Breed presents
Marin Montagut, Parisian boutique owner and artist
On a recent visit to Paris, we came across Marin’s store at 48 Rue Madame, 76006 Paris, and were intrigued. We wanted to know more about the man behind this extraordinary emporium of handmade artistry.
While we don’t represent him, nor have we worked with him, it was immediately clear that Marin’s sense of aesthetics is closely aligned to our own, and we thought he’d make an ideal guest for our podcast. However, due to Marin’s lack of fluency with English and our own lack of fluency with French, we agreed to break with our podcast format and revert to our old, printed Q&A version of Breed presents…
Marin Montagut is an illustrator and designer, who works with brands, both in his native France and around the world, as well as selling pieces he’s created alongside other items in his own boutique store near Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
Marin’s love of beautiful objects is almost certainly inherited. When he was growing up in Toulouse, his grandmother was an accomplished artist and both parents were antique dealers.
Visiting Paris for the first time aged 19, he instantly fell in love with the city and knew this was where his destiny lay. Which has proved to be true, as his shop at 48 rue Madame is full of items inspired by his strolls around the streets and alleyways of Paris and showcasing traditional craftsmanship and his own skill with watercolours. The shop itself was formerly an upholsterer’s and has the kind of façade you’ll see in old photos of shop windows. Inside, the original parquet flooring and terracotta tiles have all been lovingly restored. On the exterior, signs give a good idea what to expect inside: ‘Purveyor of all kinds of objects’ says one, while another tells you ‘Souvenirs de Paris faits à la main’. Inside you’ll discover beautifully made stationery, glassware, boxes, plates, cushions, and scarves, handmade in in Marin’s Montmartre studio, and adorned with his watercolour imagery of the iconography of Paris – street signs, the green chairs from Luxembourg Gardens, items from Café de Flore, boxes shaped like Metro tickets.
Marin has also demonstrated his deep love of all things Parisienne in a series of books, including ‘Le Paris Merveilleux de Marin Montagut’, ‘Sous les toits de Paris’ and most recently ‘Mon Paris de toujours’ also available under its English title ‘Forever Paris’. The latter takes you on a journey through Marin’s Paris, the knowledge coming from decades of wandering. Inside are more than 475 places hidden from the casual tourist – bars, artisanal workshops, restaurants, antique dealers, passageways – all illustrated with Marin’s watercolours and vintage engravings.
Is your interest in design and craft something you inherited from your parents and grandmother, do you think?
Without a doubt. When you’ve been immersed, from early childhood, in the world of antiques and vintage items, flea markets or auction houses, every decor, every object shapes your creative spirit and respect for know-how and craftsmanship.
Who are your big influences as a painter and illustrator?
I’m a great admirer of the Italian artist Fornasetti, who inspires my work. I’ve also had a lifelong passion for Frida Kahlo, for her colours, her figurative art, all her symbols, and for the woman she was. And, of course, all the anonymous and very naive painters I discover at flea markets.
Would you ever paint in oil rather than watercolour?
No, I don’t think so. I have a real passion for watercolour, a beautiful relationship I’ve had since I was very young. I love its delicacy, its softness, and its nuances.
Had it always been your ambition to run your own store in Paris?
Yes, I think it was a childhood dream. To recreate my world in a place that would inspire visitors. To be able to express myself freely by showcasing my creations. To bring my little imaginary worlds to life in a physical space, to tell stories and meet the people who buy my creations.
Where do you get the ideas for the items you design for your shop?
Very often at flea markets, when I go treasure hunting on weekends in Normandy. The charm of antique objects, the poetry of their usefulness, the stories they tell inspire me to create my own. And then travel also inspires me a lot: Italy, Greece, Portugal, where I also go to meet artisans to develop new techniques.
What items are your bestsellers?
Our hand-painted and personalised glasses are doing very well. Our illustrated porcelain is also selling well. Our stationery, especially our notebooks, is popular too. And our new fragrance, ‘L’Eau Douce’, is also proving quite successful.
How do you find the artisans who make the items you design?
From the moment I arrived in Paris at the age of 19, my passion was to wander the streets and discover this city, still unknown to me. I pushed open many portes-cochères and met numerous Parisian artisans with whom I collaborate today. And then, during my travels in Italy and Portugal, I also met artisans with rare skills with whom I now work.
What makes Paris unlike any other city?
Paris is a living postcard that everyone wants to step into. Its architecture, its culture, its alleyways, its art… I like to say that Paris is a collection of 20 small villages, each with its own distinct character across its 20 arrondissements. Each one tells a story of the city. In each one, you can have a different experience. Even after more than 20 years here, I’m still amazed every day.
Where would you recommend visiting in Paris to get some idea of what has inspired you?
The Luxembourg Gardens, one of the most beautiful historic gardens in Paris. Walking through the Palais-Royal, then exploring some covered passages like the Galerie Vivienne. Getting lost in Montmartre to mingle with tourists and experience the Paris of yesteryear. Go dancing at the Lapin Agile, a former cabaret in the neighbourhood. Then stroll through Ménilmontant, pushing open carriage entrances and meeting artisans. All this with my book ‘Mon Paris de toujours’ under my arm, to be sure of venturing off the beaten path and discovering hidden gems.
Is everything you stock handmade?
In our workshop in the 20th arrondissement, we create a large part of our pieces by hand. We have kilns for glass painting and porcelain. All our display cases are hand-painted and assembled here, as are our secret books… We try to do as much as possible on-site.
Have you tried learning any of the artisanal skills, beyond your painting, that are used to create the items?
Yes, I took pottery classes on the potter’s wheel for a few years. But it requires almost daily practice and a lot of dedication to improve.
Your home is filled with objets d’art and antiques – where do you find them all?
At my mother’s, who runs a second-hand shop in Honfleur, at flea markets in Normandy, at the Saint-Ouen Flea Market, during my travels… Everything is a good reason to find new treasures!
Who does the dusting?
Irina, an extraordinary housekeeper whom I have known for many years.
Could you ever live in a modern, minimalist home?
Impossible!
You’ve worked with Liberty, Boontheshop in Seoul, and Le Bon Marché – is there someone you’d really love to collaborate with one day?
Certainly Hermès, which for me is the epitome of French luxury, with unparalleled expertise continuing a lineage of rare artisanal techniques.
Below is a selection of images provided by Marin to enjoy.
