from the myth of Ajax extend across the rectangular base, transforming a timekeeping instrument into a work of sculptural narrative. Mercury gilding, a fire-gilding technique prized for its luminous depth, is no longer practiced today due to the hazardous nature of its process.

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 32-1953.

Conceived for the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition, this monumental régulateur by François Linke — the most celebrated éb...
05/28/2026

Conceived for the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition, this monumental régulateur by François Linke — the most celebrated ébéniste of the Belle Époque — is widely regarded as the greatest sculptural clock ever created. Standing over 10 feet tall, the case is constructed from inlaid tulipwood and fruitwood and adorned with masterfully cast ormolu, surmounted by Chronos, the Greek god of time, wielding his scythe. Designed in collaboration with sculptor Léon Messagé, only six examples of this model were ever completed. The production cost alone was 22,966 francs — the equivalent of roughly eight years' wages for the average French worker in 1900. Contemporary critics described Linke's display as the defining moment in the history of furnishing art that year, earning him the prestigious gold medal.

Discover this piece on our website. Link in the comments.

05/27/2026

redefined American silver in 1871 with a single pattern — and nothing else looked like it.

Designed by Edward C. Moore, the Japanese pattern was the first Tiffany flatware decorated in the Japanese revival style, breaking from prevailing European Rococo conventions. Inspired by 19th-century Japanese paintings, each piece in this 24-piece sterling silver fruit service features a sculpted bird perched amid delicate foliage — every handle a miniature work of art. Comprising twelve two-tine fruit forks and twelve fruit knives, the set remains complete in its fitted case, produced between 1907 and 1935.

The pattern was later reintroduced in 1956 as Audubon, honoring ornithologist John James Audubon — a testament to its enduring influence on American decorative arts.

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 32-2318.

Japanese lacquerwork is among the most labor-intensive art forms ever practiced — and this chest proves why.This 19th-ce...
05/26/2026

Japanese lacquerwork is among the most labor-intensive art forms ever practiced — and this chest proves why.

This 19th-century Edo-period lacquerware chest draws its form from traditional Hasami-Bako travel trunks. Executed in the hiramaki-e technique, its surface is adorned with applied gold lacquer depicting intricate foliage and vine motifs. Finely engraved gilt metal fittings embellished with nanako patterns accent the corners and clasps, while the lid bears a mon — the stylized crest of a noble family.

These miniature chests served as both decorative objects and ceremonial ornaments during Hina Matsuri, Japan's celebrated Doll Festival.

What art form do you think demands the most patience?

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05/25/2026

Only the House of could turn a frame into a masterpiece.

This circa 1890 silver-gilt frame combines luminous green guilloché enamel with blush-toned aventurine and a finely modeled gilt ribbon crest — a signature Fabergé motif. Executed under workmaster Michael Perchin, who oversaw the firm’s most important commissions, it bears the 88 silver standard and retains its original fitted Fabergé case. A rare and complete survival from one of history’s most celebrated workshops.

Would you display it or keep it tucked away?

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 32-2486.

05/21/2026

A gift from a future British monarch — and the letter to prove it.

This sterling silver presentation cup was crafted by Elkington & Co. and personally presented by the Prince of Wales — later King Edward VII — to Monsieur Lozes for his role in the British section of the Paris International Exhibition of 1900. Hallmarked London, 1900, it bears the Prince’s engraved coat of arms and an inscription detailing the royal gesture. The original framed letter from the Prince accompanies the cup, confirming its extraordinary provenance.

What piece of history would you want a letter of provenance for?

Discover this piece on our website. Item No. 32-2330.

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New Orleans, LA
70130

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