The Paris Flea Market & the Art of Chiner

An edited conversation, originally published by Yolo Journal, on the strange magic of the Puces de Saint-Ouen, and the culture of ‘chiner’.

We nearly always make time for a visit to the Puces de Saint-Ouen when we’re in Paris. But even as veteran treasure hunters, we still find the five-acre sprawling flea and antiques market at the northern gates of Paris to be completely overwhelming. So we were excited to crack open The Paris Flea Market, a coffee-table-size book by Kate van den Boogert, the Australia-born, Paris-based vintage expert who hosts private half-day and full-day tours and has relationships with some of the market’s best vendors. (Everyone from Simon Porte Jacquemus and interior designer Jacques Grange to Ina Garten are fans.) In it, she draws back the curtain on the nearly impenetrable world of the Puces, presenting several dealers at its heart – colorful characters and collectors who are wildly obsessive about their stylistic niche, be it 18th-century furniture or post-war ceramics. We also asked her for hacks for navigating the different markets, negotiating tips, and where to refuel with coffee, lunch, or apéro.
By Alex Postman | Read the full article/ interview here.