Waldhorn & Adler
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As one of the oldest antique stores in the South, Waldhorn & Adler has served many generations of the famous, interesting, elegant and even infamous. The early antiques in the store were advertised as, “Treasures from Old Creole Families,” which they were. Antebellum life in New Orleans had been very elaborate, and the old French families had beautiful furnishings and jewelry that they began to sell after the Civil War. These items were abundant at the Waldhorn store.

The famous poet Eugene Field was a friend and customer of Moise Waldhorn. After buying some decorative items early one morning, Field wrote a humorously regretful poem about spending twenty dollars (a large amount at that time) before nine A.M.

Mr. Waldhorn began to travel outside of Louisiana to acquire the special items for which the store had been long renowned. Besides numerous buying trips to Europe, a tradition which continues today, the founder went to Mexico near the turn of the century to purchase some French pieces which had been brought there earlier by the Emperor Maximillian and his wife, Carlotta.

As for the infamous, Josie Arlington, the Storeyville Madam, arrived every December to buy gold rings, lockets and bracelets for the women who worked for her. Old sales records still exist showing each individual item she purchased.

In recent years, the late CBS reporter Charles Kurault wrote a book about his travels and mentioned the old desk, chair and other furniture he purchased at Waldhorn's for his imminent retirement, upon which he would finally have a permanent office.

Many families in New Orleans and other parts of the country have shopped at Waldhorn & Adler for generations. Adults who visited the store as children later returned to purchase jewelry and furniture.

Waldhorn & Adler specializes in fine 18^th and 19^th Century furniture and antique and estate jewelry, all shown in a beautifully restored building built in 1800 by Edgar Degas' great-grandfather, New Orleanian Vincent Rillieux.

You can find exquisite platinum and diamond engagement rings from the Edwardian and Art Deco periods, featuring cushion cut and European cut diamonds. The galleries are filled with a constantly changing array of enfilades, dining and farm tables, chairs and mirrors. Period accessories provide decorative accents. For those who love Georgian furniture, the English mahogany linen presses, secretaries, chests of drawers, dining tables and sets of chairs will be right for the traditional home.

Waldhorn & Adler is also unusual as it is the only store in the French Quarter to be authorized dealers for most leading Swiss watch brands. You will find an extensive selection of new steel, gold and diamond watches for both ladies and gentlemen.