The story of Akiko and Christophe Kabache is that of a meeting in the middle of the antiques of the Puces de la Porte de Vanves. Linked by a common passion, the love of beautiful objects, which brought them to the alleys of Paul Bert Serpette where they now settle to present the most beautiful pieces of goldsmithery from the 50s to the 70s.
What is your background ?
Christophe:
I grew up in the world of flea markets alongside my father, a merchant specializing in photographic equipment and goldsmithery. He spent many years at the Porte de Vanves flea market, I accompanied him but I had very little interest in the job.
I studied art history at the Sorbonne, then worked for 7 years at Sonia Rykiel. In 1990, I returned to the Puces with my father, I started by selling vinyl records and then Art Deco silverware. I then held my father's stand, who could no longer do it, and it was then that I really got caught up in the job. I started buying 1930s silverware out of love for its clean, geometric look.
Today, although freshly installed at Paul Bert Serpette, I continue to unpack at Porte de Vanves because I like the atmosphere of unpacking on the sidewalk.
Akiko:
Before living in France, I was a jewelry designer in Japan. After my arrival in France, I started exporting things that I bought at Porte de Vanves. We met thanks to our passions, jewelry for me, silverware for Christophe. Our taste for precious metals brought us together.
What does the antique trade represent for you?
The profession of merchant has given us a lot on a personal level, particularly in terms of the confidence we have acquired in everyday life. It's a job made of encounters, those who have punctuated our journey have brought us a lot and have forged our taste. It is obvious that new encounters await us Paul Bert Serpette. We rub shoulders with great merchants and a clientele of connoisseurs with whom it is very pleasant to be able to discuss and share their passion.
What are you presenting on your stand?
On our stand, we focus on tableware. Cutlery sets, cutlery, shaped pieces by designers like Gio Ponti, dinner services… But always targeted between the 1950s and 1970s with a very refined aesthetic. We sometimes buy pieces from the 19th century, but only very precise models like the one we have just sold, signed by Charles Rossigneux, produced by Maison Christofle, designed for the Marquise de la Païva
What is your favorite item at the moment?
We present this champagne bucket, Transat model, designed by Luc Lanel for the Christofle house for the first classes of the luxury liner Normandy, in 1935. 45,000 goldsmith pieces were ordered for this ship. The greatest decorators have worked on this boat.
Very robust in appearance, this champagne bucket is nonetheless very elegant thanks to its clean lines which correspond to the taste of the time.
Endowed with a timeless aesthetic, this Transat model will then be reused on the Liberté in 1950 as well as on the France from 1969 to 1974.
