buying french antiques

I have been buying French antiques here for decades. I’ve bought all over the country, in tiny boutiques, huge professional fairs, street antique markets in Paris, and village fairs in the middle of big green meadows.

When my children were little, and as a stay-at-home mom of 4, my weeks were filled to the brim, but I often tried to carve out some me-time to go antiquing. I used to sneak out to local fairs on Sunday morning at dawn. I’d sometimes go alone, and sometimes in the company of a dear antique dealer friend. Starting around 6 am, we’d hit a couple of fairs, filling up our cars as we went. Once we exhausted all the antiquing options for that morning, I’d make a quick stop at a boulangerie and get home with fresh croissants for the family who were just waking up. It was so much fun, and I bought a lot of pieces that still have their place in our home today.

I bought French antiques of all kinds. Paintings, tableware, garden furniture, tools, and of course linens – both for the table and bedrooms. We were a big boisterous family, so we never went looking for anything too precious. I loved finding antique pieces for the garden and linens and small pieces of furniture for indoors.

Buying antiques and brocante in France is a national pastime. That distinctive French country style is only achieved with a savant mix of old and new. True French homes are never furnished entirely in the latest trend. They come together over the years with a mix of family furniture, purchases from favorite stores, and a generous dose of antique furniture and accent accessories.

When we created the MFCH Box and Boutique, it came naturally to include antique pieces for our clients. Including an antique piece in every single box is challenging, and today I have to rely on my network of dealers to source the large quantities that we need, but the fun never dwindles.

You may like to know that we are currently running a sale on the French antiques in the MFCH Boutique. Click here to find your own French treasure! We have also created an interactive catalog to provide a new way of shopping. Check it out HERE