An Antique Oasis: Le Marche brings country French home to Acadiana
Madeline LaRive, owner of Le Marche Antiques, reflects back fondly on her many visits to her aunt’s home as a child. “My mother was the youngest of 10 siblings, and we would often go visit her oldest sister, my aunt, when I was a child. Her house was full of French antiques,” she recalls. “I just loved being there amongst all of her artwork and furniture. There was something so special about being in the presence of so much beauty and history. It was a really magical time and place.”
Though Madeline did not know it at the time, those childhood trips to visit her aunt would become instrumental in determining her calling later in life as one of Louisiana’s most well respected purveyors of authentic French antique furniture and accessories. “Given the rich history of South Louisiana, it is no surprise that there is a constant demand for French antiques in this region. It is our heritage, and people enjoy collecting objects that relate to their ancestry,” she notes. “I have collectors who have been buying from me for 11 years now. It is amazing. They genuinely love learning about each piece, and they place a real value and importance on the story that each armoire or commode has to tell,” LaRive says.
Although Madeline has been in business since 1998, she relocated six years ago to a new location in River Ranch, Lafayette’s wildly successful traditional neighborhood development. Le Marche also expanded to include a satellite location in Houma at the start of 2009. LaRive travels to Europe once every four to five months to carefully select and purchase her inventory from the network of contacts she has developed over the years. “I’ve become close friends with my vendors throughout the years. After all, it is France,” she says with a smile. “Life is different there, slower, more relaxed. I can’t just pop in and out of places. I am obliged to sit down and visit over a meal and a glass of wine. That’s just how they do business there,” LaRive explains. “Plus, I have to really take the time to inspect each piece that I invest in to make sure that it is authentic and in good condition. You can’t get a feel for an antique unless you are right there in front of it, looking at the patina and taking it all in,” she explains.
Although Le Marche specializes in authentic antique pieces, LaRive also carries a selection of reproductions to satisfy her ever-expanding customer base. “There are some things that you simply cannot find as antiques because those things did not exist hundreds of years ago,” she explains. “The French did not have coffee tables in the 18th and 19th centuries nor did they produce excessively large dining tables; but these are things that modern day Americans use and want in their homes,” LaRive notes. “When a customer is deciding on what to buy, I always encourage them to identify the focal point of their space. This is where you want to invest in authentic antique pieces. Then you can begin to fill in around that, using reproductions or mixing in a variety of more modern pieces. You can create a stunning look and feel by mixing the old with the new,” LaRive advises.
From aged mirrors with mercury glass to antique barometers to Faience pottery, Le Marche is Acadiana’s premier source for collectors interested in French antiques. A visit to either location is a journey back in time to explore the romance and sophistication of a people and a place that history will not soon forget. At least not in South Louisiana. ✦
Le Marche Antiques
606 Silverstone Rd.
Lafayette, LA
337-981-9998
1437 St. Charles, Suite 127
Houma, LA
985-655-9160
www.lemarche-antiques.com
