Do people have any favorite shops and galleries in these areas? I'm not expecting to buy something expensive, since I'm sure that I won't be able to afford it, but I'm not against buying something tasteful and reasonably priced that I can easily take home with me in my carry-on.

Louvre des Antiquaires: As it turns out, I'll be staying in a cheap hotel about half a block away. I want to stop by after I arrive on Saturday. I see that they've a website, which I can look at some more:

http://www.louvre-antiquaires.com/

Any shops that are especially noteworthy here?

St-Germain: I plan to follow a walk outlined in a Michelin guide to walks in Paris. They list a bunch of art galleries and clothing stores, which I plan to check out. Are there some good art places here that I should check out?

Marais: According to Time Out Paris, some of the major galleries are in this area. I've never checked these out and want to do so while I check out the clothing stores and the maisons particuliers. Again, are there names here that're not to be missed?

It will be a very busy Saturday....

Thanks!

oops -- hotels particuliers.

Not knowing your taste in art, it's difficult to recommend galleries. There are many in Place des Vosges and one on rue de Turenne we liked. The rue de Turenne gallery is Kalliste 21. We bought two oil paintings there last spring. We thought their prices were fair and they shipped.
Happy shopping!

I don't think that I know my taste in art either. Whatever catches the fancy, I guess. Just looking for names to put down on a "do not miss" list, I guess.

Paintings may be a bit large for me to carry home, but it'd be great to look at them.

Thanks!

The shops/galleries in the louvre antiquaires are <i>very, very</i> expensive. BTW, the Biennale des Antiquaires takes place Sept 15-28 in the Carrousel de Louvre. It's mostly very formal fff (fine French furniture) but might be fun to browse if you'll be there. Look at biennaledesantiquaires.com for info.

It is unclear exactly what you're looking for and at what price. Art? small antiques? (called brocantes). The antique/flea markets are better for those things I think.

I like the antique shops on and around Rue Jacob behind the D'Orsay museum.

There are usually some great small boutiques in the Marais near the Picasso Museum. I'm sure others will give more specifics if you explain what you mean by &quot;something tasteful and reasonably priced.&quot;

&quot;something tasteful and reasonably priced&quot;....

I know. It's impossible to define. Honestly I can't tell you. It's not like I've bought any real art before. I'd say something reasonably priced would be a few hundred dollars. But I know that that's probably a laughable budget (at least based on what I've seen of Chelsea gallery prices in NYC. A small painting typically starts at $750+). I'm not averse to paying more, I guess, but I think that it'd be a foolish thing to do as I'm not in a real position to know if the piece should command a certain price (granted, value is in the eye of the beholder too).

Something tasteful? I've no idea either. Something not very big that screams for attention?

Sorry for being so vague -- maybe this whole thread will convince me to look and not buy anything. I'm happy just looking in any case.

By the way, I also enjoy looking at photographs. I think that it might be easier to buy some photos at a reasonable price. I could be wrong though. Again I don't have any first-hand experience to speak of.

I'll miss the Biennale -- I'm there this weekend and I'm coming back on Monday.

There are also quite a few galleries along the Seine in St-Germain-des-Pr&eacute;s.

My daughter and I really loved an artist who was being featured in a Place Vosges gallery; turns out the original oils were in the thousands-worth it for sure but still a gulp for us. However, the gallery had a wonderful show poster with great colors and a really good size which we bought for under 10 Euros. I spent a fortune having it framed, but that' another tale. Just a thought in case you see something out of your budget. We wouldn't have known the posters were for sale had we not asked.

I returned from Paris Monday and am regretting not buying several watercolors from a street artist in Place du Vosges. Does anyone have ideas about how I could track her down? She was in front of a jewelry store called Alix, so I've thought about contacting them to see if she is usually in the same spot. I didn't even get her name and could kick myself!

Louvre des Antiquaires
If you like Jean Cocteau, go downstairs and see an amazing amount of his drawings and wonderful prints.Waay expensive but worth seeing even if not shopping.
I always go to the Maight Gallery. I usually bring home something, it is affordable (sometimes)..
Gallery Alain Blondell on rue Aubrey le Boucher (4th)
If you start walking at the Seine and go down rue de Seine, you will be exhausted by the amount of galleries..also over by the Bonaparte, there is one that I cannot remember the name of.
The Marais is the same for me, so many but I don't remember the names.
Rue Jacob, Universite,Sts Peres, all have galleries..one is Asian art, gorgeous!
Oh such fun, I am envious

You know, I started this thread last year. It's a little funny seeing it topped this way.

But I think that I passed by that Cocteau shop. I did make it to Louvre des Antiquaires.

I've not been inside Maeght, but I think it's next to Christian Liaigre (sp?) and the Montalembert Hotel (Robuchon).

The left bank has some galleries on r. de Seine and r. Mazarine.

No trips to Paris planned for now, but maybe in January during the sale season. I was there in January two years in a row, so I may as well plan on it next year.

LOL, and I did not look at the date when I answered
Oh well, it is good info for other shoppers and gallery browsers!