Shop windows and interiors are among the glories of Paris-as enticing as its museums and grand vistas but far less tiring to explore. They distill the qualities we most admire in the City of Light: a love of fantasy and tradition of craft and style, and the art of doing simple things well. The richly illustrated text of Through the Windows of Paris sketches the history of shopping in Paris and evokes the special character of the city. There is no better place to find it than in the boutiques selling crusty bread and creamy cheese, witty hats and luxurious lingerie. Michael Webb has chosen fifty of the most intriguing shops in Paris for their individuality and the beauty of their displays.
New or old, tiny or expansive, they engage all the senses and reveal the true character of the capital. This book comprises 160 color images of fifty unique shops and a comprehensive list of addresses, telephone numbers, and metro stops. Whether you make the trip from your armch! air or hop on the next plane, this book will guide you, in words and pictures, through the windows of Paris. Michael Webb was born in London and has lived in Los Angeles for twenty years. He is the author of fourteen books on architecture and design, including Architecture/Design LA and Architects House Themselves. Webb is a regular contributor to Architectural Digest, Metropolis, the Los Angeles Times, and several European publications.
In
Through the Windows of Paris, the reader is spirited away, like Alice through the looking glass, to a Paris where old-world skill and personal service are still the rule. Each of the 50 listings--every one the sort of establishment you'd love to seek out on your next trip--is treated with a rich spread of color photographs and an evocative depiction:
[Le Pont Traversee] One of the grandest boucheries in Paris, with the patterned marble façade and carved wood frames, has become a wonderfully ramshackle bookshop that specializes in literature of every kind. Established in 1974 by the poet Marcel Béalu, it is now run by his widow, Josée. Ceiling hooks recall the sides of beef and lamb that must once have occupied the space; now the challenge is to step lightly around tottering piles and climb the ladder past laden shelves, hoping they won't come crashing down in your search for an elusive volume of Baudelaire's poetry.
Step through doors decrepit or grand, deco or nouveau, and discover a wealth of unique, handmade treasures that would put Cartier to shame. The wine merchants, chocolatiers, toy makers, milliners, antiques shops, and lingerie makers celebrated in this charming little book define craftsmanship and good taste, and provide a sumptuous alternative to a day in line at the Louvre. --Jhana Bach
