Puces Portait: Max Keys 🗝️

A London dealer at Paul Bert with a gambler’s instinct for objects that make a statement, and a distinctive online drop system.

Portrait by Toby Glanville of Max Keys on his stand at the Puces

Originally from London, Max — who has to have one of the best names at the Puces! — is one of the few foreigners to have established himself at the Marché Paul-Bert. An instinctive ensemblier with an eye for pieces that make an immediate statement, he mixes periods and styles with confidence, privileging character over pedigree. The four suits of a deck of cards tattooed on his right hand hint at the gambler’s instinct behind the trade: knowing when to trust your eye and play your luck. In parallel with his stand, he has developed a streamlined digital sales system, previewing new collections to his mailing list every two weeks before releasing them on his website — extending the rhythm of the market into the online world.