Ellen

My husband and I will be traveling from Provence through Burgandy up to Paris this fall. We have recently purchased a new home and we're looking for some standard and unique furniture pieces that we could perhaps purchase directly in France. <BR> <BR>I was wondering if anyone has experience in buying furniture overseas? How difficult is it to ship it back to the U.S.A? Would you have any recommendations as to where I could find some typical French Country furniture..even antiques for that matter? We're not looking for typical furniture that you'd find in your standard stores like Ethan Allen and such. We live in Vermont and there are many small "one man shops" that make unique and handmade pieces so we were hoping to find something like that over in France. Specificially we'd love a French Country table, maybe a hutch or cupboard. <BR> <BR>Any suggestions? <BR> <BR>Many Many Thanks! <BR>

Andy

Hi Ellen- here are some websites that list antique markets and antique store in Provence-: <BR>http://www.europeguidebook.com/franc...st/nancy/fr_na <BR>www.provenceweb.fr/e/mag/brocante.htm <BR>http://cgi1.usatoday.com/life/travel...rance.htm#more <BR> <BR>www.antiquinginfrance.com.page3.html <BR> <BR>these sites list flea markets,dealer etc--You should be able to gear your trip around the markets-in Provence they are literally everyday of the week--with Ille Sur La SOrgue the biggest and the best on Sat.and Sunday . <BR> <BR>If you need more info,contact me directly...I am very into country french antiques-most of the things I purchase I bring home on plane-but there are antique shops over there that Do ship your purchases for you.... If you did a container on your own (which is the cheapest way to go-you would need to own an antique shop as you need SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many pieces to fill it up-ie.like 10 armoires plus opther furniture--whereas,if you let the antique dealer ship directly to you,you WOULD pay more for shipping but would have to purchase a houseful of furniture----go and have a great time and can I go in your suitcase!!!!!

Andy

Sorry-meant to say if you purchased from a dealer and had him ship your puchase you would NOT have to purchase a houseful of furniture--- <BR> <BR>There are also place in PA. that specialize in COuntry French furn--in the Lambertville,Pa area and also in the Lancaster,Pa area--

mimi taylor

Ile Sur La Sorge is the town to shop for furniture and they will arrange shiping.

PB

Ellen, <BR> <BR>If you care to contact me by email I would be happy to assist you. I'm rather addicted to antiques and have many dealer friends here in Provence where I live. <BR>I can give you recommendations for shipping as well. <BR>You WILL find many items in l'Isle sur la Sorgue, but the prices are overly expensive. The shops there are only open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays - there is also a brocante on Sunday mornings (also expensive). <BR> <BR>PB

Ellen

Andy, <BR> <BR>Thank you so much for your suggestions. I only had one of the web addresses you posted so I really appreciate your help. We will be sure to check out Isle Sur La Sorgue while we are in Provence since we will be there for several days. Unfortunately we will not be there over a weekend so I wonder what my chances are for finding other locations for furniture. <BR> <BR>PBProvence... I will try to e-mail you with more specifics. Thank you for your offer to help.

Robin

Ellen, <BR> <BR>I found a great website for Provence that has helped me a great deal. <BR> <BR>www.avignon-et-provence.com <BR> <BR>The website has a section on shopping and within that section, there are stores listed for antiques, accessories, clothing, etc. <BR> <BR>PB..would you mind posting specifics here? I am also greatly interested in furniture (either antique or reproductions) and anything handpainted, accessories, wine, markets ie;which are the best (got the list for markets of that website). <BR> <BR>

Jody

I'm posting a URL for a great book on exploring ,buying and shipping from France. Sandy price is an American lawyer who has really got it all down!! <BR> <BR>I greatly enjoyed this book and hope you will too. I am NOT sandy Price!! <BR> <BR>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...916159-9967914

PB

<BR>Robin, <BR> <BR>&lt; &lt; PB..would you mind posting specifics here? I am also greatly interested in furniture (either antique or reproductions) and anything handpainted, accessories, wine, markets ie;which are the best (got the list for markets of that website)&gt; &gt; <BR> <BR>It's hard to put so much information into a post... especially since I don't have much of it stored in my computer ! <BR>My recommendations would really depend on what kind of furniture you are looking for - I'm primarily 'into' antiques and don't get into reproductions much at all. <BR>For antique markets there are a couple of publications that have sites that might interest you - if you can read French. One of them is <BR>www.brocantemag.com and another is <BR>www.aladinmag.com <BR> <BR>There is an excellent shipper (out of Nice, but he picks up everywhere in France) called Mari Transports. They handle both air and maritime shipments. <BR> <BR>One of the best 'brocantes' is every Saturday morning in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon until 12:30 PM. You can find anything from a Gallé vase to beautiful silver to doors to armoires, depending on the Saturday. (I'm there every Saturday morning.....) <BR> <BR>There are several professional 'déballages' throughout the year, but you would need a professional card to get into those - usually followed by an antiques fair - one is in l'Isle sur la Sorgue the weekend of August 15th. <BR> <BR>Patricia

Robin

Ellen, <BR> <BR>I bought the book that Jody recommended and I also highly recommend it. It took me about 2 days to read it from cover to cover! It has flea market listings and ratings for Provence, Burgundy and Paris (all the places you'll be visiting)!! <BR> <BR>Thanks PB for website info but unfortunately I don't speak French. I wrote down the name of your shipper though. Hopefully I'll get to put them to use! I'm kicking myself because we arrive in Nice on Saturday afternoon so we'll miss the market you talked about. I will DEFINITELY make the market at Isle Sur la Sorgue on Sunday though!!! We're staying in Avignon for the first three days and it looks pretty close on the map. <BR> <BR>In the book by Sandy Price, she highly recommends the flea market in Arles. What is your opinion? <BR> <BR>Thanks!

are you serious

You must be kidding--go to Hickory NC

PB

To Robin: <BR> <BR>The flea market on the first Wednesday in Arles is great. The smaller one on Saturday mornings isn't bad... and it give you a good opportunity to see the really big food (and everything else) market as well. <BR> <BR>I forgot to add the information for <BR>Mari Transports <BR> <BR>website: www.transports-mari.com <BR> <BR>Ask for Christophe Mari or Charles - they both speak English. <BR> <BR>PB

Ellen

Can anyone tell me, do they sell furniture at flea markets? In addition to the items I mentioned we would also be interested in lamps and smaller furniture items. <BR> <BR>The other issue we're concerned about is whether or not most of the vendors at the flea markets speak English. It will be difficult to negotiate where we do not speak French. <BR> <BR>We thank you.

PB

Many times you will find furniture at "Brocantes"... they're rather above the level of a flea market - which is what they would call a "vide grenier" here. <BR>Brocantes are usually only antiques - and more recently "design" which is what they call furniture and items fromt he 50s. <BR> <BR>I've found some very nice pieces of furniture at the brocante in Villeneuve lez Avignon (held every Saturday morning). You just have to figure out how to get it delivered or picked up by a shipper. <BR> <BR>You will sometimes find dealers who speak English (particularly in a place like l'Isle sur la Sorgue), but oftentimes you'll have to make do with a piece of paper, a pen and a calculator... although I can't think how many times I've provided impromptu translation services when I've happened upon such a scene... <BR> <BR>PB