About us
Growing up in La Jolla California, the son of a world-renowned chemist Dr Richard Lerner the former President of the Scripps Research, my family had a direct correlation with Jonas Salk and his wife Francoise Gilot who lived with Picasso for over 13 years. Francoise lived in la Jolla for 25 years and my mom was the 1st one to catalogue her archive, as I grew up with this art my mentors were leading San Francisco antique dealers in classical furniture who introduced me to the Hearst Docents /1st tour guide of the castle in the early 1960s.
All the major “Manors” and Grand Estates of the early 20c. to the 18c. always had the “mix” of French, Italian English elaborated with fine Chinese Antiques such as early Chinese porcelain, bronze Buddhas, Chinese furniture, and ‘highlighted’ Buddhist pieces.
With ‘‘Classical Furniture” and modern art in the mid-2000s, I further started my education on Chinese antiques; I was the only dealer in Chinese antique broker on the West Coast who participated for nine years bi-annually in question and answered symposiums as well as auctions in London, Paris, New York, and Hong Kong.
Thus attending lectures on Chinese art at the British Museum, the Victoria Albert, the Royal academy S.O.A.S (School of Asian studies London) Tibet house NY China Inst NY, The Met Gala for Asia week the Met lectures, The met exhibitions on Chinese art and The Rubin Museum for Tibetan Kunst Museum Berlin.

About Arik Lerner
Arik was taught Classical Design at an early age with his mentor working for the top galleries in San Francisco.
My mentor worked for Gerald Silvar whom had 2 of the leading galleries in the 70s
He also worked for William Silva who had the top gallery in SF in the 70s ( his partner was Edie Fisher) they had a house in Tiburon with life size Roman Antiquities over looking the bay bridge.
They would shuttle their clients from Tiburon on their Yacht to their gallery in San Francisco.
When Mr Silva died he decorated the entire 7th floor of the SF Hospital with 17c Flemish tapestry’s .
My Mom worked for the CIA in the 90s under Reagan and worked in Rome at the US Embassy( Americas most beautiful Embassy)
The US embassy once belonged to the Queen of Italy and featured Massive halls with Roman 2nd AD marble busts of all the Roman Emperors flanked on both sides for 60 heads with Marble walls with Mussolini Facism unscripted throughout.
Thus giving Arik his first flare with Neo-Classical antiques.
Opening up his first gallery at 27 in La Jolla in a Historic Edwardian Hotel in La Jolla Rue Michelle had 9 windows on Prospect
Street.
The gallery was all 18-19c Classical Furniture with Francoise Gilot art and Louis Vuitton 19c luggage .
The gallery was mixing Antique with Modern Art in 1994-1998

What Rue Michelle offers
Here at Rue Michelle, we provide complete transparency between the buyer and seller and our experts physically check the quality, durability, and originality of the antiques. We believe in preserving the culture of art along with the antiques and design we offer. Asian and European buyers will appreciate what Rue Michelle and the associate provider provide, it makes a difference. We invite you to step into our world and share our passion and commitment by embracing the timeless beauty of fine antiques as your own.
What Rue Michelle offers
Welcome to Rue Michelle where you will find from 17th century,18th century, 19th century, French, Italian, and English antiques, as well as decorative arts.
Welcome to Rue Michelle where you will find from 17th century,18th century, 19th century, French, Italian, and English antiques, as well as decorative arts.