shopping at the paris flea markets

by Sharon Santoni

butchers table at paris flea market

I was at the Paris flea markets today, checking in with a couple of dealers: I love to go on a Monday, after the weekend rush, when the atmosphere is calmer and the parking easy!

paris-flea-my-french-country-home

It was a lovely sunny day, and since I took my camera along, I thought you may enjoy a few shots of my favourite addresses in the market.  I wasn’t there for long, so I only got to Paul Bert and a quick walk through Serpette, but there was plenty to see.

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-2

My first stop was to see François Bachelier, who specialises in anything connected to the cuisine – always a feast for the eyes,  and so knowledgeable.  It is his butchers block in the first picture above.  I have spoken about him before on the blog, you can see more pictures here,  definitely a favourite.

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-8

Next on the list was Sylvain at Un Singe en Hiver.   Whenever I am at St Ouen, I make time to stop here.  He has the most surprising pieces and such a great sense of styling, – I am never disappointed.

vintage furniture at un Singe en Hiver, paris flea market

He doesn’t really have one speciality, at the moment there are a lot of antlers and butterflies, and also these beautiful blue demi-johns

blue deminjohns on a wooden drawer cabinet

shirt collars in glass dome

He likes to go for big architectural and semi industrial pieces, and often has a clock face for sale

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-10

What I love about St Ouen, is that you can go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the space of a few meters …. of course wild boars like to wear feather masks   – we all know that.

items on sale at flea market

There is always some mid-century furniture at the flea market, happily co-existing alongside the more traditional antiques.   The accent is on the better known names, and cult designs.   This selection is by Simonet Antiques

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-6

I loved the tableware displays at Les Tables  d’Eva, her Limoges coffee service was so precious, and those little chairs …..

lparis-flea-es-tables-deva-my-french-country-home

This display in Paul Bert caught my eye, and although I didn’t get the name, you can easily find it with this address.

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-3

paris-flea-my-french-country-home-4

If you are in Paris this spring, then don’t miss a trip to the St Ouen flea market.     Shop all morning, then take in a late lunch at Ma Cocotte …. my idea of heaven

old shoes and books

32 comments

La Contessa March 30, 2015 - 9:33 pm

I recognize a few of those stalls!!!!!!!!!

Reply
Sharlene March 30, 2015 - 9:55 pm

The day I find myself at a Paris Flea Market, I know I have died and gone to heaven!
Your pictures put me right there, surrounding my senses with the beauty of it all ~

Reply
Sally Davenport March 30, 2015 - 10:01 pm

A bit of heaven for the shopper.

Reply
Sue March 30, 2015 - 10:06 pm

I sure see lots of goodies

Reply
Julia April 4, 2015 - 1:18 am

I can’t help but agree with Sharlene ..I would die and go to heaven if I were in a Paris Flea Market. One of my great dreams is to speak French and then spend an extended period of time travelling around France.

Reply
Diane Callender March 30, 2015 - 10:22 pm

We spent a very interesting Saturday in June last year visiting this area. The small shop areas are oh so different some very shabby to over the top bling. We finished off after a long metro ride at the fabulous Buddha Bar for well deserved cocktails

Reply
Nini McCall March 30, 2015 - 10:32 pm

I love the pics, feels like I could jump right into any of them!! If I only lived closer…Unfortunately, Connecticut to Paris is more than a hop and a skip

Reply
Kerry March 30, 2015 - 10:55 pm

its heartbreaking to walk by a lifesize cast iron stag and not be able to fit it in your suitcase! Love the Paris flea markets….could spend days in just that one indeed!

Reply
Vicky from Athens March 30, 2015 - 11:19 pm

Oh my! What treasures I see! Love the china . . . I’m curious about the group of identical chairs I see in the picture next to the boar. What style are they? Louis the VI? So beautiful but they don’t look like something one would have around a table so why so many alike? I will be in L’Isle sur al Sorgue in just over a month for a few days and then on to Annecy for a few days. I’ve heard L’Isle sur la Sorgue is the best place outside of Paris for brocante so I’m excited. Have you been in the area? Is there anything/anyone I shouldn’t miss? Something I can’t go home without? I can’t buy anything that can’t go home with me on the plane! Too bad!

