M.S. Rau Furniture

Exquisitely crafted of bronze ormolu, these rare twin candelabra exhibit the Neoclassical grandeur of the Louis XVI style. Two brushed-bronze putti holding spears support the five-li...

This rare and significant cameo glass vase exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of George Woodall, a master artist celebrated for his outstanding skill in cameo carving. The amp...

This extraordinary First Edition Wedgwood rendering of the legendary Portland Vase is one of the rarest masterpieces of Josiah Wedgwood, the most important ceramics manufacturer of the 18th century. A tour de force of ceramic art, the Portland Vase First Editions are regarded as one of the greatest ceramic accomplishments of the 18th century, and they are a testament to the superior skill of Josiah Wedgwood, his extraordinary ambition and his tireless dedication to perfection. One of the very few First Editions still in private hands, this exceptional Wedgwood Portland Vase is one of the most important works of ceramics on the market. The story of Wedgwood and the Portland Vase is legendary. The original Portland Vase is the ancient world's most famous decorative arts masterpiece—a cameo glass vase dating to circa 25 CE with a frieze representing the myth of Peleus and Thetis, initially thought to be carved from stone. When it was first rediscovered around 1582, it captivated the world with its opaque white cameo figures over its rich blue background. After the vase was excavated it was owned by Cardinal Barberini, whose family later sold it to the Duke of Hamilton who eventually sold it to the Duchess of Portland, from whom the famed vase now takes its name. The famed British sculptor John Flaxman was likely the first to have brought the vase to Wedgwood’s attention. In a letter dated February 5, 1784, he wrote: “I wish you may soon come to town to see William Hamilton’s vase, it is the finest production of Art that has been brought to England and seems to be the very apex of perfection to which you are endeavouring to bring your bisque and jasper…” Indeed, the Portland Vase is a masterpiece of cameo-cutting, with a stunning frieze of opaque white cameo glass over its translucent deep blue form. Its beauty and translucence would inspire Wedgwood to undertake his years-long endeavor to precisely replicate the original in porcelain. Upon closer examination, Wedgwood realized the vase was not made of stone or earthenware, but of cameo glass—a technique so advanced it remains the masterpiece of cameo-cutting. Today, the vase is housed in the British Museum, where it is the second most viewed antiquity, only after the Rosetta Stone. It then took Wedgwood several painstaking years to craft his unparalleled copy of the vase, during which he perfected the jasperware technique that would become his crowning achievement. To this day, the renowned porcelain firm regards the vase as its most momentous triumph, so much so that the vessel’s silhouette is incorporated into the Wedgwood logo. The four years it took Wedgwood to complete his vase were not without tribulations. From the start, Wedgwood encountered numerous problems with his copies, from cracking and blistering to the difficulty of replicating the translucent effects of the original. The first acceptable copy was produced in October 1789 and sent to Wedgwood’s physician and friend Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Wedgwood presented another copy to Queen Charlotte in May 1790 and afterward organized a private exhibition of the vase at the Portland House in London. The viewing proved so popular that Wedgwood was forced to restrict the show to 1,900 visitors. Much of London wished to see Wedgwood’s greatest major achievement. Perhaps the highest praise of Wedgwood’s copy came from the famed artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, the founder of the British Royal Academy: “I can venture to declare it a correct and faithful imitation, both in regard to the general effect, and the most minute detail of the part.” Over the next few years, Wedgwood's oven records listed 43 First Edition copies of the Portland Vase produced between 1791 and 1796, 11 of which were broken during the firing process. In all, it is believed around 30 First Edition vases were completed, though an unknown number of these were somewhat damaged—one of these imperfect examples is currently held by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The perfect examples such as ours have found their way into the most important museum collections in the world. The British Museum (London), Art Institute of Chicago, Birmingham Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge, UK), among others, all hold one of these highly coveted vases in their collections. In terms of technical achievement, the First Edition Portland Vases...

