DSM.LAB/by A u r é l i e n DESMETTRE
DESMETTRE laboratoire / la.bɔ.ʁa.twaʁ /masculin
FILTERS/ All • ARCHITECTURE • REPORTAGE • STILL LIFE • STUDIO
Shot w/ Leica M6 ttl
Film Stock Cinestill 800T
City Paris , Porte de Vanves , Porte de Clignancourt
Country France
The flea markets of Paris and its suburbs are places where time seems to stand still, havens for lovers of unusual discoveries and passionate collectors. Their history dates back to the 19th century, when the capital, in the midst of its Haussmannian transformation, expelled ragpickers and second-hand dealers from the crowded streets of the city center. These scavengers of treasures unearthed from the city's rubble and discards settled at the outskirts of Paris, gradually forming clusters that would become the famous flea markets.
The most famous of these, the Saint-Ouen flea market, opened in 1885. Located in the north of Paris, just beyond Porte de Clignancourt, it quickly became a must-see, initially attracting suburbanites, then a Parisian, and finally an international clientele. Saint-Ouen is made up of several distinct markets, each with its own personality. The Vernaison market, for example, embodies the soul of the traditional second-hand goods market, crammed with antique furniture, porcelain trinkets, paintings, and textiles from another era. The Paul Bert Serpette market, meanwhile, stands out as a temple of design, where lovers of Art Deco and vintage furniture flock to find unique pieces.
These markets embody the spirit of Paris, a blend of bohemianism and old-fashioned elegance. Strolling through the narrow aisles, lined with shops with dusty storefronts, is like stepping back in time. Here, you discover fragments of past lives: forgotten lace dresses, antique watches frozen in time. These are objects that have survived decades, sometimes centuries, silent witnesses to the changes in society and bygone eras.
The Vanves market, located south of Paris, offers another side of the flea market. Smaller than Saint-Ouen, it has retained a more intimate atmosphere. People rummage around here from dawn, searching for unlikely finds: an old vinyl record, a camera from another century, a framed engraving depicting a scene from the Belle Époque. It's a place where bargaining is essential, where people take the time to discuss, negotiate, and share a story around an object.
In these markets, each stall is a gateway to forgotten stories. The merchants themselves are often storytellers, colorful characters who know every detail about the origins of their treasures. They are the guardians of a tangible memory, a popular heritage that doesn't always find its place in museums but nevertheless tells the story of an essential part of Parisian life.
These are places where people are never rushed, where they take the time to rummage, to discuss, to dream. The murmur of conversations, objects patinated by time, the smell of old leather and waxed wood mingle with the unique atmosphere of these markets. Here, each day is a celebration of memory, a discreet tribute to the passing of time and what it leaves behind: traces, objects, fragmented stories, but above all, a surge toward the beauty of the past in a world that is constantly changing.
Category
REPORTAGE