Antoine Billore, antique dealer and vintage furniture hunter, has created a playful and emotional universe, where each object tells a unique story. Jeanne Damas met him in his Parisian space – both workshop and cabinet of curiosities.
His new collection, which combines old elements with contemporary pieces, will be presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April 2026. After the exhibition, Antoine will open his first boutique in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, a place to hunt, discover and marvel.
INTERVIEW
JD: Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do?
AB: My name is Antoine. I sell antiques and vintage items: furniture and other items. I've been doing this for four years. Before, I was already buying furniture. I worked for a scarf brand, and also for a perfumer, where I took care of store layout for a long time...
JD: What do you mean by “shop layout”?
AB: I mainly took care of the interior design part of the projects. I worked with architects, because I'm not an architect myself, but I was the one who sourced all the furniture... Then, over time, the projects began to be further and further from Paris. I was a little tired of traveling, and I really loved the furniture buying part. That's how I started selling. And it took off straight away.
JD: Have you started selling online?
AB: Yes, on Instagram. And now it's been four years.
JD: How did it go from something quite casual to something more professional? Was there a click?
AB: I actually kept another job for the first two years, so there wasn't really any pressure to make it work. Then I quit my other job, and then it had to work. From then on, a lot of projects started coming. Today, I make a lot of dedicated purchases for brands, but also for architects. And I’m starting to do a lot of art buying.
JD: For individuals?
AB: Rather for groups, especially for hotels.
The original idea of the project, I called it Stolen Object from my ex’s. I wanted something funny, playful, not at all like a flea market or a pretentious antique dealer. I wanted it to be fun. I almost only sell unsigned furniture, it’s really my thing. I'm not very interested in signatures, pretentiousness or the investment/collecting aspect.
I love pieces where you feel like they weren’t made for a brand or a company: you feel like it was made by someone.
Antoine Billore
JD: So it’s more a story of crushes?
AB: Exactly. Well-made objects, favorite objects. I really believe that today, if you want to decorate your interior well, you have to buy second hand. Otherwise, it's either not great or extremely expensive, even if some furniture companies are incredible.
JD: How would you define your style?
AB: I like slightly funny objects, I like popular art. I love pieces where you feel like they weren’t made for a brand or a company: you feel like it was made by someone.
JD: What if you had to choose three types of objects that define what you do?
AB: What I sell a lot are columns: pillars, pedestals, of all types. I also love the tiny side tables. Paintings are taking up more and more space today. And then the chairs, I sell a lot of them.
JD: And your process for bargain hunting? Where are you going?
AB: Everywhere.
JD: And your rhythm? How do you organize yourself?
AB: Before, when I had another job, I had periods very dedicated to shopping. Now I buy all the time, almost every day. But my philosophy is to continue to live a normal life. I do lots of things, I have friends, I move around a lot, and everywhere I go, I try to find places to discover things. I also look a little online first. If I have a weekend somewhere, I can arrange to arrive three hours before lunch and ask beforehand: “Do you know a nice little place nearby?” »
JD: What do you think is the best country for antiquing?
AB: Not necessarily to get the best deals, but for the best choice in Europe, it’s Belgium. Antwerp, for example, with the Rue des Antiquaires, it’s incredible. In Brussels too, there are a lot of merchants. On the other hand, that's not where I get the best deals.
JD: Ah, so it’s expensive?
AB: Yes, these are real prices. But we can still negotiate, perhaps not as much as elsewhere, and above all, we find a lot of things. In the end, we leave happy, it’s really very good.
JD: And Drouot, are you going there?
AB: Yes, I do everything: Drouot, Leboncoin, all platforms.
JD: Online too?
AB: Yes.
JD: So now you're scrolling Drouot instead of Instagram.
JD: How do you express your aesthetic today? What motivates you to continue, to go further?
AB: I really believe in what I do. I think that's fair. Today, we really need emotion, and selling unique objects, knowing that there is only one, is incredible. It's a lot of work, it's tiring, but it suits me. I love the items I sell. I find it great that each piece is unique. Today, everyone is looking for that little something, that emotion, and it’s much easier to convey it when you know that the object is unique.
Today, everyone is looking for that little something, that emotion, and it’s much easier to convey it when you know that the object is unique.
Antoine Billore
JD: Your exhibition in Milan in April 2026 marks an important milestone. How was this project born, and what does it mean to you, personally and artistically?
AB: I have loved the Salone del Mobile for a long time. I've been wanting to do something there for a while. Last year, going there, I saw more and more off-Salone events, small scale, very charming, in apartments. It motivated me. It was also a good excuse, because I had wanted to make my own furniture for a long time and that is precisely the spirit of Salone. I am very happy. I will present a small collection.
In these rooms, there will be old elements integrated: sofas, armchairs, chairs, small tables. Each time I find an old element to integrate, it can be a fabric on a chair, or rather an old marquetry panel, or even decorative elements like metal or tin plates. I also make columns in which I integrate vases. These are true objects of art.
JD: They won’t be series?
AB: No, they will be unique pieces: new objects with old elements. I'm very excited. The next step is not yet defined, but I think that after the summer I will have a store. This is my dream. I think it will be in the 10th arrondissement. I've wanted it for a long time. Here, we don’t perceive this place as a store, it’s my warehouse. I'm there every day, I work, there are always visitors. It's great. I sell very well. The difference with a store is that it will be on the street.
JD: And what will she be called?
AB: I don't know yet if I will call him Antoine Billore or if I will continue with Stolen Object from my ex’s. Maybe both. I think that Stolen Object from my ex’s really attracts people.
JD: Yes, maybe write it smaller. It can be fun, and also attract passers-by, not just followers.
AB: That's exactly the idea.
I really believe that today, if you want to decorate your interior well, you have to buy second hand.
antoine billore
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