Founded in 1912, M.S. Rau stands as one of North America’s most respected fine art, antiques and jewelry galleries. The 40,000-square-foot gallery features carefully selected works from a diverse array of artists and makers who have defined the fine and decorative arts over the centuries. These museum-quality offerings are bolstered by Rau’s team of experts, who ensure that each piece is thoroughly vetted for quality and authenticity. Furthermore, the jewelry boutique at M.S. Rau continues in the gallery’s century-long tradition of offering only the best in its category with a collection that includes high jewelry and one-of-a-kind gemstones. A commitment to quality, historic value and beauty underpins each of the gallery’s acquisitions; it is a commitment that allows Rau to present only the most exceptional in fine art, antiques and jewels.
My grandfather came over in 1908 from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and he arrived
in America with $12 in his pocket.
He had an uncle in New Orleans, and his uncle sponsored him, and his uncle asked him to
come work for him.
He worked for his uncle for about two and a half years.
He saved $500, and with that $500, he put $250 in the bank in case MS Rao happened not to
work out financially.
And invested $250 to start our business.
My grandfather opened our gallery one block down from where we are today in the 700 Block
of Boyle, and we moved to the 600 Block in our present building in 1931.
World Street is the only one of these remaining streets that's still very active in the business,
and it's still the center of the RUT trade.
My grandfather, from what I understand, was an extraordinarily hard worker.
If he saw that there was 50 cents to be made or a dollar to be made, he would work really
hard to earn that money because he knew that was important to the growth of the business.
My grandmother's place in the gallery was in the front of the store, and she sat in
the captain's chair and bossed everybody around.
People came in.
She was sort of like the commander of organizing trips.
You go here, you go there.
I started working in the gallery when I was 14.
My grandmother, my father, and my uncle and myself all worked together.
It always created an interesting family dynamic to have three generations under one roof working
together.
My grandfather, who passed away in his mid-80s, worked until two days before he died.
My grandmother, who lived to be 20 days shy of 100, worked until she was 99 and a half
years old.
My uncle worked until he was 85, and my father worked full-time until Katrina came, and then
he unfortunately lost his home and had to move to California, but he would still call
every single day, and when he was in town, come to work.
So I learned that you're expected to work, you're expected to work hard, and it's something
that was definitely ingrained into me and is unequivocally part of who I am.
