Frequently Asked Questions

Founded in 1912, M.S. Rau is one of North America's premier fine art, antiques and jewelry galleries. Based in New Orleans, the gallery acquires exceptional works from around the world and places them in distinguished private collections, museums and institutions.

Every object offered by M.S. Rau undergoes extensive research and evaluation by specialists in their respective fields. The gallery carefully examines authenticity, provenance and condition before offering an item for sale and stands behind the objects it sells.

M.S. Rau offers museum-quality fine art, antiques, rare objects and high jewelry spanning a wide range of periods and collecting categories. The gallery's collection includes paintings, sculpture, furniture, decorative arts, silver, watches, gemstones and important jewelry, among many others.

The best way to stay informed is to join the M.S. Rau email list. Subscribers receive updates on new acquisitions, exhibitions, gallery events and other highlights throughout the year. You can sign up from the footer of any page on our website.

M.S. Rau conducts business exclusively through rauantiques.com and msrau.com. If you encounter any other website claiming to represent M.S. Rau, it is not affiliated with our gallery. We recommend leaving the site immediately and reporting it to info@rauantiques.com so our team can investigate.

Career opportunities at M.S. Rau are listed on our official Careers page, which can be accessed from the footer of any page on rauantiques.com or msrau.com. We recommend applying only through positions posted on our official website and exercising caution with any job listing that does not appear on our Careers page.

M.S. Rau specializes in original fine art by many of history's most celebrated artists. Our collection includes museum-quality paintings, sculptures and works on paper by masters such as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh, as well as works distinguished by exceptional provenance, historical importance or a combination of both.

M.S. Rau specializes in extraordinary fine jewelry featuring one-of-a-kind gemstones, exceptional craftsmanship and remarkable rarity. Our collection includes important creations by renowned makers and designers, as well as historically significant jewels with exceptional provenance, including pieces from royal and distinguished private collections.

M.S. Rau offers an exceptional selection of rare antiques including clocks, canes, silver, porcelain, glass, artifacts and objects of art. Our collection features works by renowned makers such as Thomas Chippendale, Hester Bateman, Baccarat, Émile Gallé and Tiffany Studios, with a focus on extraordinary craftsmanship, historical importance and exceptional provenance. These are museum-quality works that represent the finest achievements of their makers and eras.

M.S. Rau has spent more than a century acquiring and selling works by many of history's most celebrated artists, designers and master craftsmen.

Fine Art: Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Rembrandt van Rijn, John Singer Sargent and many others.

Jewelry: Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Oscar Heyman, Raymond Yard, David Webb, Seaman Schepps, Henry Dunay, Fabergé and many others.

Antiques & Decorative Arts: Thomas Chippendale, Hester Bateman, Paul Storr, Paul de Lamerie, Baccarat, Émile Gallé, Tiffany Studios, René Lalique, Meissen, Sèvres, Wedgwood, Christofle, Daum Nancy, Paul Revere and many others.

No appointment is required to visit M.S. Rau. Visitors are welcome during regular gallery hours at both the New Orleans and Aspen locations.

M.S. Rau currently operates galleries in New Orleans, Louisiana and Aspen, Colorado. For current addresses, hours and contact information, please visit the About Us page.

Gallery hours vary by location. Please visit the About Us page for the most up-to-date hours for the New Orleans and Aspen galleries.

No. Admission is complimentary. Visitors are welcome to explore the galleries and enjoy the collections during regular business hours.

For more than a century, M.S. Rau has built a team of specialists dedicated to researching, evaluating and acquiring exceptional works of art, antiques and jewelry. Our experts include certified gemologists, experienced specialists and a dedicated research department supported by an extensive on-site reference library.

When appropriate, our team also works with a trusted network of leading scholars, museums, conservators and independent experts to further research and understand the history, authenticity and significance of individual pieces. This collaborative approach allows every acquisition to benefit from both in-house expertise and specialized knowledge from authorities in their respective fields.

Yes. For more than a century, M.S. Rau has partnered with museums, historical societies, libraries and other nonprofit institutions to acquire and place important works of fine and decorative art. The gallery's experienced sales, research and marketing teams assist organizations of all sizes with acquisitions, de-accessioning and other collection-related services.

Every item offered by M.S. Rau is thoroughly researched by an in-house team of specialists. Supported by an extensive on-site research library, more than a century of institutional knowledge and a global network of scholars and experts, the team carefully evaluates each object's authenticity, provenance, historical significance and condition before it is offered for sale.

Every M.S. Rau client is paired with a dedicated sales consultant who serves as their primary point of contact and trusted specialist. Your consultant will take the time to understand your collecting interests, guide you through acquisitions across our fine art, antiques and jewelry collections and provide personalized recommendations as your collection evolves. Whether you are purchasing your first piece or expanding an established collection, your consultant is there to make the process informed, seamless and enjoyable.

You may pay for your online acquisitions in several ways.

Credit Card: M.S. Rau accepts all major credit cards including VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club and others. See Secure Online Ordering for information on credit card protection for Web transactions.

Cryptocurrency: M.S. Rau currently accepts the following cryptocurrencies through BitPay: BitCoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Polygon. You can learn more about paying with cryptocurrency by clicking here.

