Unexpected Encounter with a Lampshade

Friday was spring in Paris.  The light was stunning and I decided to go photographing with Kevin Hayden our Paris photographer and my wife Debra. We are planning a new photo walk in the Marais. Ill not show some of the fab shots from our morning walk right now.

In the afternoon, after a Jewish lunch at Marianne's on Rue de Rosiers  we walked to the 3rd arrondissement to look for a company that specialized in metal stamping. En route we had some interesting chance encounters. One in particular which we enjoyed was with the 2 people below. I was walking by an open door and saw them sitting like this. I shouted out from the front end of the courtyard. "Can I photography you".  Yes was the response an I was beckoned over. I took the shot and asked what they were doing.

"Having a meeting " was the reponse.  How stupid of me! Of course what else would they have been doing at 2pm. Etienne it turns out was into leasing equipment for a living and the lady whose name I did get was the wife of the owner of a designer lampshade company.

After a few minute of pleasant banter, she invitied us in to see their factory. We were greeted by a column of silk lampshades which give me the urge for an ice cream.

To the left was a framed piece of paper showing the company had been around since 1822. Not Bad!
This company is one of the few left in the world that makes hand made lamp shades.  Sort of Lampshade Couture. 

They work for many top decorators and recently shipped a 3 meter by 3 meter shade to New York for Philippe Stark.

The factory had been a private theatre during the 18th century and there was a balcony above which you can not see in this photo.

 

At the end of the tour we were given a catalogue and invited to bring clients or friends back for another visit. Hard to believe but true.

All in all - it was a very satisfactory afternoon.

Comments

[Gail]

Hi,
Please give me the name and address of the lampshade factory as I would love to visit on my trip to Paris. Thanks

[ArtShades]

What a great looking place. I'd love to know where it is and who they are. I'm a lampshade maker here in the UK, but I specialise in stitched paper shades. Those pleated fabric ones are stunning!