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Jonathan Matei's avatar

Have you ever thought about how much history is hidden in everyday furniture? This was such an eye-opening read! It’s interesting how trends from places like Versailles trickled down and influenced so many designs. The creativity of artisans adapting to demand is really impressive. Excited to see what other historical gems you uncover next!

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Amy Elizabeth Gordon's avatar

I learn so much about French culture and French history from you. It's funny because my husband has an undergraduate degree in all things French and he rarely accesses that Francophile side of himself. You, my Dear, embrace it with your curiosity and writings. Thank you for sharing...

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Sarah Thompson's avatar

Bon travail!

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Betty Carlson's avatar

Fascinating! I did know that that area was famous for its artisans, and that some are still practicing. But I didn't have the background information that you provide. I really enjoyed this!

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Jenn Bragg's avatar

Thank you, Betty! It was fun to research.

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Comte de Saint-Germain's avatar

Fun post! The travelling carpenter engraving is a fictional representation, part of popular series of imaginary "Costumes grotesques" by Nicolas de Larmessin. He invented outlandish costumes by combining various tools of trade (or goods sold) for many job types, and these prints were very popular.

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Jenn Bragg's avatar

Oh, that's interesting! Thanks for sharing that. I found the 'outfit' cumbersome looking, but it does show the sign of the times, probably. I'll look de Larmessin up to see what else he's done.

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Véronique Savoye's avatar

Bonjour Jenn. Thank you for this excellent read.

I used to live close to Faubourg Saint Antoine in another life and have always enjoyed the neighborhood. In spite of inescapable gentrification it remains authentic and mixed socially, (unlike other corners of the French capital.)

The quality of workmanship demonstrated by the Faubourg's artisans is well-known in Paris (my parents' dining room set came from a local store years ago.)

If you dig even further you discover the quaint, hidden courtyards where all the artisans and furniture makers used to work (many have been turned into offices these days.) Access is still possible in some of them when they haven't been turned into gated community of sorts, complete with digicodes.

The neighborhood's social history is fascinating. Locals fought during the French Revolution as you pointed out, and they joined every single conflict after that (1830, 1848, and of course, 1871.)

Le Faubourg became a "Communard" stronghold in the spring of 1871, barricades erected in and around the Bastille. Casualties, destruction, and repression ensued.

It would appear neither Napoleon III or his wingman, the famous Baron Haussmann realized that pushing working classes away from the new, elegant neighborhoods they were carving out downtown - by ripping apart medieval Paris - also meant many would congregate in the same districts, typically in the eastern and northeastern part of the city. When the time came to rebel, they had already created tight-knit, supportive communities.

The artisans of Faubourg Saint Antoine had been on site for several centuries as you pointed out and stood up for what they believed when the time came (and it came on several occasions through the 19th century.)

Thanks for taking me back to my old 'hood thanks to this well researched story.

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Jenn Bragg's avatar

Hi Véronique and merci bien for providing an interesting context for this article! To me it's so sad that a lot of these neighborhoods with a rich history are disappearing... Your story helps to show that a community like Le Faubourg was unique aside from its histoire ébénistique and that its residents were so congenial back in the day -- I hope that doesn't get forgotten!

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Marjie Stewart's avatar

i''ve stayed in the 11th but did not know about this - next trip!

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Jenn Bragg's avatar

Yes, and let me know what you think if you visit!

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