I am taking a blogging break this week. I am posting some of mine and your favorite posts from last year. Enjoy them again or for the first time if you are a new reader.
I was walking on Blvd. Beaumarchais near the Bastille about two weeks ago and stumbled upon the most enchanting shop. Atelier d'Autrefois is filled with the most delightful music boxes of every shape and sort. As I silently perused the shelves of music boxes filling every nook and cranny of the shop, I became intrigued. Some of them had elaborately detailed dolls in costumes including Pierrot and Comedia de Arte figures set on top of the boxes. There was one extravagant piece which had a stage set with 5 porcelain dolls in 18th century costumes playing instruments and three of them were on a propped on a wooden staircase. I kept on looking closely at the exquisite detail on each piece.
I spoke with the owner Maurice (he speaks English), a stout gray haired man with a shy smile and he said that everything in the shop including the wooden boxes, the dolls and their costumes, even the tiny satin bows on the dolls shoes, he made by hand. He also said he hand glazed and fired the porcelain dolls heads. I was astounded. He went on to say the craft of music box making was handed down to him from his father who had his shop in Montmartre and unfortunately he was the last person of his generation to carry on this rich tradition. He took me in the back to his workroom which was the perfect artisans mess cramped with tools and small objets he used for the pieces, and showed me an exquisite custom ordered piece he was working on that would take a year to finish. It was another stage set which had a white proscenium around it and inside were five cats in white minstrel costumes standing on a parquet floor (handmade) playing string instruments. Each had its own musical mechanism playing a classic Rossini piece. I was astounded yet again.
Since my first visit I have taken almost every Marais tour client to my new favorite shop and two have bought the music boxes as gifts. I am sure they will treasure these hand made gems forever. Each time Maurice has been so gracious to pridefully tell people about what he does. He loves to show off his pride and joy, a small wooden music box with a mechanism that has over 2,000 pieces and he shyly smiles again as a tiny, finely detailed bird twirls around and chirps after he opens the top. Maurice can make a box in any shape or form you like and he has an extensive selection of wood finishes and swatches of fabric to choose from.
Maurice and his shop prove to me again why I prefer Paris. Where else in the world does a place like this still exist?
Atelier d'Autrefois
61 Blvd. Beaumarchais
Tel. 01 42 77 35 56
Open Monday to Saturday 9AM-7PM
Maurice the Music Box Man
Maurice's Pride and Joy-chirp,chirp
Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale
I am happy to announce the sale of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos. I am offering 17 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my courtyards, doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.
Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
These are some of the most stunning music boxes I have ever seen!! Did you buy one?
Posted by: Music Boxes | March 08, 2011 at 04:14 PM