Reply
Francoise Coadou-Porter March 30, 2015 - 11:30 pm

Isle sur la Sorgues is wonderful, the antiques in the shop are very expensive and some of the dealers can bit on the “rogues side”!.. The week end market is the best place to buy anythings, the stalls are spread along the river Sorgues. Of dear I can’t remember if the market is Saturday or Sunday??? ( I lived in St Remy de Orovence for over 2 years, so Isle sur la Sorgues was one of my regular market). On the road from Avignon to Isle sur la Sorgues, visit the Grenier Provençal, a large ” depot vente” ( consignement shop)
Good luck
Francoise Coadou – Porter

Reply
Vicky from Athens March 31, 2015 - 11:26 am

Francoise – Thank you so much for this valuable information. My sister and I will be in the town on Saturday and Sunday and I believe the big market is on Sunday. I appreciate your telling me about Grenier Provencal, also. We will definitely stop there. We will be in L’Isle sur la Sorgue in late April from Wednesday through Monday so if you know of other places that are a “must” please so let me know.
Thank you again for your help . . .
Vicky Dickens
Athens, GA

Reply
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon March 30, 2015 - 11:24 pm

I got all starry eyed over the copperware. 🙂

Reply
Susie Craig March 30, 2015 - 11:55 pm

My mind is overwhelmed with the stories swirling around from each of the pieces on display. They are a powerfully evocative miasma of a veritable Aladdin’s cave of reality, myth and imagination. You can almost smell their history.

Reply
Ros short March 30, 2015 - 11:57 pm

Brings back the very special time spent with you & Brocante Babes in September last year warm wishes Ros

Reply
Pat Catherall March 31, 2015 - 3:40 am

I swooned at all of the copper. My dream is to have some hanging in my kitchen someday (other than the copper bottoms which I now have)

Reply
Sandra T. March 31, 2015 - 5:28 am

That butcher block table has me swooning! Just amazing stuff, especially the stag horn antler sconces! Yow-I will need to bring lots of money when I visit!

Reply
bonnie March 31, 2015 - 6:19 am

Those little fringed chairs would love to come and live chez moi….
bonnie

Reply
Kathy Hastings March 31, 2015 - 7:59 am

What a discerning eye you have and a sense of adventure. Thank you for sharing in your escapades. I can almost feel the excitement you experience when finding a treasure. I absolutely adore the gentleman’s collars under the glass dome.

Reply
Kerrie in France March 31, 2015 - 9:13 am

Sharon, perhaps you can help. We bought a large copper fish steamer at a local french village market as a gift for a chef friend. Our french teacher doesn’t know what the french name for this is. Since I am sure you have seen lots of these, do you know what they are called? Love your pictures as a wonderful reminder of hours spent at St Ouen.

Reply
Caroline Lacroix April 1, 2015 - 8:14 pm

Bonjour Kerrie. Maybe I can help you… It is called a “poissonnière”.

Reply
Elizabeth March 31, 2015 - 3:10 pm

I love visiting the markets in France! Frankly I always want everything I see, thankfully logic and my husband prevail and I am not loading a container each time we visit!

Thanks for sharing your beautiful adventure.

Reply
karena March 31, 2015 - 3:30 pm

Sharon, I love where you shop! Those blue demi-johns, the copper, the collections are all wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing again!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena

Reply
Nancy March 31, 2015 - 3:31 pm

Oh what fun! I’d love some copper and other goodies….
thanks for the pictures!
Nancy

Reply
Doré @BurlapLuxe March 31, 2015 - 4:52 pm

To only shop with you, and taking in all the Frenchness one could handle.
Such emotions fill my imagination here with you, and to be able to take home at that copper cookware, and a Brocantes piece here and there.

A wonderfully inspiring visit here with you.

Easter grace

Xx
Dore

Reply
Bebe March 31, 2015 - 6:27 pm

My collection of beautiful chef’s (heavy duty) tin-lined copper pots and lids with iron handles from Dehillerin are packed away in boxes. No place to hang them, and they really work best on gas rings rather than electric burners. That photo of them hanging on the wall almost makes me weep…

Reply
franki March 31, 2015 - 11:23 pm

SHOP ON!!!! franki

Reply
cindy hattersley April 1, 2015 - 1:55 pm

Ahhh to be there…so many treasures!!

Reply
Gina April 1, 2015 - 2:23 pm

the butcher table is incredible

Reply
Kaye April 2, 2015 - 6:22 pm

I visited the flea market a number of years ago and loved every minute of it. Would so love to go back just for the pleasure of visiting the market again and shopping to my heart’s content.

Reply
Janice @Curtains in My Tree April 3, 2015 - 9:16 pm

Oh I am just drooling !!!!!!!!

I am planning a trip very soon to New York and hope to by one antiques while there however all my girl friends planned just a clothes shopping trip

Reply
Esther George April 4, 2015 - 1:00 am

Hi Sharon, I want the butcher table and most of the above. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs. Regards Esther from Sydney. PS Have a Beautiful Easter.

Reply
Decorar con damajuanas | Mira que guayón! December 1, 2015 - 8:41 am

[…] Vía: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 […]

Reply

Leave a Comment