Antiquaires, le marché aux puces de Paris

A certain atmosphere is what first comes to mind when leafing through this book. It is a convincing evocation of a universe that is reputed or being in danger of disappearing, the Paris flea market at Saint-Ouen, unfolded over twenty hectares. Stuffed animals, Art deco furniture, Louis XVI dressers or velvet Napoleon III low armless chairs can be seen. Overmantels, vases, pieta sculptures and magots are also found through the sixteen different markets, from Serpette to Jules-Vallès. Anything can be found at the flea market, but for those who have no intention of buying a visit is just as gratifying, as it opens perspectives on other worlds. The text gives a brief history of the institution and describes some of the most active dealers, of the présent as well as from the past, with the unequaled Madeleine Castaing, Jacques Kerchache or the very precocious Marc-Antoine Pâtissier. Not omitting the buyers who contributed to the market’s fame, among them Noureev, Louise de Vilmorin and the Americans…

Antiquaires, le marché aux puces de Paris, texts by Laure Verchère, photographs by Laziz Hamani, Assouline, 2010, 192 p., 59 €.