Beautifully crafted and endlessly charming, this exceptionally rare silverplate teapot by the prestigious firm of Christofle & Cie. takes the form of a stylized wild hare. It was designed by Emile Reiber, a highly regarded architect, designer and Prix de Rome winner who joined Christofle as head of the workshop of composition and drawing in 1865. The design is after a Meiji-period Japanese bronze from the famed collection of Henri Cernuschi, an Italian banker and savvy collector of the arts of the Far East. Japonism was rising quickly in popularity in France around the time this teapot was created. Japan had opened borders and started trade with Europe in the 1860s, inspiring new ideas among European designers and artists like Reiber as they saw the arts of Japan firsthand for the first time. Cernuschi exhibited his collection at the Palais de l'Industrie at the Orientalist Exhibition in 1873-74, where Reiber spent weeks sketching the bronze artifacts — drawings he then translated into luxurious silverplate objects for Christofle. Based in Paris, Christofle & Cie. has been manufacturing high-quality luxury items since 1830. Christofle silver has graced the tables of European and Asian nobility for decades, and it is the tableware of choice on such luxury transportation as the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian Railway. Innovative and revolutionary, the Christofle name is synonymous with elegance and style. An identical Christofle teapot...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

Crafted by the Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Manufactory, this 124-piece dinner service features one of the most prestigious porcelain patterns ever produced—the coveted Flora Danica pa...

This extremely rare and important set of four Meissen ewers represents the Four Elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Impressive in both size and artistry, they are among the most fa...

This remarkable art glass Lava style vase is a part of Loetz’s Phaenomen Genre 377, the remarkable collection unveiled at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900. The Crete color variatio...

Of all the glassworks created in the second half of the 19th century, the most difficult to perfect were those done in cameo. Very few artisans ever achieved success in hand-crafting...

This set of two carved mahogany chairs was crafted by the inimitable and famed Thomas Chippendale. The yellow upholstered seats complement the deep mahogany beautifully, creating an ...

Henry Dasson used grey granite from the famed Aswan quarries in Egypt to craft this pair of rare and important urns. Aswan was the location from which ancient Egyptian builders quarried the rare granite used...

This magnificent French Empire ormolu mantel clock features the iconic Neoclassical genre scene often referred to as "The Astronomy Lesson." A popular motif during this period, Emper...

This exquisite mahogany ribbon-back armchair epitomizes the elegance and sophistication associated with Thomas Chippendale's designs. Distinctive elements such as superior carving, b...

This minute repeater carriage clock by the esteemed Cartier is a masterpiece of luxury and craftsmanship created circa 1900. Finished in gold, diamon...

Once an indispensable tool of French haute cuisine, this rare silverplate duck press serves as a symbol of one's mastery of the craft. Used for squeezing the juices out of a duck car...

This extraordinary glass vessel hails from the illustrious Roman empire, likely from Italy, dating to the mid-1st to 2nd century CE. It is exceptionally rare to find such a large and...

This remarkable 19th-century games table perfectly incorporates beauty and function with tasteful marquetry and a fold-out gaming surface. An elegant example of Dutch craftsmanship a...

This monumental table is a rare masterpiece of English furniture, custom-made by the Royal Marble Works for an important titled estate. Its striking design combines stunning Blue Joh...

This 18th-century gilt bronze & Egitto Serpentino urn is modeled after the opulent design of one of the last gilders of the Versailles Court, Pierre Gouthière. An identical urn is he...

This lavish American tester bed exhibits superior craftsmanship and detail. The design is embellished with elaborate carvings on the headboard and sides. Th...

A music box hidden inside this beautifully carved Swiss chair will activate when the chair is sat upon. A remarkable example of the intricate craftsmanship and artistic innovation ch...

Designed by René Lalique in 1921, this Ronces pattern vase features a bold array of winding blackberry vines. The vessel highlights the master's love of the striking forms and natura...

