Lowy
Lowy is a 117-year-old, family-owned New York fine art services firm providing custom framing from a 5,000-piece antique collection, museum-quality conservation, and art storage and logistics for private collectors, leading auction houses, museums, and galleries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersLong Island City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lowy does
Lowy (legal name Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company) is a privately held, family-controlled fine art services firm founded in 1907 by European immigrant Julius Lowy and operated by the Shar family since the 1956 merger with Shar-Sisto Inc. Headquartered in Long Island City, New York, the company operates with 11–50 employees and generates revenue across four streams: custom framing (including antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames), museum-quality fine art conservation (canvas and works on paper), art storage and logistics (handling, installation, packing, transportation, documentation, and 2D reproduction), and antique frame sales from its 5,000+ piece collection — the largest in the United States, spanning 16th-century Renaissance through 20th-century Arts & Crafts from Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and America.
The underlying technology combines traditional craft techniques (master carving, gilding, Beva linings, solvent cleaning, lining reversals, in-painting, canvas weaving, tissue-linings, de-acidification) with the proprietary LowyScan inventory management system that digitally catalogues the frame collection and enables remote client consultations. Services are delivered on a quote-based, project-fee model with no public pricing; customers engage via the Long Island City showroom, online quote requests, on-site consultations, or presence at art fairs including the Winter Antiques Show and Art Basel Miami. The client roster includes Christie's, Sotheby's, MoMA, The Met, the National Gallery of Art, The Frick Collection, the Chrysler Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, Amon Carter Museum, multiple high-end galleries (Hirschl & Adler, Acquavella, Hollis Taggart, Spanierman, Adelson, D. Wigmore, Jonathan Boos), the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and affluent private collectors globally. Brad Shar (third generation) succeeded his father Larry Shar as president in 2017; under his tenure the company has expanded storage and logistics capabilities.
Lowy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lowy
- Legal name
- Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company
- Website
- https://lowy1907.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lowy is a 117-year-old, family-owned New York fine art services firm providing custom framing from a 5,000-piece antique collection, museum-quality conservation, and art storage and logistics for private collectors, leading auction houses, museums, and galleries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lowy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Art Services (Custom Framing, Conservation, and Art Storage & Logistics)
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (45992), Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212)
- SIC
- Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Art Handling & Transport (HSAKAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Vintage & Antique Furniture Retail (CRAIANAB)
Keywords
Where Lowy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Long Island City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lowy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Custom Framing Services: Custom framing services offering antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames. Services include custom framing, frame catalog sales, frame restoration, and frame reproduction. Revenue is generated through one-time project fees based on frame selection and craftsmanship complexity.
- Fine Art Conservation Services: Museum-quality conservation services for paintings and works on paper including cleaning, structural repairs, varnish application, and preventive conservation. Revenue generated through consultation and treatment fees.
- Art Storage and Logistics: Art handling, storage, installation, packing, transportation, documentation, and 2D art reproduction services. Revenue from logistics and storage service fees.
- Antique Frame Sales: Sale of antique frames from the collection of over 5,000 frames spanning 16th century Renaissance through 20th century Arts & Crafts, sourced from Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, and America.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lowy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lowy provides custom picture framing using antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames; museum-quality fine art conservation for paintings and works on paper; and full-service art storage, handling, transportation, documentation, and 2D reproduction services. The firm leverages the largest antique frame collection in the United States (5,000+ frames) and three generations of Shar family craftsmanship to serve museums, auction houses, galleries, interior designers, and private collectors.
Product overview
Lowy is a fine art services company offering a comprehensive suite of three interconnected service pillars: Custom Framing (Custom Framing, Frame Catalog, Frame Restoration, Frame Reproduction), Art Storage and Logistics (Art Handling, Art Storage, Art Documentation, Art Reproduction), and Conservation (Canvas Conservation, Paper Conservation, Preventive Conservation). The company operates its own proprietary LowyScan inventory management system for digital frame cataloguing and virtual consultations. Services are delivered through a traditional craft-based model combining old-world craftsmanship with modern conservation science and technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Framing Bespoke custom framing services using antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames, tailored to present art appropriately, historically, and aesthetically. Designed for private collectors, galleries, museums, and auction houses.
- Frame Catalog Sale of over 5,000 antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames spanning 16th century Renaissance through 20th century Arts & Crafts, sourced from Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and America. The catalog is searchable through the proprietary LowyScan inventory system.
- Frame Restoration Expert restoration services for antique picture frames, including gesso repair, gilding restoration, ornamentation conservation, and structural repairs.
- Frame Reproduction Custom reproduction of antique frames using period-appropriate techniques, materials, and ornamental designs, executed by master carvers, gilders, and finishers.
- Art Handling Professional art handling services for installation, packing, and transportation of works of art with specialized care and expertise, serving museums, galleries, auction houses, and private collectors.
- Art Storage Climate-controlled fine art storage facilities for short and long-term storage, with environmental monitoring for optimal preservation conditions.
- Art Documentation Digital condition documentation and photography services for artworks, including condition reporting and cataloguing.
- Art Reproduction 2D art reproduction services for creating archival copies of original artworks.
- Canvas Conservation Museum-quality conservation treatments for canvas paintings including solvent cleaning, lining reversals, Beva linings, in-painting, canvas weaving, and canvas bonding.
- Paper Conservation Museum-quality conservation treatments for works on paper including dry cleaning, mending, tissue-linings, flattening, bathing, wet cleanings, and de-acidification.
- Preventive Conservation Assessment and guidance services for environmental control, temperature and humidity management, UV light protection, and proper display and storage practices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 years of operational history serving the fine art industry
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lowy
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Lowy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Lowy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Institute for Conservation (AIC)coreProfessional membership organization for conservators. Lowy remains associated with the finest technical resources, libraries, and experts in the art world through this membership. Lowy's conservators are members of AIC.
- International Institute for Conservation (IIC)coreInternational professional organization for conservation. Lowy's conservators maintain membership, connecting them with global conservation expertise and resources.
- Art and Antique Dealers League of America (AADLA)coreTrade association for art and antique dealers. Lowy collaborates with AADLA members and Larry Shar is a longtime member. Lowy participated in AADLA's Centennial Exhibition.
- National Arts ClubminorPrivate membership club in New York City for artists, architects, writers, and patrons of the arts. Lowy maintains membership affiliation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lowy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lowy social profiles
Digital presenceLowy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lowy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Lowy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lowy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lowy
What does Lowy do?
Lowy provides custom picture framing using antique, antique reproduction, and contemporary frames; museum-quality fine art conservation for paintings and works on paper; and full-service art storage, handling, transportation, documentation, and 2D reproduction services. The firm leverages the largest antique frame collection in the United States (5,000+ frames) and three generations of Shar family craftsmanship to serve museums, auction houses, galleries, interior designers, and private collectors.
Is Lowy a public or private company?
Lowy is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lowy founded?
Lowy was founded in 1907. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lowy based?
Lowy is headquartered in Long Island City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lowy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Framing Services are the primary driver. The others are fine Art Conservation Services, art Storage and Logistics and antique Frame Sales.
Does Lowy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lowy.
What industry is Lowy in?
Lowy's product category is Fine Art Services (Custom Framing, Conservation, and Art Storage & Logistics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKAEAB, Fine Art Handling & Transport, with a secondary code of CRAIANAB, Vintage & Antique Furniture Retail. Its NAICS code is 45992 and its SIC code is 2430.