BECAUSE LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL CHARLES MAYER & CO. CLAUDIA RYAN

By SuSaN Salaz

| PhotograPhy By Gabrielle Cheikh Noel | artwork By eduardo Peña

Claudia Ryan, owner of the storied Charles Mayer & Co. on the cozy corner of 56th and Illinois, dishes about the history of her family business, the spectacular collections she curates and the relationships behind them, and why this year’s holiday season is more special than ever.

Charles Mayer & Co. operates under the mantra: Beautiful Things for a Beautiful Life. At first glance, the beauty in the store is unsurpassed, but Claudia insists there is much more here than meets the eye. While her store is overflowing with gorgeous, intricately detailed treasures, the connections developed from these are what Claudia values. “What’s important to me are the extraordinary relationships— between us and our clients as well as our suppliers and artisans who create the merchandise. We create visual excitement to Claudia Ryan surrounds entice our customers as we display their diverse collections and tell their individual stories. This results in an appreciation and herself with exquisite desire for the European inspired home furnishings, accessories and distinctive gifts, that ultimately add elegance and style to our merchandise, a customer’s lives.” committed staff, and Claudia’s store is a revival of the once iconic Charles Mayer her two adorable pups, & Company, a five-story fixture in downtown Indianapolis for more than a century, founded by the maternal great-great- Charlie and Bella, who grandfather of her husband, Tim. "The store carried a wide will cheerfully greet range of merchandise, from hobby horses to diamond tiaras,” says Claudia, with a twinkle in her eye, and notes that they were you when you visit widely known for their beautiful jewelry. “Every piece was handpicked for its exceptional craftsmanship and uncommon appeal. Charles Mayer & Co. Each floor was a study in organized clutter—each corner held this holiday season.the promise of undiscovered treasures. Charles Mayer and his partner, Albert Zoeller, traveled Europe courting vendors and bringing the riches home for the benefit of their customers and family, and it was not unusual to receive a call from Charlie Mayer saying that he had found a silver platter or other spectacular item that might be the perfect gift for an upcoming anniversary."

In an age when you can order anything with the touch of a button and it will arrive on your doorstep that very day, it’s sometimes difficult to even consider the importance of modern-day gift giving. That’s where Claudia comes in.

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Just like Mayer and Zoeller, she has a passion for the art of giving and finding new and beautiful treasures for her customers. She wants to weave those lovely ideas from our heritage, like writing a letter on beautiful stationery or registering for crystal, silver and china before your wedding day, and make them new again. She does this by encouraging her customers to mix new and old in order to create a more modern aesthetic and to demonstrate the value of these items we often take for granted in today’s hurried world.

Inspired by her youth traveling the world as the daughter of a Navy Admiral, and guided by her background as Vice President of Fashion Merchandising for L.S. Ayres & Co., Claudia takes the expression of her store to another level, enticing all the senses. Designed to emulate a home in which to welcome her customers, it is perfect for hosting a wide variety of benefits and personal appearances. Ryan originally arranged her lifestyle store as a: living room, dining room, kitchen, boudoir, conservatory and a library. Today the store melds styles, colors and textures throughout, mixing the antique and en vogue, blending burlap with crystal, linking textiles and home fashions with silver, gold and jewels. “It’s all high-low, dress it up or dress it down, and relevant to your own unique style,” she says.

It’s easy to get lost in the splendor and browse for hours, working your way from one beautiful section of exclusive collections to the next, as in Meissen China, which was also carried at the original store. You might find yourself under the Tuile de Crystal Chandelier in the Baccarat room— hung by the president of Baccarat himself. You may catch yourself in the Jewelry Bar, mingling with the limitless possibilities of Clara Williams interchangeable, one-of-a-kind necklaces or the bespoke pieces by Monica Rich Kosann. You may find yourself swooning over the gorgeous, hand-painted tabletop and casual dining items from David and Capucine Gooding in the Juliska Signature Room. You could even hide out in the Bébé Boutique, delighting over all things dainty—and the highly sought collectible Charlie Bears, of course. Or you may fall in love with her newest acquisition, beautifully fragrant Carrière Frères candles from France.

No matter where in the store you are, each item has been hand selected with love and care, and there is probably a story about it that any of the staff would love to tell you about. There is likely a treasured friendship behind it, too, between Claudia and the vendors/craftsmen. For example, Claudia forged such a friendship with William Yeoward, the brilliant modern crystal designer, who named a Georgian decanter for her, which he described as “balanced, classic,

Charles Mayer & Company emulates an old-world charm inspired by Claudia Ryan’s upbringing and world travels. It features many exclusive collections of extraordinary tableware, European home furnishings, beautiful jewelry, decorative accessories and distinctive gifts. Charles Mayer specializes in the “best of the best” in European crystal, silver and china and offers a premier wedding registry.

stylish and elegant.” Claudia carries his handcrafted etched Crystal Collection, as well as his Country Studio and retro-inspired American Bar Collection. Call ahead if you want the Claudia decanter though—it is one of the store’s most popular items.

Claudia explains that while the original Charles Mayer & Co. sold expensive European gifts, it enjoyed the reputation of being a fine store that offered unique merchandise at all prices. The original store focused especially on the quality, design and meaningful value of each item, whether it be a corporate gift; a wedding, birthday, baby or hostess gift; or a splurge for oneself. This approach survived world wars and the Great Depression, along with numerous fads and trends over the century it was in business. The current store, which has been in operation since 1992, is now surviving a pandemic thanks to those same values, along with a true following of loyal customers who kept her busy with curbside pickup and online orders even when the brick-and-mortar operation had to close its doors for several months.

Claudia is grateful for the opportunities and relationships Indianapolis has provided her, especially her incredible team whom she calls invaluable. “Indianapolis is a wonderful place and I love it here. There is so much culture, so many interesting people and beautiful places. There is a world of good here, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity with Ayres, and now in reviving the legendary family business. I am honored to carry on those important traditions.” She says there will never be a store like the original Charles Mayer & Co., but “the fundamental retail equation that made the store successful has not changed: know your customer, sell quality merchandise, and make shopping a pleasure.”

As the weather gets brisker, the store gets more and more festive with seasonal décor, and the exciting introduction of Déjà Vu, featuring designer handbags, Hermès scarves, and estate jewelry in a collaboration with Gary Thrapp of G. Thrapp Jewelers. This year, Claudia has had to get even more creative to allow shoppers the time and space they need, with masks on, to shop safely, and has come up with some fun options for this special time. “Christmas isn’t cancelled!” she laughs. From jewelry trunk shows, ornament signing, and new Museum Bees arriving, to personal shopping parties (before and after hours) complete with a champagne toast, Claudia is here to help find those perfect, meaningful gifts, and at Charles Mayer & Co. they come customwrapped and tied with a bow.