DH and I are leaving for our quick Paris shopping (and eating!) weekend this Thursday. Since we have just redone our living room, we would like to see if we could find an unusual table lamp. I do realize it will have to be rewired for the US. I figure we would look in the department stores, and of course BHV, and I understand there is a lamp store on Rue Cler. Any other suggestions?

Many thanks

Try the design shops along Rue jacob..I saw some great lamps in that area..especially along Rue Bonaparte , going toward St Germain des Pres

Bon Marche has a very nice lamp department. There are also a lot of home stores around St. Sulpice.

Personally, I wouldnt waste my time and money and the trouble transporting it. I havent seen anything in Paris home furnishing shops that was so different than you could buy at home, probably cheaper and a lot easier, even if you want something imported.

I agree with Christina. As an interior designer, I have seen nothing in department stores that is different from what you'll find imported and already wired for US in the US department stores. The only reason I can think to buy a lamp in Paris would be to find a really fine antique one-of-a-kind lamp. You'll find those at antique shops scattered throughout the city, but many in the Rue Jacob area of the 6th.

That said, you want what you want! How about an antique? (How a lamp can be an antique I wonder...but anyway.) Check out the Louvre's antique galleries (across the Rue Rivoli from the Louvre) and I KNOW I don't have the name correct, someone will correct me.. .but good grief...or mon dieu! I saw some lovely things there...

Taking Patrick's post 1 step further..since you are going to have to have a purchased lamp rewired, consider buying a vase, a ginger jar, a piece of sculpture, candlesticks,etc and having it make into a lamp when you get home. Almost anything that strikes your fancy can be easily made into a lamp. I've looked around my hours and I can only find 2 "ready made" lamps. The rest are pieces we've picked up and and had wired. I even had a large sugar bowl made into one for a kitchen.

Thanks for your input. I realize that the department stores and such will carry things that are just like I can get in NY. When we were in Strasbourg this past fall, we stumbled upon a small store with some really unique lamps. Very antiquey looking but not real antiques, unfortunately we weren't ready to buy ( and this trip is to short for a quick hop to Strasbourg). that's the kind of place I was thinking of. I did think of the antique 'mall' near the Louvre.

Jody, I like that idea!