If there’s one thing that Covid has taught us, it’s that small businesses need our support right now, more than ever. And if there’s one thing that the French have taught us—well, they’ve taught us many things, but go with me on this—it’s that one of the many pleasures in life can be found in the discovery of unique treasures.
While glamour and luxury are part of the fabric of French culture, pure materialism is not. Value is placed on the joy and enhancement that an item brings into our lives—whether a classic Hermès scarf, a fierce shade of Yves Saint Laurent rouge à lèvres, or a Limoges dinner set that’s been passed down through generations. Flea markets are abundant throughout France—most notably the famous Marche aux Puces, more commonly known as “Les Puces,“ of Paris—and are rife with treasured heirlooms, historical artifacts, and a bounty of undiscovered gems.
These special pieces in today’s Small Business Holiday Gift Guide—acquired by private collectors and small businesses—have been carefully sourced or created, lovingly cared for, and placed on the market to find new homes. Many are one-of-a-kind, and imported directly from France, so be sure to stake your claim quickly!
Small Business French Gifts | Holiday Gift Guide: Jour 4
LE SPLURGE ($70 and up)
French 10 Piece Sevres Child’s Tea Set; Ye Old Antiques Store, $99
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”Gorgeous Child's French Ten Piece Tea Set with under plate. The set is blue and pink trimmed with lots of gold. This set is a SEVRES reproduction.”
Watercolors, Rooftops of Paris; Kevin Bailly, $248 each
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Find the atmosphere of the rooftops of Paris, and the magic of this capital in watercolor. Preparatory drawing for ink carried out on site in Paris by a French artist.
Antibes Gold Statement Chain; Hail the Maison, $160
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”At Hail The Maison we take old-world luxury and reimagine it. We live and breathe vintage, so we are proud to honor the luxury houses by giving their treasures a second life. We are not associated with Chanel, but have altered a vintage item to stand as its own incredible creation.”
Authentic Hermès Les Cavaliers d'Or Silk Scarf; Mainely Scarves, $414
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”Excellent condition vintage high end luxury Hermès scarf from 1975. Box with acid free paper included.”
Vintage French Monogrammed Linen Sheets; Chase Vintage, $145
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”Discovered in a Provence Flea Market, these are each absolutely beautiful, extraordinary hand embroidered and hand hemmed with GR monogram. Never used condition, fantastic example of French linen. We wish we had more, these fly off our shelves!”
Authentic French Laguiole Knives (Set of 6); Tariette, $166
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”This Laguiole range emphasises quality and value, bringing this famous style to kitchens and dining rooms across the world. These knives are the pinnacles of sturdy affordability and feature serrated blades with an eye-catching shape.”
Vintage Pierre Balmain Cufflinks; DejaVu Gouda, $108
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Keep shirt sleeves cuffed in style with a set of authentic vintage designer Balmain cufflinks.
Vintage French Limoges Cheese Plates (Set of 6); A French Kitchen, $150
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Six hand painted vintage Limoges cheese plates, perfect for apéro with friends.
LE STEAL ($50 and Under)
Vintage French Literary Classics; Pretty French Attic, $48.20
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”10 Larousse books from the 1930s, in lilac/purple tones. Small works of classical literature, good old condition with signs of age. An Ideal set to show off in a shabby chic style decoration.”
Paris Letters, 3 Pack; Janice MacLeod Design Studio, $45
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Receive a personalized letter from Paris by best selling author Janice MacLeod. In the last year of the Paris Letters series, you'll get 3 personalized letters (with your name) on a hand-painted illustration copy in one package, sent flat for framing. PARIS LETTERS by Janice MacLeod is a best selling travel memoir book based on these letters.
Blue and White Chinoiserie Vessel Candles (Set of 2); The French Bee, $40
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”Blend of jasmine and rose on an undertone of cedarwood and patchouli with a strong background of moss. Our luxury candles are individually hand poured with the utmost attention to detail and care.”
Éloise & Arabelle Decorative Embellished Pointe Shoes; She’s Parisian, $28 each
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”Beautiful hand-embellished pointe shoe, part of our Nutcracker collection. Limited edition packaging. For decorative use only.”
Vintage Mid Century Le Blanc Cufflinks, TimeTrek Vintage, $14.95
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”This is a pair of mid century gold tone cuff links with the LeBlanc Paris Instruments logo. LeBlanc is an old French clarinet manufacturing company dating from the 1860's. Gift box included.”
Tissage de l'Ouest Vintage Print Tea Towel; Clementine Boutique CA, $21.30
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”Tissage de L'Ouest has been crafting home linens since 1850 with respect for quality, tradition and modernity. Collect their prints that celebrate French culture with a touch of humour. A daily dose of happiness to wipe the dishes with a smile. This Tissage de l'Ouest Dishtowel that celebrates French culture with Tricolore stripes and bold design.”
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