Art as culture and investment: how this gallery promotes and trades in antiques

In this photo essay, we showcase the diverse range of antiques at Montreal’s Petit Musee gallery, and share insights from its director.

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 220 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.

Dan Klein is the owner-director of Petit Musee, an antique gallery and trade hub in Montreal. Art is culture – and good business, as Dan explained, in a chat with YourStory. 

He is a third-generation trader in antiques. “Art is an expression of the soul, and a reflection of society. Art is also the best investment you can make,” Dan says; the antiques in his gallery are priced from $25 all the way up to $1.25 million. “Art invigorates you, it challenges you,” he adds.

Walking through the floors of the gallery is like navigating a time tunnel, with art pieces from around the world and across the ages filling the shelves. “When you see a chair that is over 2,000 years old, it makes you stop and think,” he jokes.

“Success comes from getting more people to appreciate art,” Dan explains. “Business success is not just from money but from the quality of the relationships you develop,” he adds.

“Museums and antique galleries make history come alive, they tell you the story of the culture,” Dan explains. He is a voracious reader, and his gallery has dozens of books from around the world on art history and culture. He also travels extensively for research and to meet antique dealers.

The field is not without its challenges, such as fake art or controversies over antiques from former colonies. However, a number of national laws and international conventions have been ratified to define the terms and conditions for trade in cultural property.

Antiques will always continue to evoke wonder and joy about the rich story of human creativity. “Antiques will survive for hundreds of years and will always be in demand,” Dan signs off.

Now what have you done today to observe and appreciate the value of art and history?

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