Inside Art Dealer Florian Eitle-Böhler’s Historical Family Home Built on a Lake in the Bavarian Countryside

Florian Eitle-Böhler is the fifth-generation art dealer at Julius Böhler Kunsthandlung, which was founded by his great-great-grandfather in 1880. His interaction with art intensified as he joined Sotheby’s when he was 24, spending his weekends training his eye by looking at as many objects as possible at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The act of looking remains key for the works Eitle-Böhler acquires and keeps in his home. His approach to collecting is informed by aesthetics, and combining works of art from different periods, styles, and materials is an experience that he says, “develops over time.” One of the thrilling parts for Eitle-Böhler is learning about the objects. “And when I can’t, [I think], ‘wouldn’t it be nice if we could speak to each other.’”

The home in which Eitle-Böhler lives with his collected works has a history only slightly shorter than his 141-year-old family business. Built by his great-grandfather, the house sits on a lake in the mountainous Bavarian countryside. Eitle-Böhler says it is “a privilege” to live in the home, surrounded by art.

See how Eitle-Böhler lives with art and explore his approach to collecting in the latest video from TEFAF’s Living with Art series.

“Looking at these objects once you have them at home, you discover something new every day.” — Florian Eitle-Böhler