Has it really been four months since we got back from our summer vacation to Europe?.
My number one priority (aside from showing Doug the best that the City of Lights has to offer) was making it to the famous Paris flea market, the Marché aux Puces de Clignancourt. While there are several famous flea markets in Paris, this one is the most well-revered by insiders. It is the largest, which means there is something for everybody–ephemera from every era at both high and low price points.
If you find yourself in Paris and would like to visit, don’t fool yourself (like I did) into thinking that just because your hotel is on Rue de Clignancourt (in Montmartre) that you’re close by. Sorry, you’ll be out of luck. It is easy to get to, though. Take the Métro 4 (fuchsia) north to Porte de Clignancourt, cross a street, and go under a bridge and you’ll be there. Sorry for the lack of detail, but it is large, follow the masses, and there are directional signs.
Clearly, I couldn’t afford (or transport) the incredible inlaid mirrors above, nor did I come away with a bargain on a perfectly aged Turkish rug (which was my secret hope), but I did leaf through one vendor’s extensive collection of magazine advertisements from the 1920s through the 1940s and two stole my heart. They were reasonably priced, in protective plastic, and would fit in the suitcase. WIN! We sandwiched them between a few layers of corrugated cardboard for the trip home to the USA.
You’re probably saying to yourself, well this is awesome, Staci, but why are you sharing this with us now, mid-October, when you bought them in June?
Well, the good news is that Wednesday night I finally framed the magazine ads I bought at Les Puces, oh so many months later.
The first poster reads “Winter and Spring in Morocco.” If you lived in cold France in the 1920s, wouldn’t you dream of vacationing in one of your warmer colonies? I would too! The chunky and graphic line work first drew me to this, piece, and if you add the fact that I did my study abroad in Morocco, I would be a fool not to buy it. Not everybody can say they own something from 1929!
The second one is for a famous French-made car brand, Renault. This snowy Christmas ad contrasts nicely against the promise of warm weather in Morocco, and the color palette here is right up my alley. I love the blues and greens.
Next week I’ll show you where these ended up hanging in our new apartment!
If you’re like me, and love checking out other people’s vacation photos (it’s true!), check out my Eurotrip posts here, here, and here.
Pssst… just in case you didn’t know… I really love comments.
My Friend Staci 
Those old magazine ads are pretty rad! I’ve never really considered artwork on the walls, especially when my walls are the art themselves. You gave me an idea to coerce my friend into handing over some 40’s newspapers whenever it is I find myself in an apartment.
Glad to be giving out ideas! Newspapers can make awesome framed art, especially if the headline is something extra-relevant or oddball!
Probably I should take note of this flea market in Paris :)
Definitely! It is only open Saturday through Monday, though, so plan for one of those days! Other flea markets are open different days, if it’s not possible to make it to this one.