This artful and unique automaton clock and music box house proudly bears the signature of Geneva, a hallmark of unparalleled horological excellence. For generations, Geneva has seamlessly merged traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, setting the standard for luxury timepieces. Adorned with delicate hand-painted details, this exquisite cottage exudes provincial charm. Intricate floral motifs and ivy vines gracefully ascend its façade, drawing onlookers into this detailed masterpiece. A couple stands in the doorway, meticulously carved to exude the height of style and grace. In the style of the iconic cuckoo clock, a distinguished gentleman, adorned with a pipe and cane, emerges from the balcony doors...

A spectacular feat of engineering and artistry, this 19th-century skeleton clock was created by John Smith & Sons of Clerkenwell. The Clerkenwell Borough of Central London has for al...

The bodies of this exquisite pair of Louis XVI-style cassolettes, along with a complementary clock, are crafted from exceptional specimens of white marble, each measuring almost a fo...

This delightful porcelain and enamel box perfectly exemplifies the esteemed French Limoges tradition. It features a meticulously hand-applied pink and blue floral scene against a bro...

This monumental 19th-century ormolu liqueur casket is exemplary of the masterful craftsmanship of the famed luxury firm Baccarat. The doors open to reve...

This exceptional Swiss Black Forest chair offers a delightful surprise—a music box hidden inside will activate when the chair is sat upon. A r...

This exquisite pair of hand-painted English satinwood parlor tables is embellished with intricate detailing inspired by floral and classical themes—hallmarks of the esteemed Sheraton...

This remarkable acid-etched vase is the work of the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, one of the most highly regarded names in French glassmaking. The artist's love of nature is ...

This monumental Boulle commode was crafted by Robert Blake, one of the finest and most important English cabinetmakers of his time. It is modeled after the legendary pair of commodes...

Bearing a cipher mark from 1856, this mid-19th-century centerpiece stands as a crowning achievement of the esteemed firm Minton & Co. This accomplishment of such grand scale in ceram...

This silver, gold and niello inlaid topographical snuffbox is a masterpiece of Russian silver. Almost owned by a wealthy 19th-century tradesman, this extraordinary creation shares a ...

Iridescent swirls adorn this rare Candia Silberiris tree trunk vase from the renowned 19th-century art glass firm Loetz. Crafted in a sensuous, organic...

Reserved exclusively for the era’s most affluent, these exceptionally rare glass and silver gilt wine coolers by Hunt & Roskell embody the height of the mid-19th century’s grandeur a...

Blending natural wonder and artistic prowess, this magnificent pair of cassolettes is a symphony of craftsmanship. The intricate gilt bronze decor, only made possible by the finest c...

This Tiffany Studios geometric leaded glass and bronze table lamp features the iconic Spider shade and its original complementary Mushroom bronze base. The unique form of the spider and web-inspired shade combines with the soft green and yellow gradient of the glass tiles to display the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation of Tiffany Studios. This table lamp shows off the Tiffany hallmarks of nature-inspired aesthetics alongside a beautifully unified artistic form that nearly comes alive when the lamp is turned on. While many Tiffany shades...

Statuesque and artfully etched, this exquisite cameo glass table lamp is the work of the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, one of the most highly regarded names in French glassmaking. The artist's appreciation of nature is on full display in the detailed Marguerite daisy pattern carefully etched in varying layers of colored glass. The blooms dance across the lamp's amber-colored form in mesmerizing shades of purple and red. When lit, the lamp emits an enticing warm glow. Nearly two feet in height, the lamp is much larger than is typical of Gallé's pieces, yet it maintains its grace and proportion. Émile Gallé opened a small woodworker's shop in 1885, where he began experimenting with marquetry in furniture and naturalistic glass designs. In 1889, he displayed his new glass creations at the Paris International Exhibition, where the designs and colors not previously seen caused an immediate sensation. The new style of Art Nouveau had begun to appear, and the movement's aesthetics and devotion to nature appealed greatly to the young Gallé. In 1894 Gallé built a manufacturing plant in Nancy and began creating his own designs from inception through production. Gallé personally developed many of the designs, and he was known to actively make alterations and approve the designs of his talented team of designers and craftsmen he employed at the "Cristallerie D'Emile Gallé." Signed "Gallé" on shade and base Circa 1920 Literature: A. Duncan, G. de Bartha, Glass by Gallé, London, 1984, p. 170, pl. 245 for another lamp of this model A. Duncan, G. de Bartha, Gallé Lamps...

