Flea Markets of Paris
By Jennifer M. Jedda
Oh, the flea markets of Paris! In a city that is itself considered a treasure, I like to head to Les Puces (The Fleas) to hunt for a piece of the loot to take home with me! My shop is now a perfect venue to make some of these truly one-of-a-kind pieces available to you!
The most famous flea market in Paris, and the one I frequent the most, is at Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. It covers seven hectares and is the largest antique market in the world.
It is indeed grand, and I was completely overwhelmed the first time I went. Vast arrays of gold gilded artwork, richly upholstered arm chairs and sparkling crystal chandeliers made me think I was shopping in Napoleon’s apartment at the Louvre versus a “flea market” (with price tags to match). But I remained undaunted! The assortment of beautiful, vintage and unique items is indeed dazzling! Some items are a bargain too. My favorite finds: a 1940s mink stow for 40 Euro and the most adorable late 1800s salières from the oldest crystal manufacturer in Europe, St. Louis, for 88 Euro.
A particular stall that keeps me mesmerized for hours is one that contains boxes upon boxes of old vintage postcards from the world over. As I browse I literally get lost in the story that each postcard tells. I read the elegant French script on the back, examine the old stamp on the front and imagine reasons the original owner may have sent the postcard…was it a souvenir, "wish you were here" thought for a lover, update to an old friend? Each captures not only a beautiful corner of our world in stunning detail and/or colors, but also a glimpse into the life of an individual who was there enjoying it at that moment in history.
A collection of postcards (and some vintage product labels) that particularly captured my eye and imagination during my last visit in June are now available in the shop. They have been custom framed to showcase their uniqueness and are ready to continue their story of travel…but this time into your home. I think you will find them just as enchanting as I did.
However, if you decide to head to Paris first to do your own treasure hunting let me leave you with a tip - charm the vendors with a bit of French so they sweeten the deal!
Here is also a link to more info on Les Puces (pictured below): http://www.parisperfect.com/paris-flea-markets.php
Happy Hunting!
- This article first appeared on JJ Caprices website at www.jjcaprices.com. Visit the site to discover unique finds from around the word.
