Paris, 14 September 2011, Art Media Agency (AMA).
Yesterday, Frédéric Mitterrand, Minister of Culture and Communication, rewarded Laurent Kraemer with the medal of Officer in the National Order of Merit.
In his speech, Mitterrand underlined the mythical status of the name Kraemer in the antiques profession. Founded in 1870, Maison Kraemer has decorated museums and private collections throughout the world with 18th century furniture: the Louvre, Chateau de Versailles, the Met in New York, the White House, the Getty Museum… the list goes on.
Maison Kraemer was created following Lucien Kraemer’s departure from Alsace during Prussian occupation, with its first shop opening on rue de Pentièvres in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. Towards 1880, the Kraemers moved location to rue Tronchet, on the corner of place de la Madeleine. At the time, its famous clients included, among others, the Rothschilds, the Camondos and Count Boni de Castellane. In 1928, Lucien and his son Raymond purchased a town house at 43 rue de Monceau, just a few feets from their friends and clients the Camondo family.
Following on from the end of the war in 1945 and having requisitioned the furniture of the town house, Raymond Kraemer and his son Philippe rekindled step by step the activity, swearing that: “Even if the were only one of two items on sale, they would be exceptional and high quality pieces.” After twenty years of hard work, Maison Kraemer regained its place as leader of the 18th century antiques market. Towards 1970, Raymond’s three sons — Philippe, Olivier and Laurent — took charge and oversaw the extension of the establishment’s gallery. As of 2000, Olivier’s son, Mikaël, and Laurent’s daughter, Sandra, became the family’s fifth generation of antique dealers.