Keys to Saint-Ouen

This is an immersion in Saint-Ouen, just outside Paris, widely regarded as the world’s largest antiques/flea markets. With Philippe Mevel — long-time antiques expert and advisor — you weave through Saint-Ouen’s legendary markets that bring together over 1,200 merchants: Paul Bert Serpette, Biron, Malassis, Vernaison and Dauphine. The pace follows your taste. From alleys to ateliers, you compare eras and finishes while Phil navigates the labyrinth so you can focus on discovery. His reputation makes the difference. Dealers open doors to back rooms and fresh finds. You might handle a Renaissance-style commode, a stamped Louis XVI desk, a Charlotte Perriand chair or a singular contemporary object. Phil turns provenance, condition and authenticity into clear guidance, helping you read clues. Even if you’re just browsing, you leave feeling like you navigated the liveliest treasure hunt. And if you're in the market for a specific find, you might just secure a piece you'll forever cherish.

Philippe Mevel brings the depth of an antique specialist and art dealer, plus a network earned over years in Saint-Ouen. Dealers know and trust him; and open their doors for you. Instead of drifting across multiple markets, you move through the few that match your taste, with access to select warehouses not open to the public. You shop the way professionals do: focused and guided by relationships. You set the brief — Renaissance to Napoleon III, a stamped Louis XVI desk, modernism or contemporary design — and Philippe turns it into a route. He shows you how to read provenance and restorations and how to validate authenticity without killing the magic. You meet dealers he knows and hear their stories. Buy or simply learn: you leave with sharper eyes, a shortlist of trusted dealers, and a sense of orientation within the maze. The difference is a seasoned eye working on your side — clear criteria, calm decisions, the thrill of recognizing a find when it appears.

Philippe Mevel is a Paris-based antiques specialist and art dealer who leads private visits through the Saint-Ouen flea markets, antique boutiques, and art galleries. He trained in Switzerland and France before moving to the United States in 1999. From 2000 to 2006 he worked with Gasiunasen Fine Arts in Palm Beach, collaborating with prominent collectors. Since 2007 he has worked independently as an art advisor and dealer, with acquisitions that have included works by Picasso and Chagall. Philippe’s core expertise is seventeenth- and eighteenth-century French furniture, complemented by broad knowledge of modern and contemporary art and design. His clients range from corporate teams and museums to architects, interior designers, dealers, and first-time buyers.

Comfortable shoes and the desire to explore and uncover treasures.