Tables without legs???

Chers Amis, Bonjour students of the "Ecole du Bon Gout"! Tables without legs??? Many console tables were designed without any legs at all or they had 1,2,3,4 or more legs!! Consoles had their greatest "hay day" in the Louis XV period but enjoyed continued popularity through the years, taking on the changing details and tastes of the various periods that followed.

Consoles usually relate strongly to the chairs of the same period because they were created by the same designers and cabinet makers. Their size was completely varying, from the huge ones made for the Chateau de Versailles during Louis XIV's period, all the way down in size to just a wall bracket big enough to hold one candle stick.

No matter the size, most often they are installed in a central position of importance in a room's layout and also often act as an important "visual support" and central focal point for other elements of a wall's composition.

Find following 5 photos of finished installations of consoles, followed by 6 photos of the consoles available now here at Au Vieux Paris Antiques. I welcome your visit here to see these consoles. Shop # 337 332 2852

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

"antiques providing luxurious comfort" ????

Chers Amis du Bon Gout!! Most people today don't automatically think of "antiques providing truly luxurious comfort". I propose in some cases, antiques certainly do provide this and more elegantly than most other similar mediums.

Find attached 3 photos showing finished installations of pillows, newly made from luxurious antique fabrics. These are followed by 3 photos of the pillows made from antique fabric, that are available now at Au Vieux Paris Antiques. So if you would like to add some truly luxurious comfort, not to mention major "bon gout" to your home environment, plan a visit here to see and to touch these amazing pillows.

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Buy the real thing and save $250,000

Chers Amis,  Bonjour de Au Vieux Paris Antiques!!!      I have just read the most splendid "catalog" for the Getty Museum's current exhibition entitled "Paris: Life and Luxury" which is at the Getty now but will be shown in Houston's Museum of Fine Arts Sept 18 to Dec 10.  I strongly recommend both the catalog as well as a Museum visit to students of "Bon Gout".  They are both top connoisseur level and about as delicious as the Paris of the eighteenth century gets. To purchase the book call the Getty book shop at : 310 440 7059.  Both the exhibition and book feature great 18th c paintings of Louis XV interiors, juxtaposed with actual items very similar to those seen in the paintings.

Well, find here photos using the same format but with items that are for sale here in the shop. So you see you could buy real 18th century wine glasses, green glass preserve jars, a silver plated bronze "rechaud", a bois dore stool or a game table here and have the real thing instead of paying $250,00 to $350,000 for a Chardin painting of one of these items.  What a savings!!!!

I look forward to your visit.    

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Gift giving made fun and easy!!!

Chers Amis,  Bonjour de Pont Breaux la Louisiane!!  Since I returned from France two weeks ago, I have been having a streak of supplying various clients with special anniversary, birthday and believe it or not, I know it is HOT outside, but for one client a major gift for next Christmas.    Because I usually know the recipients, I take special pleasure in these sorts of projects and particularly have fun with the wrapping which is always, well, "creative".  Once I packed a complete set of wine glasses, only in scented fresh rose petals!!!   So if you have a gifting occasion big or small on the horizon, I will be happy to help you.

Find attached here photos of a few "new" pieces just in here at the shop, to get you to thinking.      

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

Dining VS Eating in France

Chers Amis,  Bonjour!!!   I have just returned from 7 delicious weeks in Provence and upon my return a friend commented that it looked like I had lost a little weight on this trip. Knowing that the average U S traveler to France, who stays only maybe 2 weeks, often comes back with some unwanted extra baggage around their waist lines, I thought about this and have this idea to propose.  Most tourists, who don’t have French residences and native friends entertaining them, gain weight because they eat only in restaurants.  In most restaurants, even many 4 star restaurants, the table settings, the room decor, and the audio experience is seldom really fabulous even though the food is.  So what do people do??? They partake of the one best things, the food, and end up over eating.

On my stay of 7 weeks, I only ate 3 restaurant meals, but did go to 22 wonderful dinners or luncheons at friend's homes and I gave an additional 10 dinners or luncheons at my home.  These occasions were not just about delicious food but were really about a more total experience of "Bon Gout dining".  This meant meals set in visually delicious (and intellectually stimulating) rooms or gardens, antique dining furniture as well as table settings of 18th or 19th century silver, china and glassware, fresh flowers, candle light, and delightful audio, whether it was the chirping of birds in an almost totally silent garden terrace setting or period music softly coloring an interior environment.

Please find following photos from my trip, which may inspire you to consider enhancing the total aesthetic experience of dinning in your life as well as some photos of some "dining equipment" available here at Au Vieux Paris, in case you need a little help with the setting. 

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com

What a Blog!!!!!

Chers Amis,  Bonjour !!  Mme. Andrea Veron visited here at the shop yesterday and has created with great photos and lively commentary a delightful "virtual visit" to Au Vieux Paris Antiques.  I Invite you to enjoy the piece by clicking on the link below!!  Cordialement,  Robert

http://allthetrappings.blogspot.com/2011/03/antiquarians-antiquarian-lovely-spring.html

Country air and treasures too!

Chers Amis,  Bonjour de Pont Breaux la Louisiane!!  Here the 2010-11 Winter is history and our  plant and animal worlds are waking up to Spring!!!   So maybe you too feel like you need to celebrate Spring's arrival and "flap your wings" a bit too!!

See attached photos of a few delicious antiques at Au Vieux Paris Antiques, which may tempt you to a "country" visit here to get some fresh air and maybe a treasure to bring home to enliven your own home as well !!  The shop is loaded, having had the infusion of a big shipment which arrived this past December. 

In addition to this I am also looking forward to another shipment from my recent "Winter in Uzes" trip to arrive momentarily!!   Please feel free to call me (337 332 2852) and arrange a visit! 

If you are unable to visit soon and have a special piece in mind ,visit the web site at  www.auvieuxparisantiques.com  or just give me a call.       

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith

Visit the Au Vieux Paris Antiques homepage (click here)
Browse a sampling of the merchandise available (click here)

Mes Amities,
Robert E. Smith   (337) 332-2852
http://www.auvieuxparisantiques.com