Hi,
I am travelling through France October – December this year. Brittany, Loire, Burgundy, Provence. I hope to see examples of contemporary studio furniture. Does anyone have any knowledge of Museums or galleries specialising in this area? Or maybe a French furniture maker I could contact?
Cheers
Replies
cesky,
This is like saying you'll be travelling through Bordeau and you'd like to look up some beer makers. Maybe your interest is contemporary, but use the occasion to look at traditional furniture, antiques. They are everywhere in France, and especially in the provinces. Antique fairs, roadside dealers, museums, everywhere. Going to one antique furniture fair will give you 20 leads to follow up. I just hope you speak French because the people you'll want to talk to do not know English.
I have been around France for many short visits, and even though I don't "make" antiques, it has been a real education. Bon voyage, and send us pics.
DR
I just hope you speak French because the people you'll want to talk to do not know English.
... and wouldnt tell you if they did. Same attitude applies in Germany
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Same attitude applies in Germany..????
Not at a PUB!
I just hope you speak French because the people you'll want to talk to do not know English.
... and wouldnt tell you if they did. Same attitude applies in Germany
These are two of the most common myths about Europe. I've travelled often in all parts of Europe and can count on one finger the number of times where I've felt snubbed because English was my first language [caveat: this was all pre-Iraq, pre-Bush]. And that was a misunderstanding.
Before I spoke fairly decent French, I always managed to get by with a few phrases and an earnest attempt to communicate. Instead of being mocked, I found people were genuinely pleased that you recognized that not only that English isn't the only language in the world, but that the French language and culture is significant (and once dominated). I strongly recommend learning some basic French phrases--both to ask questions and to understand the answer when it comes.
I've never encountered anyone in Germany who hid the fact that they spoke English. Too often, I would start a conversation in German (in which I am rather fluent), only to have them respond in English, as they wanted to practice their English. It took a long time for me to be able to go through airport security without them detecting that I spoke English as a first language and having them switch.
What will help you the most in your trip to Europe is respecting the fact that there are cultures other than American, and languages other than English. Not acting like a know it all American who will bomb your #### if you don't do what you want them to do will also help.
ps, the French word for fine woodworker is "ebonist," as in one who works with ebony. You can also see many examples of fine furniture in the galleries located to the west of the Louvre. Also, skip the Louvre, go to the Gare du Nord, which often has a furniture exhibition and lacks the crowds present at the Louvre.
Another fine French phrase to know is "Pourriez-vous m'aidez, s'il vous plait," which means "could you please help me." The French are a wonderful people who do look to help others in need. Acting like you don't need help when you do turns them off.
Bon voyage
Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
My experience has been mostly like Paul's, especially in France. In fact, I can't recall ever being snubbed for lack of French fluency. Few people outside Paris really speak much English, but it doesn't take much French to get by most of the time. (Although it is incredibly frustrating to try conversing on technical subjects, like woodworking, if you don't have the vocabulary.)(The French are indeed a wonderful people and very helpful to those who are polite!)But I can't make that claim for Germany. We have had a few bad experiences with Germans refusing to even try to communicate in anything other than German - even though many of them receive instruction in English from an early age. It was worse this year than in previous years; not hard to guess why."Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." A. Einsteinhttp://www.albionworks.net
Edited 6/25/2005 10:59 pm ET by AlbionWood
Paul and others,
I surely didn't mean to imply that the French were unfriendly or anything of the sort. I love France. I just said, speaking from my own experience, that the craftsmen and dealers in the provinces simply do not speak English, and it is very frustrating to try to ask technical or design questions when all you can muster is "Bonjour, comment allez-vous?"
vive la france,
DR
DR, that is absolutely true in my experience and it's frustrating for both parties - the French guy is just as desperate to talk to you. Paul and I were responding to someone else's comment."Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein
http://www.albionworks.net
Sorry if the response seemed aimed at you -- it wasn't.
The problem I usually have in France isn't being able to ask a question in French -- it's understanding the response. But I always found the people helpful, understanding, and appreciative that I was trying to communicate in French.
I think if you are trying to communicate with fellow woodworkers, plenty of pointing and pantomime to communicate woodworking questions will go far. Maybe have a couple pages of woodworking pics with English/French names will help (like dovetail, moritse/tenon, etc. )Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
To add to your and Ian's take on being in France, we've also encountered many helpful people in all parts of the country, some folks going way out of the way to be helpful. I do think in some places, particularly where there are more tourists than locals, there is a kind of jaded attitude just because of the numbers. This is more likely in the heavy urban areas (a la New York City) or Lourdes-like towns. Cesky --A litle pocket-sized phrase book, like "Rick Steves' French Phrase Book and Dictionary", will help a great deal. Don't let the negative remarks get to you. There are great people everywhere regardless of their language.
Edited 6/26/2005 1:10 pm ET by JimMacMahon
I haven't traveled to Europe post 9/11 but my experiences were all good although I didn't spend any time in France. Last time, we wandered the back country of Germany and Belgium on a gun buying trip and had a wonderful time and everyone was super friendly and helpful.
Splinter and I were in Paris last fall and we thought the best examples were at the museum on the Quai D'Orsay as they had contemporary as well as classical pieces. [Pity you aren't going to London -- the Victoria and Albert Museum is a must for a woodworker]
We also found no problem at all with the French people and our rudimentary French -- although as we stayed in the Arab quarter, I found myself using my Arabic more than my French!
IanDG
Take a look at the artisans on rue Daumesnil in Paris--the Viaduct des Artes, near the Gare de Lyon.
For an exquisite exhibit of art nouveau furniture, go to the D'Orsay.
I have traveled all over the world with my work.. Just about every place but the Eastern Block countries (at the time) and some parts of the middle east...
I have a hard enough time with my English much less another Language... When traveling I usually had little time to go 'looking' around.. You know.. some other customer wants me RIGHT AWAY!.. Damn...
BUT.. If I was some place I REALLY wanted to see.. I'd ask at the hotel I was staying at for a guide and interpreter for a day or two.. Cost a bit but not that bad....
Worth it if it is important to you... I usually ended up with some young lady studying English from a school someplace... .. NOT BAD traveling companions! NO.. I'm a nice guy and never got out of line.... Besides my wife would have surely found out SOMEHOW!
EDIT:: I forgot.. You have to pay for their expenses plus some fee for the day... I was never unhappy with anyone I got.. Just had fun! and WELL worth the cost...
Edited 6/27/2005 5:05 pm ET by Will George
Edited 6/27/2005 5:06 pm ET by Will George
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