M.S. Rau — Attraction in New Orleans

Our visit to M.S. Rau was one of the most surprising and fascinating highlights of our trip to New Orleans! So much more than an antique store, M.S. Rau is a must-see destination in the French Quarter. Its historic location on Royal Street disguises a spacious interior filled with the most amazing collection of art, furniture, fine ceramics, and dazzling jewels I have ever seen. Every salesperson we met was knowledgeable and friendly, and all seemed very happy to show us around and share their knowledge about the items on display. We were not buyers, just browsers, and that didn't seem to bother them at all. My biggest concern was that my teenage son would find it boring, but it turned out the opposite was true. He was captivated by the artwork (including works by Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Chagal, and Renoir), as well as the collection of antique canes (including one that included a hidden revolver for self defense), and the furniture such as Napoleon's desk...he took more pictures than I could count! His only complaint was that we only had 2 hours to look around. He wanted more time! We all agreed to return again the next time we come to New Orleans. Highly recommend for teens and above as there are many treasures in the store that little hands might knock over. I must give a shout out to the young man who showed us many of the pieces of their fine jewelry collection. He was very knowledgeable as he filled us in on the history of each piece, including a 2,000 year old Roman ring and jewels once owned by Elizabeth Taylor. So much to see and learn! We loved our time here, and there is no cost at all to...

To anyone who hesitates to set foot here because they can't afford it, I invite you to view the gallery as a museum to be admired. Please go inside, it is absolutely worth it, and the staff will be unfailingly polite and helpful regardless of whether you have any intention of buying things.

The gallery is a three-floor collection of high-end jewelry, decorative arts, paintings, statuary, and impressive furniture. Whether you would like to look at glittering gems, a desk full of secret cubbies, colorful glass, or the room full of walking canes, there is something there to delight almost anyone. Even better, they have a small gallery on a separate section of the second floor with rotating exhibits, currently occupied with a truly impressive number of pieces by Erte.

The cool rooms are a quiet oasis in the midst of the bustle that is royal street, and you feel rather as though you have stepped into a different world while you wander through the displays. As it is in fact a place one can purchase these beautiful artifacts, there are prices, but they are a subtle addition to the cards accompanying each piece. It is easy to admire terracotta camels, silver repousse, and Picassos without feeling any sort of weight or pressure of expectation. So go, gawk at aquamarines the size of quail eggs, gleaming skeleton clocks, and wall-sized paintings of dancing princesses (One of my favorite fairy tales as a child) and carry home memories of the beautiful things human hands can make. And if you do acquire something? Know it is...

There are antique shops and then there is M.S. Rau. Unlike the many kitschy antique shops scattered about New Orleans, Rau is more like the child of the Louvre Museum and Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory. The third and soon to be fourth generation family business has on display a player piano that also contains a set of three (player?) violins, a real bear skeleton from the ice age, and currently the only Van Gogh for sale in the world. If you are lucky enough, Coles will give you a tour of the "secret" back area with three floors filled with the most prized pieces in the store which can only be accessed through a hidden door. Despite walking in off the street wearing sandals, shorts, and carrying a plastic bag full of Cajun Seafood leftovers, Coles gave us an amazing tour for about half an hour showing us all the most interesting items and sharing their stories. It was easy to forget that everything is actually for sale from the $800,000 gold encrusted Steinway piano we played to the $10,000,000 Magritte painting in the back. Don't let the name fool you, this is an experience closer to a private museum tour where you can touch the artwork and is entirely free of charge, unless of course you are interested...