43 rue de monceau, Paris 8e

150 years is a major milestone in the history of a family business.

The Kraemer Gallery was established in 1875 by our great-great-grandparents, dedicated to the excellence of 18th-century furniture from the very outset.

 

It is now the oldest art gallery specializing in this field.

AN EXCEPTIONAL LEGACY

 

What a journey it has been since its inception!

 

Sometime in 1870, our great-great-grandparents left the Alsace region in order to remain French after the Prussians took control. They established the Gallery in Paris in 1875, specializing in 18th-century furniture.

 

At that time, furniture that had belonged to Marie-Antoinette was not even 100 years old.

 

For these 150 years of family history, a few memories and anecdotes come to mind…

Raymond Kraemer and some of his family in 1937

The move to Paris by Lucien (1855-1937) and his wife was a crucial turning point. Even before 1900, the most prominent collectors, such as the Rothschild family, were already clients, who shared our passion for exceptional works of art.

Lucien experienced the advent of electricity, of the automobile, the eras known as “La Belle Époque” and “The Roaring Twenties,” as well as the transformation of the art market, with Paris as its capital.

 

When Lucien Kraemer arrived in Paris, he had a strong Alsatian accent.

He managed to overcome it while also taking English lessons around the time of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, which impacted France two years later.

 

However, we are unsure as to how he was able to communicate with his American clients before that.

Some of their names still linger in our memories, such as the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts. This being said, we believe that Russian clients, before the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, spoke French.

Raymond Kraemer (1892-1965), the son of Lucien, was a highly respected professional.

He loved writing poems and even advertising slogans, which he notably did in the 1960s for a friend and client, Paul Derval, a great collector, in his marvelous private mansion at the lower end of Avenue Foch. Paul Derval was also a well-known figure as the owner of the Folies Bergères, one of the most famous music halls in Paris.

Philippe Kraemer (1928-2011), Raymond’s son, had a sense of humor that was greatly appreciated by his clients.

But above all, he had a remarkable career, praised by Gérard van der Kemp, the iconic curator of the Palace of Versailles. When he awarded Philippe the insignia of Officer of the Legion of Honor, van der Kemp said, “Dear Philippe, you are the pride of our country.” He was referring to Philippe’s many contributions to artistic and cultural patronage, as well as to that part of his life which was dedicated to helping those less fortunate than himself.

A HISTORY SHAPED BY CHALLENGES
AND MARKED BY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS

 

The two World Wars had a major impact on our journey.

 

World War I.

Raymond served in the army for a long time.
He was called to arms in 1912, and demobilized in 1919.

 

During World War II, the family endured not only the looting of their inventory by the Nazis, exile to southern France in the so-called “free zone” in 1940, the Italian occupation from 1942 to 1943, and life in hiding in the Creuse region in 1944, but most tragically, suffered losses within the family.

 

As a result, Raymond Kramer vowed never to worry about trivial matters again.
His wife, Simone, throughout her life, would remind him of this wisdom whenever he strayed from his rule, helping him to put potential worries into perspective.

The revival of the gallery began at the end of 1944.
Thanks to Philippe and his father Raymond, who spent at least fifteen years, up to the early 1960s, restoring the house to its pre-war splendor.

 

Then came Olivier and Laurent who, from a young age, never questioned pursuing our activity, art being their natural inclination. They are now proud of the new, active, and enterprising generation.

Sandra, Mikael, and Alain, who are also passionate about the 18th century and who, for the past decade, have even elevated the walls of the Gallery with modern and contemporary works, beautifully combining them with the greatest achievements of the Age of Enlightenment.

SIX PASSIONATE GENERATIONS

 

For 150 years, six enthusiastic generations have succeeded one another, passing down and enriching this unique heritage.
The Kraemer Gallery today is pursuing this journey, embracing modern and contemporary art while remaining true to its love for the 18th century.

 

With each passing generation, this profession has brought great satisfaction to the family.

 

Such as, obviously, through their welcoming some of the most well-known people on the planet, who often started buying in order to just furnish their homes and who then became passionate collectors.

 

Every day, we are immensely pleased to work with visitors and enthusiasts, for whom acquiring works of art is a great effort.

 

We also enjoy regularly going to visit the craftsmen and restorers who, at the other end of the chain, share the same joy with works of art.

 

The founders of the Gallery, who were already very well-known at the time, would be pleased to see the number of museums that have acquired or received donations of furniture that had passed through the Rue de Monceau.

 

These same great-great-grandparents or grandparents would certainly also be happy to see that, over the generations, we are rediscovering and often repurchasing works of art that they had sold in their time.

SEE YOU SOON AT
43, RUE DE MONCEAU

 

Galerie Kraemer will continue to write its story
of both tradition and modernity,
and is now open every day to share with you
the beauty of rare works of art.

Rachid Johnson (born 1977), Sunshine, 2014.
Georges Jacob, two armchairs, Louis XVI period.

Galerie Kraemer

Depuis 1875,  Kraemer transmet
son goût du beau et du rare à tous les collectionneurs de la planète.

Visitez notre Hôtel Particulier et laissez-vous guider par l’esprit des Kraemer.
 Ouverte à tous, la Galerie du 43 rue de Monceau, se parcourt à travers ses salons dans lesquels la passion de l’Art se partage avec toute une famille.

 
Since 1875, Kraemer has been imparting
its taste for beauty and rarity to collectors all over the planet.
Visit our Private Mansion and let yourself be guided by the spirit of the Kraemer family.
Open to all, the Gallery at 43 rue de Monceau can be explored through their lounges where the passion for Art is shared with an entire family.

43 rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris

+33 (0)1 45 63 24 46 / kraemer@kraemer.fr

www.kraemer.fr