A Guide to Antique Shopping in Paris

More than 30 million international tourists flock to the French capital each year to experience its famed architecture, museums, boutiques and cafés. But what they gain in pain au chocolat and perfume, they lose in vintage treasures if Paris’ storied flea markets and antique shops don’t make the list. Rather than shop for French antiques closer to home during Jordan Winery’s Lobby renovation, our design team took the hunt to the streets of Paris. The goal was to find objects and art with a natural connection to Jordan’s French-inspired history. This guide to antique shopping in Paris features a few of our favorite antique shops and antiquaires (shop owners).

ART BOUTIQUES

In the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, an area known for its live music, chocolates and interior design boutiques, the Martinez family has been collecting and reselling antique prints (estampes anciennes) for more than 50 years. Multiple generations and relatives own shops within a few blocks of one another.

Galerie JC Martinez

This renowned shop, founded by Jean-Claude Martinez in 1969, features floor-to-ceiling walls of oversized books, filled with antique prints and original prints, many in the intaglio engraving style like the original Jordan Winery label (gravure in French), as well as drawings and watercolors (aquarelles in French), most dating back to the 18th century. Each tome is organized by subject or period, and the diversity of artwork size and subject is incredible—from 4-inch drawings of cows to figurative fruits 2-feet wide. It’s the kind of art shop one could spend hours in, and the small space gets crowded easily, so plan ahead. Founder Jean-Claude recently retired and passed the reins to his son, Didier. FIND: Half of the Jordan Lobby art collage gravures were purchased here.

Galerie Martinez-Fleurot

Just around the corner from Galerie JC, Didier’s cousin, Laurent Fleurot, whose wife is a Martinez, has owned and operated Galerie Martinez-Fleurot since 1999. This light-filled corner shop with two stories was founded by his father-in-law in 1973. Monsieur Fleurot specializes in antique prints, engravings, and lithographies of several subjects, partially maps of different countries, European cities, flowers, wine, fruits, medicine, horses and birds—all neatly organized in art racks. FIND: A lithograph and a copper engraving for the Jordan art collage.

Galerie Martinez D

Didier Martinez’ shop, just five minutes by foot from the other two, is petite and specializes in medium-sized works from different periods, such as 18th century architecture. Rare antique and modern original prints are also focus, and his website showcases the inventory’s breadth by artist, country, century and theme. FIND: Two of the largest engravings in the Jordan art collage—the 18th-century dolphin fountain and the 1781 bountiful urn—were found here.

Athanase Gribaudo Vandamme

Located in the Marais at the Galerie Vivienne covered passageway of shops, this dealer in antique prints is also worth seeking out. Paul Gribaudo opened the shop more than 30 years ago, and now is son, Joseph, serves as owner and curator, with the help of manager, Flavie Allard. Their collection of prints is organized by subject in wood boxes and racks, with dedicated collections from gastronomy and mushrooms to pigs, horses, butterflies and select species of birds. Vintage maps and globes are also sold. FIND: Two pieces for the Jordan art collage.

ANTIQUE SHOPS

Galerie Marie-Pierre Jaudel Antiquités

Founded in 1980 by Marie-Pierre Jaudel and her mother, this charming shop on the Rue de l’Université should come with a warning: You will spend money here. Though the shop is small, Jaudel has curated it with an eclectic assemblage of intriguing pieces. She works with families throughout Europe to source her antiques, mostly from 18th-century France and Italy. Here, you’ll find chandeliers, painted consoles, urns and other objects, upholstered chairs and art of all sizes. Walkable from the antique print galleries in Saint-Germain. FIND: Nine 18th-century drawings of urns filled with lizards, dragonflies and flora for the Jordan Lobby salon.

E.W. Objets Anciens

This quirky shop in Village Saint-Paul in the Marais opened in 2000. Owner Eduardo Weckly has packed the petite boutique from floor to ceiling with a mix of vintage objects—from picture frames and figurines to plates and hat stands—spanning many periods and price points. He constantly searches Paris for new items to squeeze into every nook, though he also adds antiques from his travels. FIND: One of his specialties is boxes and canisters, and an ebonized box with decorative silver handle for the Jordan Lobby bookcase, as well as an antique scale that represents the balance in Jordan wines.

