• Shop
  • Design Services
  • Design Lookbook
  • Happenings
  • About Us

The Artful Lifestyle Blog

by Huff Harrington

  • Blog Home
  • ArtOur Passion
    • Artist Profile
    • New Artists
  • Decor + DesignOur Eye
    • Before + After
    • Designer Profile
    • Re-dos
    • Seasonal
    • Tips + Secrets
    • Trends
  • LifestyleOur Spirit
    • Entertaining
    • Fashion
  • TravelOur Wanderlust
    • Fave Destinations
    • Trips
  • Let’s Go Shopping!
You are here: Home / Travel / Huffington How To: Buying Antiques in France

Huffington How To: Buying Antiques in France

January 6, 2018 by Huff Harrington

Follow Us
Facebook0
Twitter0
Pinterest0

We’ve never met an antique we didn’t love and we’re firm believers that the hunt is just as fun and exhilarating as the catch.  After all, when else can you negotiate with a smile, flirt like crazy and then sip a glass of champagne to celebrate your negotiating prowess?

A drop-dead gorgeous vignette from one of our favorite vendors.

It’s especially fun when we can bring a group of like-minded guests with us who are also obsessed with the search for one of a kind treasures.  We love showing them the ropes: introducing them to our favorite vendors, training them on the right questions to ask, cues for when it’s time to start negotiating or walk away and, of course, how to celebrate some good purchases.  (The answer to that one: always with a little glass of bubbles!)

huff harrington buying trip
Paloma, Anne and Mallory who came, shopped and bought (very successfully!) on our last trip.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro who greets the vendors with a kiss on each cheek (make sure that’s Paris and not Provence, where three kisses is the norm), here are some practical tips to make your buying experience as smooth and professional as can be:

Cash is king: If you’re shopping for smalls, cash is an absolute necessity. Not only does it give you greater bargaining power, but many vendors who sell smalls just aren’t set up for credit cards.  So, we always bring a wad of small demoninations (French ATMs are so considerate and actually ask you how you’d like your bills)

huff harrington buying trips
Keep a wad of cash for the smalls you can’t live without – and for a little extra negotiating power.

Be prepared to bargain but don’t push the point:  Most the vendors you’ll deal with do this for a living – and it’s not easy.  Go in prepared to banter and bargain to the best of your ability, but we draw the line at being obnoxious.  These guys are pros and they’ve seen hundreds of people just like us come through.  We prefer to let it happen naturally – and time after time, we come away happy.  Chances are, the vendor will not stray too terribly far from his price, but he’ll throw some extras your way that will make up for it.

And, if you have a bottom line, stick to it.  We’ve politely walked away many times, only to have the vendor come after us to renegotiate.  Win win for everyone.

Meg checking out the merchandise.

 

Success!
Success!

 

Tagging a purchase.
Tagging a purchase: a fabulous station clock.  See a similar one here.

A smile goes a long way:  Just have fun!  We love talking to the vendors, asking questions about their pieces and letting them be the experts. Most of them are.  We love hearing the stories that come with each and every item (“oui, Madame, this is from a small chateau that was in one family for four generations. The great-aunt finally had to sell…”)  The tales of life – good and bad – give these buffets, armoires, mirrors and chairs history and character.  And we’ve found a little smiling and friendly banter can go a long way.

Know your stuff:   Some dealers, especially in Paris, are world-class experts on their merchandise and that can be a little intimidating. So, a little crash course on which Louis is which and what Napoleon had to do with buffets can’t hurt (ooh, that’s an idea for a blog! Stay tuned.)

Ask questions:  most dealers, especially in Paris, speak English so ask questions – even if it’s in sign language.  You want to know how old the piece is and what the provenance is (i.e: where it’s from and what the story is).  Sometimes the appearance can give you a hint:  that gorgeous gray/green/blue paint is a pretty good indicator that the piece hails from the South.  And, it’s not unusual to find an antique that’s been altered from its original state.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing:  the tweaks may have happened more than 100 years ago.

 

A picture perfect vignette from a savvy vendor. Don't you want to just buy the whole thing?
A picture perfect vignette from a savvy vendor. Don’t you want to just buy the whole thing? You may get a better price if you do.

The more you buy….the lower the price goes.  We find most vendors are pretty fair and will reward you by lowering the overall price if you add more merchandise.

Dress the part: here’s some advice:  leave the baubles at home along with the designer bags.  Dress down and according to the weather.  There’s nothing worse than having to be on top of your game when you’re freezing and wet.  So, we pack toasty coats, appropriate footware (that means waterproof!), gloves, hats and scarves (and if it’s summer, we make sure we’re cool as cucumbers and armed with plenty of water.)  And don’t forget some little energy-lifting snacks to tuck in your bag.

Ann inspecting the inside of a nice 19th century painted buffet.
Ann inspecting the inside of a nice 19th century painted buffet.

Get there early: markets and fairs start setting up at the crack of dawn. Beat the competition and plan on being there early.  We love buying precious pieces as they’re being unloaded off the truck.

Monsieur’s pouring bubbles: it must be lunchtime. Or breakfast time.
Monsieur’s pouring bubbles: it must be lunchtime. Or breakfast time.

