Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Steyaert.
Hi Claire, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I studied Art History at the University of Leuven, Belgium where I met my future husband. First living in Ann Arbor MI , we moved to Minneapolis MN in the early 70s and I began helping his research thru photography and cataloging of late medieval/early northern renaissance art. Shortly thereafter I began retail, admin and appraisal work at Clair Rathbun Studio, which was one of the first in quality consignments at the time. Funny to think that today this is commonplace, but then it was just beginning, also the collectibilty of certain obscure items were becoming sought after – so there was a bit of a “craze” starting, but still a lot of research to be done there. For instance we dealt with entire estates, such as the Danish Count Von Bülow, who lived lakeside in Minneapolis.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It wouldn’t be fun if it were all smooth and there were no challenges! Through years of working, buildings get bought and sold, styles change, what’s collectible and of value changes, shops change locations … and along with it all of inventories – these sometimes feel like setbacks but I continued to forge ahead and finally open my own antique and appraisel business which I continue today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
A focus of my business early on that I continue to this day was in the collections of fine art by American painters and specifically Minnesota artists, such as Clem Haupers, who was not just a WPA administrator in the state but an artist himself, having studied in 1920s Paris with Picasso and Matisse. Also the works of Clara Mairs and Frances Greenman, to name a few. As the 80s turned into the 90s, modernism took on a new importance thru the influence of these women artists.
Early on, I curated and staged my shop with an interior designers eye for the home, so that my customers could immediately feel what it would be like to live with some of these otherwise, museum quality objects.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
As a child during summer vacations, my family would travel all over France,through W Germany to Cologne, Frankfurt, we spent o lot of time in Vienna Austria. My parents would take us to museums, we would stay in the homes of their friends who lived inn beautiful homes with 18th century interiors classic to Europe. These are happy memories and still provide endless inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clairesantiques.com/
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/clairesteyaertantiques
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clairesteyaertantiques/
