In the heart of Brussels’ Grand Sablon, where cobblestones whisper history and galleries glow with quiet beauty, one address continues to embody the soul of Belgian refinement. Founded in 1839, Maison Costermans remains one of Europe’s most distinguished names in fine art and antiques: a house where heritage, craftsmanship and innovation meet in perfect harmony.
For nearly two centuries, Costermans has carried forward a rare tradition, its expertisepassed down through six generations. Housed in the exquisite Chastel de la Howarderie mansion, itself a listed architectural jewel adorned with 18th-century Chinese wallpaper, the gallery reflects both the grandeur of its past and a distinctly modern sensibility. Today, under the direction of Arnaud Jaspar-Costermans and his sister Valérie, the family continues to write the story of a dynasty that began almost 200 years ago with two visionary brothers, Louis and Jean Costermans.
Artisans and innovators, the brothers won the gold medal at the 1847 World’s Fair for their creations and patented their celebrated stove Le Merveilleux, a symbol of Belgian ingenuity that set the tone for generations to come.
After the Second World War, the family settled on the Grand Sablon, helping transform the neighbourhood into Brussels’ artistic heart. Their gallery soon became a landmark of European taste, attracting collectors, connoisseurs and the culturally curious. Today, that legacy is flourishing under a new, dynamic generation, one that honours tradition while embracing the future with confidence and creativity.
Arnaud and Valérie have brought fresh energy to the House, reaffirming its identity as a sanctuary for 18th- and 19th-century European furniture and objets d’art, while expanding into Flemish and Dutch Old Masters, one of Arnaud’s personal passions. Works by Jan Brueghel the Elder, Joos de Momper and Marten Ryckaert now hang alongside period furniture, bronzes and decorative arts, each piece selected with meticulous care. The result is a gallery that feels alive, elegant, intimate, and quietly daring.
Costermans’ reputation extends far beyond Belgium’s borders. As an active member of the Royal Chamber of Antique Dealers and Art Dealers of Belgium, CINOA and ROCAD, and as a regular exhibitor at BRAFA and FAB Paris, the House continues to promote Belgian expertise on the international stage. Yet its most striking evolution lies not in expansion, but reinvention. Arnaud and Valérie are reimagining what a gallery can be: not only a place to admire art, but a place to experience it.
The opening of Café Costermans, nestled in the courtyard of the mansion, illustrates this new spirit perfectly, a warm, welcoming space where collectors and passers-by can enjoy conversation surrounded by beauty. Soon, the ground floor will welcome AMI Paris, the contemporary French fashion label, further blending art, culture and lifestyle under one roof. These decisions reflect a simple belief: art should be lived with, not locked away.
Inside, the gallery itself is evolving. Two refined exhibition floors, around 150 square metres each, are being redesigned with movable wooden partitions, allowing flexible displays and evolving scenography. This modern approach enhances the timelessness of the works and creates a new kind of dialogue between art and audience.
Costermans has always stood for excellence, but today it also stands for openness. It is becoming a living institution, part gallery, part cultural salon, where history, craftsmanship and curiosity interlace. As the House approaches its third century, it continues to prove that true elegance is not about preserving the past in amber, but keeping it alive, relevant and radiant.
“Heritage is not about looking back,” says Arnaud Jaspar-Costermans. “It’s about carrying beauty forward.”
For more informartion click on https://www.costermans-antiques.com/
