ANTIQUE TOYS

MINIATURES

ENAMELLED

KITCHENWARE 1900

 EXHIBITION:

BISCUIT TINS

THE MAKING OF THE MUSEUM

 
  A dream comes true

For Gisela the "Big Bang" took place 1948

in Germany at the age of 4,

when a button popped off from her dad's shirt.

Her mother gives her an old tin box full of buttons

to look for the same.

The biscuit tin is so nice, that it becomes later

the first of a splendid collection.

In 1961, she meets Eric

who recently arrived from America with

his parents, discovers Paris, its history

and the famous flee-market of Clignancourt.

In the late 60s, after their wedding in Germany,

they begin to look for all kind

of household collectibles

on different european flee-markets,

to add a nostalgic touch to their home.

30 years later, after thousands and thousands

of kilometers and getting up way before daybreak

on (lazy) week-ends, they need more room.

They then decide to look for an adequate building

in Charente-Maritime were they had often spent

their holidays with their daughter Emily

(in the meantime also collector).

In 1995, they finaly find

a XIX century school building

able to cope with all their treasures.

On june 14th 1998,

after almost 3 years of renovation in strict secrecy,

all the village inhabitants are invited to participate

(nostalgicly dressed) to the reopening

of their old school, now museum.

A quite unusual museum bringing back to life 

through Lizzie's story longtime forgotten things of

the good old days.

In 2016,

after having hunted these treasures on around

2500 flee-markets, Gisela and Eric celebrate their

50th wedding anniversary.

Lizzie is 18, all these years, she has

been beating her rug at the window night and day.

It's her 8th since the beginning!

2018 Already 20 years now!

"Le Parcours Gourmand".

Many, many tasty things to find

but only to eat with the eyes.

The museum, carried out without any help or

subventions benefits now

international reputation

Thank you for coming...

and mouth to ear propaganda!

 "Polishing machine"