5 min readLast September, I was lucky enough to spend four days shopping the antique markets of the City of Light with the team of the Atlanta- and Paris-based firm Huff Harrington. Let’s just say days of antique shopping in and around Paris with a group of designers and shop owners were a dream come true. Meg Harrington and Ann Huff made it such a seamless experience, and they also host trips to Provence and trips for design enthusiasts, not just those in the industry. Here, I’m sharing all the details and the tips I learned along the way, so you can start planning your own shopping extravaganza in Paris. (And for more antiquing how-tos, our complete guide has tons of great tips as well.)
Meg Harrington (left) and Ann Huff, owners of the Atlanta- and Paris-based firm Huff Harrington.
Meg and Ann are the perfect pair to lead this trip—Ann lives in Paris full-time, and Meg is frequently going back and forth. Occurring twice a year in March and September to line up with certain markets, the trip was a crash course in sourcing antiques overseas.
“Years of hunting through European markets have taught us so much that it felt natural to share it,” Meg and Ann say. “As our business grew and we began to understand the complexities of shopping abroad, we realized we had real value to offer designers, retailers, and consumers. Our clients love the access, our vendors love the new connections, and we genuinely love the adventure. It’s one of those rare situations where everyone truly wins.”
Ann adds, “Paris is made up of so many different markets that range from smalls like silverware and jewelry to huge—we have shipped giant kitchen islands and massive chandeliers. We like exposing our clients to a large variety of high and low, big and small, and we know they’ll always find something special. And when it reaches them back home, it’s more than a purchase—it’s a memory and a story, for years to come.”
Day One: Foire de Chatou
One row of many of vendors at Foire de Chatou.
Foire de Chatou happens twice a year, and it’s an incredible treasure trove of antiques. There is a professional day at the beginning of the week, and then it’s open to the public—so the Huff Harrington team makes sure you get in early to get the best picks of the lot. Because of their strong ties to France, both Ann and Meg speak perfect French, and they also know it all when it comes to shopping in France, making the entire experience seamless and informative. Meg and Ann also help you gauge what’s worth the spend, the provenance of the piece, and that it’s in good condition: all the musts when sourcing antiques overseas.
“Designers get a crash course in European sourcing,” says Ann. “We help them find what they’re looking for, negotiate for it, caution them on the value, and even walk them through pricing strategy if they plan to sell it on the other end. And because we ship as a group, they save significantly on freight. It’s part education, part mentorship, part insider access—and it all adds up to a huge advantage for their business.”
The fair at Chatou is just outside Paris (it’s an easy RER train ride), and it’s worth the trip. Painted furniture, perfect-condition rattan seating, art, textiles, porcelain, a mix of very high-end and more humble antiques are all there, and the dealers come from all over France. I found marbled obelisks that are going on my mantel, and the lovely dealers who sold them to me were incredibly charming (which, of course, helped speed up the sale!).
The fair also has some charming restaurants for lunch (the grounds were originally a pork market, so there’s lots of jambon dishes and seafood like warm mussels and frites!), as well as cider, coffee, and mulled wine stands to warm up in between shopping. Pro tip: Wear comfortable shoes and layers for the weather.
Day Two: Les Puces Flea Market
Stalls of antiques at Paul Bert market.
The next day, our group hit the basement of Les Puces, the iconic Paris flea market made of many different marchés that are known for different types of antiques. Some dealers have workshops just below Les Puces, where they store extra furniture or make repairs before bringing pieces up to their space. It was very special to be able to shop here because most designers or shoppers don’t even know it exists, and it felt like a behind-the-scenes peek into the Parisian antiques world!
Ann Huff (left) and Meg Harrington (center) confer with an antique dealer on the provenance of a piece.
After basement shopping, we headed upstairs to Marché Jules Vallès, where there are endless booths of antiques. I was eyeing a small mirror for my hallway, but ended up not pulling the trigger. Other shoppers in our group found great dining tables.
After that, we headed over to Paul Bert Serpette, which is one of the more famous and well-curated sections of Les Puces with outstanding antiques. We saw some incredible outdoor furniture and planters, tramp art, Palissy majolica, and of course, more rattan.
Day Three: Vanves Flea Market
The Vanves flea market has an abundance of art, antique silver and dinnerware, books, and accessories.
On the third day (Sunday), Meg and Ann took us to the Vanves flea market, which is just a simple metro ride away in the northern part of the city in the 14th Arrondissement. This market, which happens every Saturday and Sunday morning, is a mile-long walk of tables and tables of small items that individual sellers and vendors set up themselves. It feels truly like a local experience because Parisians are there with their children, dogs, and morning coffee, shopping as well.
For the goods, think tableware, jewelry, objects, art, books, toys, and silver. I found a coral-studded North African–made mirror there (that is now hanging in my hallway—success!). Afterward, our group went back to Les Puces to do more flea-market shopping at Paul Bert Serpette.
Day Four: Les Marchés Biron, Dauphin, and Vernaison Within Les Puces
A vendor specializing in statuary and carved stone.
A row of antiques at Marché Jules Vallès, one of the markets in Les Puces flea market.
On our last day, we explored the other marchés of Les Puces. Marché Biron is a high-end market within Les Puces, with aisles that are more gallery-style and curated; think chandeliers, brass side tables, and Venetian mirrors. (Hot tip: The back alley is less trafficked, and there are treasures there to be unearthed!) The day we wandered through, there was a mix of Rolling Stones and French rock ’n’ roll playing while we shopped, which was a really fun juxtaposition to the Rococo- and Empire-style furniture you’ll see.
Another one not to miss—Marché Dauphin—features lots of ceramics, tabletop, rugs, and “smalls” (as Meg and Ann have dubbed the items you can fit in a suitcase to take home!). Finally, Marché Vernaison offers winding alleys full of art (there were lots of still-life paintings I regret not taking home), furniture, rugs, hotel silver, linens, and copper cookware. It’s the oldest of the markets and certainly is a sensory overload on the charm, with its wisteria-covered stalls and antiques spilling out into the alleyways. And the vendors—at all the markets—really know their wares, which is another education in itself.
“We always encourage our clients to engage with the vendors—they know so much about what they’re selling and are experts in their respective eras,” says Meg. “It’s amazing what you pick up when you let passionate people share their stories.”
Rachael Burrow Rummel is the Style & Market Director at VERANDA, where she covers the latest design and market trends, from jewelry to fashion, tabletop to furnishings, and everything in between. Rachael has been covering these markets for the past 12 years of her career and is passionate about the history of design, all aspects of the decorative arts, and how art, interiors, fashion, and jewelry – along with designers and tastemakers – drive our culture and aesthetics. Rachael started her career at Coastal Living as a style and market editor, followed by a move to Southern Living. She has been at VERANDA for the past six years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from Mississippi State University. You can find her on Instagram at @rachaelb_rummel.