ozres

First of all, I'm not a French antique expert! However, since you've already got the trip scheduled, why not look for several "small" things to furnish your new home?

You'll need lots of knick-knacky things, linens, metalware, etc for your new home and these can be reasonably purchased in France AND brought home. Pack lightly for the trip over (preferably in carry-ons only). Buy 2-4 reasonable, but cheap suitcases, in France and fill them full with treasures for your new home! Check them as part of your luggage allowance on the flight home.

On our last trip to Paris three years ago, I purchased 2 meters of fabric and made it into a throw and pillows for our living room. I also bought a canvas painting from a Seine vendor across from Notre Dame and framed it after we were home. The result? Beautiful items I've incorporated into our home decor that remind me of our travels!

Save the expensive furniture purchases for a US shopping trip. Do you have any antique dealers nearby that specialize in European antiques? Even here in Arkansas (aka "the boonies&quot, we have a dealer nearby that gets about 40 containers per year from Europe. He and his staff purchase the items in Europe and sell them in their HUGE warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. He has several dealers that come in from Chicago, Dallas, etc just to look at his selection.

Good Luck,
Marla

SuzieC

I got to thinking about this and I realized I think that this is perfectly lovely. If you can do it, I think you should. I would if I could! Now, that said, maybe not whole suites of rooms, but surely a commode, a table or two, a couple of side chairs? And the rest of your lives you'll know you bought them on that trip to France..."When was that dear? Oh, I think 2004..."
WHAT IS The name of the gallery across the road (rue Rivoli) from the Louvre that is antique dealer after dealer... perhaps the collective group there does have a way to pack a whole thing (one of those huge crates that go on freightor ships?) for arrival to New York and then for shipping to you...
Surely you are not the first American's to try to purchase Furniture in France?!?

StCirq

The gallery SuzieC is talking about is Le Louvre des Antiquaires, I believe.

I'm sure they're quite capable of arranging to ship a container....for a king's ransom

SuzieC

Wonder why my mind blanks out the name of that place. Must be coz at the moment, all I can do is look. I guess I could buy an ash tray...did they have ash-trays during the reign of the Louis teens? <BG>