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Antiquing in Paris
Late-Louis XV-period giltwood sofa at Galerie Anne-Marie Monin |
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A word of advice to anyone visiting Paris with the intent to allow some time for antiques shopping: The Carré Rive Gauche is an excellent location. More than 120 of the finest French antiques dealers are situated, side-by-side, in a historic neighborhood on the Left Bank across from the Louvre and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
The Carré houses a number of very established Paris antiques dealers, among them Didier Aaron at Galerie Camoin, who specializes in 18th- through 20th-century European furnishings; Nicole Altero of Galerie Altero, established in 1936, where a broad array of 17th- and 18th-century glassware, furniture and decorative objects is available; and Patrick Frémontier, who’s the fourth generation in a family of antiques dealers selling 18th- and 19th-century objet d’art and decorative furniture.
Many categories of antiques are covered in the three-block-square neighborhood—Medieval through 20th-century furniture, carpets and tapestries, glassware, lighting, old paintings, sculpture, silverware, timepieces, frames, porcelain and ceramics. The Carré Rive Gauche has a website that conveniently lists antique shops by name, category and location, and a small percentage of the dealers show some of their inventories online.
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1940s moleskin club chair at Edouard de la Marque
Polonais rug, dating to 1678,
at Blondeel Deroyan 
At Philippe Vichot, an ormolu centerpiece
attributed to Louis Thomire, 1757-1838
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July 2001