Bank Wire Transfer: Your M.S. Rau sales consultant can help you with arrangements to pay for your order with a bank transfer.

Credit Card Hold: We can hold your purchase with a credit card deposit until the balance is paid by check or credit card. You must make arrangements with your sales consultant.

Check/Money Order: All orders paid for by check will be held until the check clears your bank. Please make checks and money orders payable to M.S. Rau. Be sure to write your order number on your check. Send checks to:

M.S. Rau
622 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
USA

Yes! M.S. Rau currently accepts the following cryptocurrencies through BitPay:

• BitCoin (BTC— on chain and Lightning)
• BitCoin Case (BCH)
• Litecoin (LTC)
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum tokens (including stablecoins)
• Ripple (XRP)
• POLYGON (POL—formerly MATIC) and and Polygon tokens (including stablecoins)
  

For additional information and assistance with completing an acquisition using a cryptocurrency, please contact us at 800-544-9440 or learn more by clicking here.

Once you have placed your order online or by fax M.S. Rau confirms your order and you will receive an e-mail confirmation by the next business day. If the item can be sent to you by UPS, it will be processed and shipped out within 3 business days (usually the next business day) of payment confirmation. You will receive a printed invoice by mail (or by fax if you prefer). If the item is too large to ship via UPS and requires shipment by private carrier, or if you need to make special shipping arrangements, your sales consultant will contact you. You can also choose to place your order over the telephone.

After you have placed your order, you will see a final receipt with all of the information concerning your purchase. You should print this page for your files. You will also receive an e-mail confirmation of your order within one business day. If you place your order via fax or over the phone, you will receive an e-mail confirmation and a final receipt with all of your purchase information. You may print this out for your records. A copy of your invoice will arrive with your item by mail (or by fax if you prefer).

We have made every effort to include the shipping cost for each item listed in our online catalog. The shipping cost for many pieces, however, varies depending on its final destination. Those items are marked "pending" under shipping cost and can be determined once we know where you would like the item delivered. Your sales consultant will contact you within one business day to confirm the shipping quote and then charge your credit card for the purchase. Your credit card will not be charged until we receive approval on the shipping cost from you. All shipping costs are based on delivery within the continental United States. Foreign shipping costs must be determined on an individual basis.

Items that can be shipped via standard, insured UPS will be sent within three working days (usually the next business day) of payment confirmation. These deliveries usually take 3-7 business days to arrive. If you would like to have your item shipped using an express service, please contact M.S. Rau to make special arrangements.

No. M.S. Rau is a gallery, not an auction house, so every item in our collection is available for direct purchase. You can explore our inventory online or in gallery and purchase exceptional fine art, antiques and jewelry without participating in an auction or placing competing bids.

While we have made every effort to prevent this from happening, the rare occasion may arise when you place an order for an item that has been sold. In this unlikely event, we will contact you by e-mail within one business day and your credit card will not be charged.

One of the best ways to add the finest items to your collection is to have access to them before anyone else does. By creating and account with M.S. Rau and completing your Collectors Profile, we can give you that advantage...and the service is FREE and confidential. Once you have joined, we will send you updates about newly acquired pieces, and particularly pieces that interest you. 

M.S. Rau has been shipping items around the world for more than 80 years safely and expeditiously. While almost all of our items arrive without a problem to their final destination, we have prepared for the unlikely event that a piece is damaged in shipment. Every piece that is shipped is fully insured. If your item arrives damaged from UPS, please DO NOT throw away the box and packing materials. Contact your local UPS office and M.S. Rau as soon as possible. A UPS claims agent will come out to inspect the damage. They will contact us and together we will decide the best way to proceed. If your piece arrives by private carrier, it is ESSENTIAL that you carefully inspect the piece upon arrival. The driver will ask you to sign that you have approved and accepted the item. Once you have signed for the shipment, the insurance coverage is legally terminated. That's why it is very important that you inspect your items. If something is damaged, please contact M.S. Rau as soon as possible and we will work with the shipper. If your item is damaged you will have the option of receiving a full refund, having the piece repaired at no cost to you or exchanging the item for something else in our store. The choice is yours. Regarding the few reproduction pieces offered by M.S. Rau, including outdoor ironwork, chandeliers or lanterns, if your item arrives damaged, we will replace it at no extra charge to you.

You can check on your order by calling your sales consultant directly.

M.S. Rau strives to offer museum-quality works of fine art and antiques. Our antiques and works of art demonstrate exceptional quality and condition, and often have a noted maker or possess an important provenance. If you have a rare or important item that you would like to offer to our gallery, please click here and review our process before contacting us.  

Please note, regardless of the type of item that you would like to offer us, we only consider items offered with an asking price.  

Unfortunately, M.S. Rau is not able to offer opinions of value. If you would like to have your items appraised, we encourage you to find an accredited appraiser in your area through the American Society of Appraisers at www.appraisers.org. Or, contact your local Chamber of Commerce for a referral.

Given our broad inventory, M.S. Rau is only able to research the items within our collection. To learn more about your item, we recommend hiring an appraiser to research it. An appraiser will inform you about your item and its value.