About Us

Visiting our showroom and workshops on the Upper East Side of New York is like traveling back in time through a colorful 100-year history that has established Lowy as America's preeminent framing and art conservation company. Our skilled conservators, carvers and gilders work in the ambience of an Old World European atelier, with the same passion, dedication and uncompromising standards as their forbears.

Our tradition of excellence began in 1907, when founder Julius Lowy opened a small shop at the corner of 56th Street and Sixth Avenue in New York City. Local art galleries, museums and prominent collectors were among Lowy's first clients. As the years passed and its reputation grew, Lowy expanded its fine arts services. In the mid-1930s, when my father, Hillard Shar, and John Sisto joined the firm, Lowy continued to expand and flourish. At a young age I was introduced to the workshops at Lowy and learned gilding, burnishing, finishing, and the cleaning and restoration of paintings under the tutelage of my father and John Sisto. With the aroma of varnishes and solvents ingrained faintly in my senses, I joined the firm full time in 1970. It became my goal to find Lowy a permanent home which lead to our present location at 223 E. 80th Street.

As current president of Lowy and the second of three generations of Shars who have worked here, I have had the distinct pleasure and advantage of learning from both what was and what is yet to come. It is an envious position to have learned old-world techniques and philosophies from my father and to be utilizing and learning new technological and progressive techniques from my son, Brad, our vice president and general manager. The amalgamation of the old and new, along with Lowy's ability to provide exceptional products and services to the fine arts community, is what keeps us at the top of our game and the leader of our industry. We look forward to serving you!

Sincerely,
Larry Shar

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Further Reading

» How should artwork be cared for in the home?

» Should I be concerned about the humidity level in my home?