The SF Chronicle continues it's breathless admiration of all things French in a Home & Garden piece featuring a high-end French antique dealer who recently imported "Something For Every Budget. "
"18th century oak fireplaces from French farmhouses that are durable as well as lovely and can be had for as little as $1,500. The fireplaces of walnut, which are finer and more delicate, go for as much as $4, 500."
Aw right! I'll have one of those $4500 jobbies and a couple $15,000 doors too. (Oh, to be a limosine Liberal)
Lebert's father, Jean Claude, a renowned antiques merchant in France who prefers to deal only in things of "exceptional quality," sniffed at his son's request to send over the lesser pieces he came across. But then the elder Lebert relented, his son said, in recognition of the importance of American tastes in the antiques market and even admitted grudging approval of his son's San Francisco escapade. (discovered that wads of money were to be had)
This is the absolute kicker:
"He said, 'The best clients in the world for antiques are Americans,' and, 'In France, you don't see Americans anymore,' " Lebert said, conceding that the latter has much to do with the drop in the dollar's value.
The French are masters of self-delusion.
Posted by feste at January 28, 2004 09:13 PM | TrackBack