On Boulevard de Ménilmontant, a busy 11th arrondissement artery running alongside the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs has occupied the same address since 1997. That longevity is its first credential. This is not a general brocante that takes whatever arrives. It is a specialist shop built around a single clear argument: 20th-century French industrial design and furniture, selected and restored to a consistent standard.
The specialisation shapes every corner of the floor. Named French brands anchor the stock — Tolix, Airborne and Nicolle appear regularly, and collectors who know what those names represent will find pieces worth examining closely. Industrial clocks, vintage lighting, workshop tools, mid-century storage furniture and advertising memorabilia fill out the selection. The range spans the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, with earlier pieces from deeper in the century alongside them.
What distinguishes the stock here is its liveable quality. Bookshelves, drawer units and industrial furniture sit arranged so a buyer can picture them in a real room. These are objects made to be used, not merely displayed. The owner selects pieces for that functional character and restores them where needed before they reach the floor. Nothing looks defeated by its age, which is rarer than it sounds for a shop of this size.
That standard attracts a broad range of serious buyers. Interior designers return regularly, as do private collectors and companies sourcing pieces for fitted interiors. The stock rotates as new finds come in, so repeat visits often surface something that was not there before. Tracking a specific Tolix form or an Airborne chair through a specialist dealer — rather than at auction — still offers real advantages in terms of condition and context.
The shop opens Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 19:30. On Sunday the doors open later, from 14:30 to 19:30, making it a practical stop on a Paris afternoon. The shop closes on Mondays. For access, the Roquette – Père Lachaise bus stop sits just outside, served by bus lines 61, 69 and 71 during the day, with night buses N16 and N34. Philippe Auguste metro station on line 2 is approximately 220 metres away and connects quickly to central Paris. Nation, served by RER A, sits roughly 1.4 kilometres further along for those coming from further out.
Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs suits collectors chasing named French industrial pieces, buyers furnishing a home with mid-century character, and anyone who wants to look at well-preserved 20th-century objects without the noise of a large fair. The combination of specialist depth and genuine curation is harder to find in Paris than it once was, and this shop has been doing it longer than most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs specialise in?
A: The shop focuses tightly on 20th-century French industrial design and furniture, with named brands such as Tolix, Airborne and Nicolle appearing regularly alongside industrial clocks, vintage lighting, workshop tools, mid-century storage furniture and advertising memorabilia. The range spans primarily the 1950s through 1970s, with some earlier pieces mixed in.
Q: Is this shop worth a return visit if I've already been once?
A: Yes. Stock rotates as new pieces come in, so a second visit often surfaces something that wasn't there before. The owner selects and restores pieces before they reach the floor, which means the turnover tends to maintain a consistent quality level rather than diluting it.
Q: When is Les Nouveaux Brocanteurs open?
A: Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 to 19:30, and Sunday from 14:30 to 19:30. The shop is closed on Mondays. Confirm current hours on the shop's official page before making a special trip.
Q: How do I get there by public transport?
A: Philippe Auguste metro station on line 2 is around 220 metres away and connects quickly to central Paris. The Roquette – Père Lachaise bus stop sits just outside, served by lines 61, 69 and 71 during the day and night buses N16 and N34. Nation on RER A is roughly 1.4 kilometres further along for those arriving from further out.
Q: Is this a good source for named French industrial pieces compared to buying at auction?
A: For collectors tracking specific Tolix forms, Airborne chairs or Nicolle stools, buying through a specialist dealer like this one offers practical advantages — the owner assesses condition before pieces reach the floor, and the context of a curated shop makes it easier to evaluate a piece than a fast-moving auction environment typically allows.
Marketplace Highlights
Add a review