Flea For All, September 21st

On my last trip to France we ventured North into the fabled and famous flea market at Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen. Just a quick twenty minute metro ride away from the center of the city, this gigantic bargaining mecca houses the world’s largest antique market. My favorite section is located in Paul Bert Serpette– part indoor and part outdoor, 350 antiques dealers spend each weekend showcasing the most beautiful pieces of furniture, jewelry, design and vintage clothing from Antiquity to the 90s, representing Europe and the New world.

This is both a designers paradise and an amateur treasure hunter’s delight. Obviously being in the latter category, I was thrilled this time to visit because I was on a mission to find very specific items. The first was to source chairs for my newly acquired vintage tin-topped table that was sourced from an Orangerie in Paris. I purchased this monumental item from E-E Home in Amagansett earlier this summer and couldn’t wait to zhuzh her up in my kind of style.

The best part about the flea market is that you come across the most amazing finds. Not all fit into your home, or your budget, but what a feast for the eyes! So while I searched for chairs I saw plenty of spectacular silver items, a multi-level side table, the most striking green lamps and a yellow corset chair.

Then a gorgeous set of T-back dining chairs were brilliantly displayed in the next stall, but you had to buy all six and I only needed four. Next!

We looked through stunning vintage handbags and waded through a sea of lamps, odds and ends and clocks.

Finally we found some spectacular Eames dining chairs with incredible patina and wooden legs. The dealer had a variety of colors so I picked cream, yellow, brown and charcoal. Comfortable and stylish– exactly what I was looking for to complement my amazing table. What a find!

The search continued for some sort of eclectic object I could display in the apartment. I looked at art, a vintage Hermès bottle opener, an insane mirror that I fell in love with but the price tag was scary, a silver duck press and lots of fancy tableware and serving pieces for thousands and thousands of Euros.

Alas the search ended when I found an incredible phone that conductors used on French trains to talk with one another. It was in perfect condition and I loved it. Yay. Success.

I’m still obsessed with the mirror that I couldn’t afford and those green lamps would look fab in the living room against the wallpaper. It’s a good thing we are going back to Paris in October. There are many more treasures to discover there and I’m sure a whole new crop of must haves will cross our path as we stroll the labyrinth of aisles and rows that make up the Paris flea market. From vintage luggage to historical articles, clothing, armchairs and champagne buckets, it’s a flea for all!