Overview

A lavishly illustrated tour of France, complete with expert tips on what to collect, how to select, and where to find the antiques of your dreams. After decades of antique hunting throughout France, Sharon Santoni offers invaluable insight on finding and collecting French antiques to add cachet to the home-from Provençal quilted boutis to floral transferware to landscape paintings. Through inspirational photographs, interviews with specialized dealers, and the savoir faire of a local, this insider's guide introduces readers to the most popular French collectibles, including tableware, silverware, paintings, textiles, rugs, tapestries, jewelry, books, illustrations, furniture, chandeliers, mirrors, and architectural and garden ornaments. Extensive resources complete the book, with a shopping guide of Sharon's favorite antique dealers throughout France-from flea markets and antique shops to annual fairs, professional déballages, and live auctions-a glossary of terms, a buyer's guide, and a detailed index. This sumptuous and indispensable reference is a portal to the charm and elegance of French antiques, embodying the thrill of the hunt and the allure of French style to infuse your home with soul and personality.

Full Product Details

9782080482419

Table of Contents

Reviews

“Rooted in decades of on-the-ground experience, this richly illustrated guide opens the doors to France’s flea markets, brocantes and antique shops, revealing how to buy with confidence…. Interviews with specialist dealers sit alongside practical advice, while photographs illustrate real places and real objects rather than fantasy interiors. A substantial resources section adds lasting value, with a nationwide shopping guide, glossary, useful French phrases for buyers and a detailed index. Both inspirational and methodical, the book captures the thrill of the hunt while demystifying a world that can feel opaque to outsiders. It will appeal to seasoned collectors and curious newcomers alike, offering a wonderful introduction to the enduring appeal of French antiques.” —France Today “This book brings together practical know-how on what to collect, where to find it and how to style it…. [S]panning everything from tableware and textiles to mirrors, furniture and architectural salvage.” —Antiques Gazette

Author Information

British-born and Normandy-based Sharon Santoni is the founder and editor of My French Country Home magazine. She leads antiquing tours throughout France and received the St. Roch award for contributions to the promotion of antiques. Joanna Maclennan's photographs have appeared in books including The Foraged Home, Living Wild, and The World of Atelier Vime, and in periodicals including The New York Times, The World of Interiors, House & Garden, and My French Country Home. Franck Schmitt is an author, photographer, and journalist; his photographs are regularly featured in My French Country Home.

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