About:
Antique French painter’s case, early 20th century. Made of fruitwood with visible dovetail joinery and a compartmentalized interior, this artist’s box holds the well-preserved traces of its original use. Inside: a collection of 20+ vintage brushes, oil tins, and paint tubes labeled “Le Franc, Paris.” The painter’s palette, still marked with layers of pigment, hints at a lost body of work — a quiet archive of color and intention. Brass hardware, including two claw clasps and a keyhole (key not included), finish the exterior. A compelling object for collectors, creatives, or anyone drawn to the material culture of art.
Shipping:
We offer flat-rate shipping within the lower 48 United States, based on order value. See rates below for details. Free local pickup is available at our May pop-up in Seattle.
Condition:
Very good antique condition. Interior contents are original and complete, with signs of age and use throughout. Exterior wood has a warm patina and well-preserved structure. Based on having a very large number of paints inside, there is also residue. This could be cleaned out as desired, with a solvent, but is left as is for collector's choice.
Dimensions:
- Length: 14.3"
- Depth: 11.5"
-
Height: 3"
About:
Antique French painter’s case, early 20th century. Made of fruitwood with visible dovetail joinery and a compartmentalized interior, this artist’s box holds the well-preserved traces of its original use. Inside: a collection of 20+ vintage brushes, oil tins, and paint tubes labeled “Le Franc, Paris.” The painter’s palette, still marked with layers of pigment, hints at a lost body of work — a quiet archive of color and intention. Brass hardware, including two claw clasps and a keyhole (key not included), finish the exterior. A compelling object for collectors, creatives, or anyone drawn to the material culture of art.
Shipping:
We offer flat-rate shipping within the lower 48 United States, based on order value. See rates below for details. Free local pickup is available at our May pop-up in Seattle.
Condition:
Very good antique condition. Interior contents are original and complete, with signs of age and use throughout. Exterior wood has a warm patina and well-preserved structure. Based on having a very large number of paints inside, there is also residue. This could be cleaned out as desired, with a solvent, but is left as is for collector's choice.
Dimensions:
- Length: 14.3"
- Depth: 11.5"
-
Height: 3"
À la Source
Our ethos is to source with care for people, planet and objects. As a Franco-American team we believe in fair pricing at source, and supporting the French ecosystem as well as bringing beauty and history to the homes of collectors in the U.S. and beyond.
Why French Antiques?
As art dealers first, launching French Art Shop, as an international online destination for French antique paintings in 2017, we look at all our antique furniture and objects through the lens of designing around art and artful living.
French antiques are among the most sought-after in the world — not for their grandeur, but for their restraint. Shaped by regional materials and utilitarian needs, many of the most enduring pieces were made for farms, ateliers, and family homes. Their appeal lies in proportion, practicality, and a deep respect for craft. Patinated woods, hand-forged hardware, timeworn finishes — these details tell a quiet story of use and care. In a world that moves quickly, French antiques offer a slower kind of beauty: one that’s lived-in, considered, and lasting.
The world of Brocante
The French brocante is where the everyday past is preserved. These markets — part cultural ritual, part practical exchange — are where we source many of our pieces. Dealers arrive before dawn, setting out items passed down through trades, homes, and workshops. It’s a world that values utility and age, where a workbench or ceramic jar is appreciated not for perfection, but for what it has endured. We’ve spent years building trust with local vendors and private collectors, allowing us to access pieces rarely seen outside of France — and to share them with context and care. We also run antique buying and brocante tours in France, if you would like to experience this unique universe for yourself!
Antiques and sustainability
We live and work in France, which means our sourcing is grounded in daily life — not short buying trips. Over the past decade, we’ve built trust with regional dealers, restorers, and families who’ve spent generations in the trade. As a Franco-American team, with family in Normandy, we navigate both worlds: combining local relationships and cultural fluency with a Pacific Northwest design perspective. In order for antiques to be a sustainable trade long-term, the entire chain and ecosystem needs to be cared for and understood through principles of sustainability, which revolve around understanding antiques as a finite resource. It is our mission to include an ethos of fairness and education around French culture, which is really about benefitting French people and patrimony through fair pricing and understanding the true source and value of these pieces. We operate our business and interactions with care for antiques dealers, restorers, transporters, tradespeople, and the French families who pass on these heirlooms. Knowing our community of antiques lovers, Francophiles and collectors globally share this ethos is the win-win. Sustainability benefits everyone.
"My being a client of yours is a testament to your thoughtful and exquisite curation of beautiful treasures. You don't just sell gorgeous objects - there is so much more that comes with a purchase from FAS."– Rene
