Newsletter Galerie Kraemer
| | Jackie Kennedy, Irène Roosevelt, Dorothy Cherry, Jayne Wrightsman, Marjorie Merriweather Post… The great American women collectors who also shaped the history of Galerie Kraemer.
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Collectors, patrons, prominent figures, or simply passionate admirers of the decorative arts, they all shared the same conviction: that the finest eighteenth-century French furniture is far more than a collection of objects; it embodies a true art de vivre.
These influential women shared one defining quality: exceptional taste. They understood that just a few outstanding works of art could transform an interior. And, more often than not, they succeeded in inspiring their husbands to share that vision.
For over 150 years, Galerie Kraemer has had the privilege of welcoming some of the world's most distinguished women collectors, whose passion and discerning eye have helped French eighteenth-century furniture shine far beyond France's borders. Here are a few of their stories.
| | Long after leaving the White House, Jackie Kennedy continued to visit Galerie Kraemer. Fluent in French, she would privately stop by with her companion, Maurice Tempelsman, to acquire exceptional pieces of furniture.
Always gracious, remarkably modest and unfailingly kind, she remained one of the Gallery's loyal visitors for many years.
What captivated her about eighteenth-century French furniture extended far beyond the excellence of its craftsmanship or the prestige of its provenance.
This Art de vivre, as a rich cultural heritage and a timeless elegance that transcends the centuries.
Her passion for the French decorative arts naturally brought her close to Jayne Wrightsman, with whom she shared a deep admiration for the great French cabinetmakers and craftsmen of the eighteenth century.
| | Pair of Régence Chairs Acquired by Jackie Kennedy | |
She would wander through Galerie Kraemer, most often without looking for anything in particular, She almost always had a soft spot for an exceptional piece, and left with it.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest collectors of eighteenth-century French decorative arts, Jayne Wrightsman devoted much of her life to assembling a collection of masterpieces that has become an international benchmark. In recognition of her extraordinary contribution, the renowned galleries dedicated to French decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art now bear her name: The Wrightsman Galleries.
Among the many pieces she acquired from Galerie Kraemer over the years are these rare pair of Louis XVI chairs stamped by Georges Jacob, which she later generously donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
| | Two Georges Jacob chairs in the fashionable Chinese taste of the Louis XVI period, arranged around a roll-top desk in Jayne Wrightsman's New York apartment. | | Great American collectors and discerning patrons, Dorothy and Wendell Cherry created an interior where masterpieces of modern art existed in perfect harmony with the finest examples of eighteenth-century French furniture.
In their Manhattan residence, several pieces acquired from Galerie Kraemer shared the space with Gustav Klimt's celebrated Lady with a Fan (1917–1918). Following Wendell Cherry’s death, Dorothy kept the painting until its sale in 1996, when it became the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in Europe.
Here, eighteenth-century French furniture is far more than a historical backdrop. It plays an essential role in the balance, warmth and timeless elegance of one of the finest American interiors of the twentieth century.
| | Living room of Wendell and Dorothy Cherry. Photograph by Peter Vitale for Architectural Digest (AD US). | | Irène Roosevelt belonged to a generation of smart women collectors whose discerning taste helped shape some of New York's most remarkable interiors.
The Roosevelts turned their New York apartment into a gathering place for diplomats, artists, collectors and leading American public figures. French decorative arts naturally formed an integral part of this cosmopolitan world.
Among these treasures were several pieces acquired from Galerie Kraemer on Rue de Monceau, reflecting the confidence she placed in our Gallery over many years as she built one of Fifth Avenue's finest French decorative arts collections.
| | The living rooms of Irene Roosevelt Aitken’s Fifth Avenue apartment. | | Marjorie Merriweather Post
| | A distinguished client of Galerie Kraemer, Marjorie Merriweather Post was among the greatest American collectors of eighteenth-century French furniture. Today, her estate at Hillwood, in Washington, D.C., houses one of the world's most important collections of French decorative arts outside France.
She was known to have a piece of furniture moved several times in a single day until it found its perfect place. For her, the harmony of an interior was merely as important as the quality of the works themselves.
Her approach reflected the conviction shared by the finest collectors and decorators alike: exceptional eighteenth-century French furniture is not simply admired, it is lived with, and it gives a home its soul.
| | Marjorie Merriweather Post | | These remarkable women also shared the same ideal of elegance.
Many dressed in creations by Givenchy, Dior, Balenciaga or Chanel. The same discerning eye that led them to the greatest couturiers naturally guided them towards the finest masterpieces of eighteenth-century French furniture.
The world's leading interior designers continue to embrace this vision. Like these great women of taste, they understand that only a few exceptional pieces are needed to bring soul, character and timeless elegance to the finest contemporary interiors.
The eighteenth century continues to inspire the most beautiful interiors of today.
Since 1875, Galerie Kraemer has shared its passion for beauty and rarity with collectors around the world.
| | Since 1875,
Kraemer has shared its passion
for beauty and rarity with collectors around the world.
Visit our private mansion and let yourself be guided by the Kraemer spirit.
Open to all, the gallery at 43 rue de Monceau
unfolds through a series of salons where a family’s passion
for Art is shared with every visitor.
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