Photo of Viltier shop in Paris, showing a yellow-painted wall, a golden mirror, and some decor details in white and green

Live like a local

Meet Paris’s finest artisans

September 30, 2022

Parisians take great pride in their rich craft heritage – so we’ve sought out the city’s best artisans for you. You’ll find everything from jewellery to candles in these fine establishments, all made by craftspeople with decades of experience.

Maison Michel

A fireplace, rug and vintage cabinets make this boutique feel more like a home than a shop which is just five minutes’ walk from Le Meurice. The Chanel milliner Auguste Michel is the name behind this brand, which is best known for its Virginie design – recognisable thanks to its asymmetrical crown. You can also try on trilbies, turbans and bridal hats topped with ribbons, feathers, lace and chains. Alternatively, shop for hats made from felt, hemp straw or woven straw which are soaked, dried, then fixed onto a wooden block before being manipulated into shaped by hand.

Maison Michel, 22 rue Cambon, 75001 Paris

Photo d'un chapeau blanc posé sur une machine en fer dans l'atelier de l'artisan Maison Michel à Paris

Trudon

From the moment you step into Trudon, you’ll feel your senses soothed by the scent of conifer trees mingled with citrus fruit. Its range of fragrant candles includes Solis Rex, inspired by the Palace of Versailles’ wooden floors. Established in 1643 by Claude Trudon, it’s the world’s oldest active candlemaker, and was awarded Living Heritage Company status in 2020 by the French government. While the candles are made in Mortagne-au-Perche in Normandy and the glasses hand-crafted in Italy, Trudon has boutiques around the world – including in Samaritaine near Le Meurice.

Maison Trudon La Samaritaine, 9 rue de la Monnaie, 75001 Paris

A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson

Domino paper – single sheets of wallpaper – hang from cords above a table scattered with pencils, paintbrushes and huge vases of roses in A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson. Artistic directors Vincent Farelly and Jean-Baptiste Martin founded the boutique in 2012 in a hidden courtyard. Specialising in wallpaper, it also sells printed linen, hand-painted plates, paper lampshades and notebooks (some of which you may recognise from Le Meurice). Peek into the orangerie and you’ll catch artisans stencilling on paper, or block-printing patterns using 18^th century techniques.

A Paris chez Antoinette Poisson, 12 rue Saint-Sabin, Paris 75011

Photo of Antoinette Poisson inside shop in Paris, showing some domino papers hanging on cords above a table scattered with pencils and paintbrushes

Viltier

Jewellery brand Viltier was founded by childhood friends Iris de La Villardière and Thomas Montier Leboucher – previously at Cartier London. It specialises in rare, colourless diamonds (and gems designated near colourless), which its artisans transform into rings in its Parisian workshop. “Each of our craftsmen have their own speciality, such as setting stones or polishing gold,” explains Thomas. “Including research and design, it takes at least a year to develop a collection, while a single piece of jewellery takes six weeks.”

Viltier showroom, 18 rue Las Cases, 75007 Paris

Jovoy

How about a mojito? A mojito-scented candle, that is. Founder François Hénin established Jovoy in 2006, next-door-but-one to Le Meurice. It’s since opened boutiques in London and the Middle East, specialising in rare perfumes and scented candles by brands with intriguing scents. The Absolu Mojito + Cloche candle, with notes of mint, rum and lime, is general manager Franka Holtmann’s favourite.

Jovoy, 4 rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris

Inside Jovoy shop in Paris, with red walls, a white draped ceiling, and black and wooden tables filled with a large selection of colourful perfumes

If you’re interested in further artisanal delights, you can explore the city’s most historical department stores.

Header image courtesy of Jérôme Galland

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Le Meurice

The original palace hotel in the heart of historic Paris, Le Meurice with its splendid newly-restored rooms and suites is the very epitome of quiet elegance and is alive with the artist's soul of wit and magic.

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