Ishtar is a Brooklyn-based art and antiques studio.
Founded by Rita Nehme, Ishtar sources, restores, and rehomes antique and vintage furniture and art – pieces that have survived time and carry stories worth keeping.
Our motto: old ish made new.
My love for antiques comes from my تيتا (Arabic for grandmother). Raised in a village in north Lebanon, she couldn’t read or write but expressed herself through her home. She created a space that reflected her strength, taste, and care. Every piece was collected slowly and chosen with intention.
That’s the feeling I want Ishtar to reflect.
My teta, Rahme.
The name Ishtar has its own history. It’s the name my dad chose for me. I was born during the Lebanese civil war, and he couldn’t be there – so my mom gave me the name she had held close to her heart (and that's a whole other story). He never had the chance to name his baby Ishtar but now I get to name mine.
Named for the goddess of both love and war, Ishtar feels like the perfect spirit to build this with. Every piece we restore sits in that same tension – softened by care, strengthened by what it has lived through, beautiful because it has survived.
a little tribute, a little reclamation, and a whole lot of love.
Ghassan & Joceline circa 1980s.