FLEA MARKETS

Every weekend, more than 180,000 people visit Paris’s famous flea markets, Marché aux Puces in the village of Saint-Ouen. The largest and oldest flea market in the world, dating back to the mid-1800s, this incredible labyrinth of winding alleys covers almost seven miles of ground packed with more than 2,000 vendor stands. This storied district, about 45 minutes north of Saint-Germain by metro, can be overwhelming at first, but with advance planning, you’ll be shopping like a pro. Marché aux Puces is comprised of more than a dozen markets in one area; a few favorites are featured.

Paul Bert Serpette

Interior designer Maria Khouri’s favorite flea market, Paul Bert Serpette features several alleys and numbered stands for each antiquaire. You’ll find eclectic shops with a bit of everything, as well as furniture, art, pottery, picture frames, rugs, china, antique bikes and more. Like neighboring Marché Vernaison, market stands spill out into the alleys.

Vendor Spotlight: LVS Cadre

Fourth-generation antique dealer Virginie Baquet and her husband, Stéphane, sell antique picture frames in Paul Bert Serpette. Stéphane had worked with a frame dealer, and both he and Virginie were running flea market stands that sold many objects before they decided to focus exclusively on frames (cadre in French) in 2010. They’ve expanded into two stands across the alley from one another, filled with gorgeous frames, dating from the 16th century to the 1960s. Their son, Louis, is often working in the shop, and their dog greets visitors most days. FIND: Two petite frames for the Jordan art collage.

Marché Antica

This mostly indoor flea market is filled with a mix of furniture, chandeliers, homewares and art.

Vendor Spotlight: Luce Pezzali Antiques

Just inside the Antica entrance, Luce Pezzali is her and her husband, Roland Procissi, have owned and operated this shop since 1990. Their three shops in the same hall are filled with period furniture, mirrors, lamps, statues and figurines. FIND: an 18th century mirror for the Jordan art collage.

Marché Biron

Located on the north side at the edge of the “fleas” as they’re called, this market includes a wide main alley with glass-walled shops that split off into indoor antique shops that focus on furniture, objects and lighting, as well as a skinny parallel passage of vendor stands.

Vendor Spotlight: Lambrequin Antiquités

Serge Binet opened his first antique shop in Paris in 1962 before moving to the fleas in 2010. He focuses on objects and furniture from 18th century France (Louis XIV, XV and VXI), as well as some Italian antiques. FIND: Finials for the Jordan lobby bookcases.

BOOKSTORES

Avenue Bookstore (Librarie L’Avenue)

This tri-level bookshop is a must-visit for book lovers. Founder Henri Veyrier and the shop manager Alain Hibon, who sadly passed away in March 2024, had worked together at the bookstore since 1972. The Avenue Bookstore specializes in vintage books with liberty and without censorship, honoring the store’s history and the authors’ ideas while giving the books a second life. Veyrier’s daughter, Laurence, mostly runs the business these days, but her father is often present. He authored a book about the flea markets, which can be found in the Jordan Lobby bookcase, along with a handful of books about nature discovered here. The Veyriers own 1 million books between their reserve and offsite storage, and 200,000 of those are ready to be opened in the racks of Avenue’s two floors and mezzanines. A small section of their oldest books, dating back to the 16th century, is located on the mezzanine, while 17th and 18th century books span the first floor (which Americans call the second floor). French filmmaker Michel Gondry shot a scene from the movie “Mood Indigo” (L’Ecume des Jours) on the first floor. FIND: Books about nature for the Jordan Lobby Salon.

Art boutique, flea market and gallery photography by Kendall Busby.

Are you interested in learning more about Jordan Winery’s latest art collage located in the renovated lobby and guest reception? View it here.