We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
About a year into running my vintage and antique decor shop, Ça Marche Shop, I found myself deep in a very specific corner of the internet, one obsessed with storied objects with soul. Not just vintage for the sake of it, but pieces with age, provenance, and a certain je ne sais quoi that no big-box retailer can replicate.
It’s no surprise that French antiques sit at the center of this mania. I’ve always gravitated toward a French-leaning aesthetic that embraces collected spaces, ornate details, and a sense of lived-in beauty. Right now, that ethos is everywhere. Interiors are shifting away from overly pristine minimalism toward rooms that feel layered, personal, and just a little imperfect in the best way.
Somewhat ironically, this pursuit of individuality has within it a certain collective demand. If you spend enough time scrolling (and attending Instagram live sales like me) you start to notice it: particular antiques popping up here and there, sparking a near-feverish frenzy among the French antique–obsessed. Think of it like the Cronut era, but for decor. The moment a particularly charming, patina-rich object appears, a collective scramble to claim it begins.
Right now, that clamor centers on pieces like timeworn herbes de Provence pots, delicately pressed herbariums, rustic faiselles, and bobbin-leg stools that toe the line between sculptural and sweet.
Between hosting my own live sales, collaborating with other shops, and indulging in my own fair share of “research” shopping, I’ve noticed a pattern: A handful of French antiques are particularly sought-after right now. Even better, I can tell you exactly where to find them, often at prices far better than what you’ll see elsewhere online or in antique stores. There’s a growing community of Instagram-based shops sourcing these pieces with incredible care, each with its own perspective and eye for the hunt. Because as much as it’s about finally securing that must-have piece, it’s also about supporting the small shops behind them—the ones doing the digging, sourcing, and storytelling that make each find feel that much more special.
Herbes de Provence Pots
Originally used to store dried herbs in French kitchens, herbes de Provence pots come in a range of sizes, from petite jars to larger countertop crocks with cork or ceramic lids. The most sought-after antique versions have the herb name painted, embossed, or fired directly onto the pot itself—while many later reproductions use applied stickers, making that one of the easiest ways to tell the real thing from a newer look-alike.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Herbes to Provence Pots
Ça Marche Shop (my shop!)
Faisselles
Originally used as fresh cheese molds, faisselles range from tiny footed cups and tall, pedestal-style forms to sleek white porcelain, creamy glazed ceramic, and wonderfully rustic, extra-weathered earthenware—and today are just as likely to hold soap, makeup brushes, pens, candles, or kitchen utensils. It’s easy to see why these little dishes have become such a favorite: they’re endlessly cute, surprisingly versatile, and come in enough shapes and finishes to suit every taste.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Fassielles
Ça Marche Shop (my shop!)
Cul Noir Earthenware
French Cul Noir pottery literally translates to “black bottom” and gets its name from the rich dark glaze that dips across the lower half of each piece, contrasting beautifully with the traditionally creamy white upper portion. Found in everything from pitchers and confit pots to crocks and cachepots, these two-tone earthenware pieces feel both rustic and graphic—exactly why they’ve become such a favorite for bringing an earthy touch and a surprisingly sleek, modern feel to a space.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Cul Noir Earthenware
Chocolate Menier Boxes
Menier chocolate boxes tend to disappear almost the second they appear on Instagram. Produced by the eponymous 19th-century French chocolate company, they range from rustic wooden crates and paper-covered cartons to the smallest and rarest of all: lithographed metal tins once reserved for Menier’s ultra-fine chocolates—and those tiny tins are especially the ones people seem willing to fight over.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Chocolate Menier Boxes
St. Uze Pottery
Made in southeastern France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Saint-Uze pottery is known for its creamy glaze and hand-painted patterns that range from delicate florals and scrolling vines to graphic dots and geometric borders. The classic blue-and-white pieces are the most recognizable, with teal-toned versions close behind, but collectors are especially clamoring for the rarer brown and deep purple examples—particularly tiny pitchers, preserve pots, and other petite vessels.
Follow These Vendors to Shop St. Use Pottery
Herbariums
Antique herbariums are exactly what they sound like: pressed flowers and plants, carefully mounted onto paper and often labeled with their botanical names, collection dates, and where they were found. Originally created as scientific records for botanists, students, and naturalists, they now bring a romantic, quietly scholarly feel to a space, especially when framed and hung in a gallery arrangement.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Herbariums
Bobbin Leg Stools
There is a full-on obsession with antique stools right now—especially those with turned bobbin legs or twisted barley-twist legs. The smaller and more charming the better, these little wooden stools are being used as risers for lamps, stacks of books, and pottery, but they’re practical, too: equally useful pulled up beside a chair, tucked into a bathroom, or used as extra seating when needed.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Bobbin Leg Stools
Mini Paintings
Right now, the smaller the painting, the more coveted. Tiny landscapes, portraits, and florals—especially those eight inches and under—are highly tuckable onto shelves, mantels, and bookcases, whether framed or simply propped on one of the equally-coveted miniature bamboo easels that have developed a cult following of their own.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Mini Paintings
Ça Marche Shop (my shop!)
Green-and-Brown Transferware
Blue-and-white may be the forever classic, but brown-and-green transferware is what Instagram shoppers are especially clamoring for right now, particularly pieces with birds, bugs, florals, and wonderfully charming pastoral scenes. Some of the most sought-after makers include Sarreguemines, H. Boulenger & Cie, Gien, Montereau, and Saint-Amand, with favorites including Sarreguemines’s Favori bird pattern and Saint-Amand’s violet and wildflower motifs. Because these antique plates and platters can sometimes contain lead, most people use them for display rather than dining. Pro tip: embrace the wonderfully irregular plate wall trend to achieve that beautifully collected-over-time feel.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Green-and-Brown Transferware
Floral Books
Antique floral books are especially coveted right now, and among the hardest small antiques to source. They range from scientifically significant volumes filled with hand-colored botanical engravings to Victorian language-of-flowers books. While some people collect certain antique books purely for their decorative spines (no judgment, because same), these are especially sought-after for their incredible contents.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Green-and-Brown Transferware
Antique Books & European Decor
Blue Pottery
Yellow glazes may be iconic, and green has been the recent favorite, but slowly stealing the spotlight? Blue. From rich cerulean to pale sky, rustic French pottery in these shades is quickly becoming the must-have, from handled confit pots and preserve jars to mixing bowls. These tones pair beautifully with everything from natural terracottas and timeless yellows to earthy neutrals, pretty pinks, and florals.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Blue Pottery
Trug Baskets
Originally used in English and French gardens for gathering flowers, vegetables, and herbs, trug baskets have become a favorite for their shallow shape and beautiful curved wooden handles. Whether piled with fruit on a kitchen counter, corralling linens in a bathroom, or simply left empty on a table, they bring that just-back-from-the-market feeling everyone seems to want right now.
Follow These Vendors to Shop Trug Baskets
Ça Marche Shop (my shop!)