Yes, Paris is beautiful. The food, museums and exchange rate are great, but I didn’t think there were any flea market finds to report. We went to the large and famous market, Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris, where you can wander around in alleys and find everything you can think of and more. It is only open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The dealers are established and tend to specialize, so with the Internet they know what they are selling. We even went on a rainy day when bargaining is supposed to be better, but prices seemed the same as at home.

On our last day, we decided to visit the exhibit on the life’s work of designer Jean Claude Gautier at the Grand Palais. Paris is the last stop for the show, which started in Montreal and was amazing. The mannequins came alive and his work was incredible. On the way, we stumbled onto a weekend flea market next to the Seine River at the Pont Alexandre III bridge. This was a bargain hunters’ market. The prices were right and the dealers wanted to sell. Christofle stainless steel flatware, 48 pieces, was selling for $325, retail price new (if you could still get it), $2,000; and a Gio Ponti silver-plated serving spoon and fork, $200, retail $1,500. Another bargain was a Swatch Chandelier watch for $100. We also found boxes of unusual things for sale, like used champagne corks, switches, and show programs in French. The view was beautiful and you could even get a glass of wine while you shopped.

And while you are there, don’t forget to visit Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Every decorative art period is well represented and the special exhibitions are amazing. Right now they have the life’s work of Piero Fornasetti, whose plates and other items you can find at antique shows and flea markets, and a show on buttons. The museum has on display the world’s best collection of buttons. Every button style is represented and you can see how important they are, with big name fashion designers such as Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, and Yves St. Laurent.

TIP: Go to the smaller markets if you are looking for bargains.

 

Digging Deeper:

Piero Fornasetti (1913–1988) is one of Italy’s most prolific 20th-century makers and designers, known as a master illusionist of ornament and design. He was a painter, printer, interior decorator, and craftsman, credited with designing over 13,000 unique objects over the course of his life. Fornasetti is perhaps best known to collectors for his plates, trays, umbrella stands and furniture. He worked constantly, sleeping only a few hours a night.

Christofle, founded in 1830, is a silver manufacturer based in France and to this day the company continues to produce a variety of products, including picture frames, jewelry, dinnerware, and flatware. The company has collaborated with some of the most renowned artists over the years, designer like Man Ray, Gio Ponti, and Marcel Wanders.