Come prepared:  there’s nothing more frustrating than finding the dining table of your dreams…and having no clue if it will fit in the dining room.  Come armed with a tape measure, reduced scale plans or dimensions of your rooms and a pad and pen for your notes.  Have at least a vague idea of what you’re looking for but be open to spontaneity.  We’re also compulsive picture takers and snap multiple shots of pieces we like.  Believe us, after a day of chatting with 200 vendors and seeing hundreds of antiques everything blurs together by the time you’re sitting down to dinner.

Learn the language: do a little homework and learn your basic furniture terms like:

buffet a deux corps: a two-tiered buffet whose top is shallower than the bottom.  The top will have doors made of wood or glass.

commode: a low chest of drawers with shorter legs usually placed against a wall.

enfilade: a long buffet with connecting cabinets.

gueridon: a small round table that was used for candles.  We love them as drinks tables!

Have fun and love what you buy: we love buying.  There’s a wonderful feeling of camaraderie that fills the air at fairs and markets and we love how the most important things are given priority:  lunch and wine!  We always end our buying trips in a state of being “absoluement crevee” (exhausted beyond belief) but exhilarated and full of funny stories.  Along the way, we’ve filled a container to bring back to Huff Harrington Home – and we’ve made dozens of new friends whom we’ll gladly greet the next time.

huff harrington buying trip
The reward!

 

huff harrington buying trip
You’ll meet lots of new friends (especially the most adorable four-legged ones) when you’re shopping.

Come with us!  We still have a couple spots left on our Paris Buying Trips which starts in Paris on March 7th.  We’d love to have you – and you may end up finding the treasure of your dreams and having the experience of a lifetime.

Ta ta.

 

 

 

 

Comments

comments

Comments

  1. Christine Hooker says

    February 21, 2015 at 10:39 pm

    I’m saving my money for a trip and for buying…been an antiquer for way-to-long! Someday.

    • Huff Harrington says

      February 25, 2015 at 7:33 am

      We’d love to have you anytime, Christine! A bientot…

  2. Anne Ferenz says

    December 27, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    Hi,
    I would love to come on a trip with you to buy antiques…in France. Let me know how this works. I have a shop that I want to buy country french furniture, paintings and rugs. I am also interested in Italian pieces. Thank you Anne

  3. Kathy Groves says

    January 13, 2016 at 10:08 am

    I purchased the wonderful 19th century Provencal painted buffet featured in this post. I must say the grey/green paint and patina ARE to drool over….and I have every day since I purchased it from your shop!

    Looking forward to joining you on one of your wonderful trips to France!

    • Huff Harrington says

      January 14, 2016 at 10:14 am

      Kathy we’re so thrilled to hear that! We just know it looks fabulous in your space. We can’t wait to have you join us for a trip!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: how to

You might also like to read…

  • 10 Reasons to Love Our Jaunts to Paris

  • 10 Tips for a Makeover

    10 Tips for a Makeover

Products you might love…

    About Huff Harrington

    What happens when two committed Francophiles, art lovers and design junkies get together over a bottle of red wine? A fine art gallery with a little je ne sais quoi is born, followed a few years later by its home furnishings and décor sibling.

    Get Exclusive Emails

    Don't miss promotions, events, featured artists, and all the things we love at Huff Harrington Home and Art.

    Follow HH Home

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Meet Ann + Meg

    What happens when two committed Francophiles, art lovers and design junkies get together over a bottle of red wine? A fine art gallery with a little je ne sais quoi is born, followed a few years later by its home furnishings and décor sibling.

    Welcome to Gift Central

    fabulous french antiques shop now

    Products you might love…

      Follow Us on Instagram

      Follow @huffharrington

      Categories

      Topics

      abstract accessories antiques aroma art gallery artists Atlanta Homes and LIfestyle Before and After Bethanne Cople buying trip to paris cuisine design designer design services fragrance france french antiques french furniture furniture gallery gifts how to huff harrington huff harrington fine art interior design jarres jewelry kitchen design les murets lorraine christie Marburger Farm Nola Burt painting in provence paintings paris paris apartment provence renovation Round Top Antiques Fair shopping tops Travel trips trips to france tunics

      Favorite Reads

      • A Femme d’Un Certain Age
      • Calling it Home
      • Coco Cozy
      • Cote de Texas
      • Design Indulgence
      • Designing with a Deadline
      • From the Right Bank
      • Greige Design
      • Habitually Chic
      • Hadley Court
      • La Dolce Vita
      • Lisa Mende Design
      • Lost in Cheeseland
      • Our French Oasis
      • Simply Seleta
      • The Enchanted Home
      • The English Room
      • The French Tangerine
      • The Pink Pagoda
      • Things That Inspire

      Shop Huff Harrington Now!

      • What’s New
      • Art
      • Curator’s Picks
      • Have to Haves
      • Accessories
      • Aroma
      • Books
      • Decor
      • Furniture
      • Jewelry
      • Lighting
      • Tableware
      • Trips
      • The Gift Guide

      Keep Reading

      A WEEK IN PROVENCE: Mothers, daughters & BFF’s

      A WEEK IN PROVENCE: Mothers, daughters & BFF’s

      Introducing Lily Harrington at Huff Harrington Fine Art

      Introducing Lily Harrington at Huff Harrington Fine Art

      Huff Harrington on the road

      Huff Harrington on the road

      Enjoy The Artful Lifestyle

      Home: 102 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305 | Call Huff Harrington Home 404.467.0311 • Art: 4240 Rickenbacker Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342 | Call Huff Harrington Art 404.257.0511
      ©2021 Huff Harrington. All rights reserved. Design by Works Progress