In 1872, the young Lucien Kraemer left Alsace after the Prussian invasion, and chose to remain French.
He then followed his brother Eugène Kraemer, Charles Stein’s son-in-law, who worked as an antique dealer and art advisor for the Rothschild family in France.
It was first located rue de Penthièvre. In 1880, the Gallery moved to the house at the corner of Place de la Madeleine and rue Tronchet. In Paris, the Kraemer name quickly became prestigious: the Gallery developed a close relationship with the most famous collectors in Europe.
This prestigious building is located a few feet away from the Camondo family’s townhouse. They were the Kraemers’ clients and close friends.
During the interwar period, under Raymond’s expert eye, the Gallery became a true institution in the realm of antique art, until the Second World War started.
After the war, Raymond and his young son Philippe decided to forge ahead and resumed work at the Gallery in 1945. Little by little, they rebuilt the Gallery together, and promised that:
« Even if each room contains no more than one or two furniture pieces, they will all be outstanding ».
Raymond Kraemer
After two decades, the Gallery became popular again on the 18th-century art and furniture market – by then, their collection had become one of the largest choice of museum quality pieces in the world.
Circa 1970, Philippe’s sons, Olivier and Laurent joined the Gallery. They stayed true to its very high standards and helped expand the Gallery.
Sandra (Laurent’s daughter), Mikael and Alain (Olivier’s sons) are committed to taking the Gallery down the path to modernity.
The townhouse now features modern and contemporary works of art that sit next to the antique furniture.
The salons, which are located at 43 rue de Monceau, host creative exhibitions in collaboration with the most prominent specialists in contemporary art.
The newest Kraemer generation is elaborating on this concept in museums and in public spaces in France and abroad, especially in Asia and in the United States, with the help of loans and exhibitions.