Incredible hand-painted scenes inspired by Rococo master Antoine Watteau cover this magnificent Meissen porcelain box. Displaying romantic courts...

This Tiffany Studios geometric leaded glass and bronze table lamp features the iconic Lotus Pagoda shade and its complementary original bronze base. The elegant form of the lotus-inspired shade combines with the beautiful green gradient of the glass tiles to display the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation of Tiffany Studios. This statuesque lamp shows off the Tiffany hallmarks of nature-inspired aesthetics alongside a beautifully unified artistic form. While many Tiffany shades...

Seven resplendent Sèvres porcelain plaques surround this magnificent doré bronze box. The bright floral motif on the plaques perfectly matches the intr...

This exquisite Meiji-period lacquer document box known as a ryoshibako showcases the meticulous artistry of maki-e, a technique of raised lacquer decoration. Adorned with gold and vi...

Crafted entirely with an exceptionally detailed enamel technique known as pliqué-à-jour, this French box is a luxurious objet d'art. Exhibiting a subtle translucence like that of sta...

This important German porcelain box exhibits delightful artistry and craftsmanship. Its hand-painted wild game scene celebrates the natural world,...

This Pagoda Cameo glass lamp is a highly rare and coveted example of Émile Gallé's mastery of glassmaking. Layers of vibrant color, from golden yellows to mauve, radiate from a backg...

This Roman Empire mosaic table is an iconic example of Classical history, featuring a 3rd-century mosaic of a Roman Charioteer. More than mer...

This stately pair of William IV Terrestrial and Celestial Globes was crafted by the esteemed mapmaking firm J. & W. Cary, exuding the essence of late Regency-era elegance. Beyond the...

Abstracted foliate motifs swirl atop each other to form this Lalique vase in the Charmilles motif, first designed by René Lalique on October 8, 1926. Inspired by bowers under greener...

This Russian Imperial Neoclassical Kalgan Jasper Tazza, measuring nearly 2 feet tall and dated 1888, hails from the esteemed Imperial Lapidary Manufact...

Impressive in size and dazzling in artistry, this rare Le Verre Français vase features Schneider Glassworks’ signature Art Deco Chardons design....

This exceptional blue and white jasperware plaque by Wedgwood & Bentley depicts Genevan writer, philosopher and composer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Some of Wedgwood's most meticulous wor...

This incredibly rare footed rose bowl by J. Hoare & Co. is hand-crafted in the highly sought-after Wedding Ring pattern. This coveted American Brilliant Period cut glass pattern...

This 18th-century English snuff box is composed of a beautiful dark hardstone body encased in gold casework mounts. The box opens with a hinged lid, allowing snuff stored inside to b...

This exceptional objet d'art is modeled after a cannon from the siege of Mafeking, a 217-day conflict in South Africa during the Second Boer War. It is composed of silverplate over c...

Exceptional in both size and artistry, this sand-polished cameo art glass vase from the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé features an exceedingly rare alpine scene. The artist's l...

Exceptional in both size and artistry, this sand-polished cameo art glass vase is the work of the famed Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, one of the most highly regarded names in Frenc...

This marble fountain sculpture in the style of Tulio Lombardo embodies the glory of Renaissance sculpture. Reminiscent of classical portrait busts, a bearded man's face serves as the...

This Meiji-period lacquer tray represents the mastery of Japanese craftsmen in the art of lacquer work. Precious materials are precisely inlaid in the lacquer base, creating a highly...

This exceptionally rare American Brilliant Period cut glass bowl by T.G. Hawkes & Co. features the intricate Pueblo pattern. Also known as Concentric Circles, this motif is one of th...

This extremely rare, early Swiss automaton singing bird box by the famed Charles Bruguier is housed in a case enveloped in luxurious tortoiseshell. Ev...