I grew up in the UK, surrounded by antiques bought by my parents for a snip at country auctions. They said they did it to make ends meet – but even as a child I knew that was only half the story.

I caught the collecting bug first with textiles, then moved on to British glass. But one thing leads to another, and a move to Paris opened new horizons of discovery. My passion for antiques and collectibles developed, got wider and deeper.  Thanks to the help of my patient French partner, it took on a distinctly French accent.

Most of the objects in the shop are mainly from the 1870s-1970s, before globalisation made us all ever-so-slightly the same. For most of the last century, France was prosperous and sure of itself. Its art de vivre was recognised and celebrated. A uniquely French style pervaded everything it made, from kitchen gadgets to luxury goods. These objects have become more special in a world where standardisation is king.

There’s a real satisfaction you get when you give an old object new life in a modern home.  It goes without saying you like looking it. You enjoy its beauty and style, the craft that has gone into it, the story it tells. And when you buy an Art Deco French vase or a 1950s French couture scarf, it’s also way of enjoying something of greater quality and presence than you could easily afford if you set out to buy its true modern equivalent.