In the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district of Paris, Agathe Derieux carries forward a family legacy through Yveline, one of the neighborhood’s oldest antiques galleries. Founded in 1954 by her grandmother, also named Yveline, the gallery remains a fixture on rue de Furstenberg, specializing primarily in 18th-century furniture and decorative objects, with some pieces extending into the 1920s.
Derieux, who took over the gallery in 2014, also resides in the apartment once shared with her grandmother, located just a 10-minute walk from the shop. The apartment, spread across the second floor of an 18th-century cream-colored building, serves as an extension of the gallery itself, filled with a diverse collection of antiques ranging from porcelain dogs and wooden mannequins to painted portraits and ornate candleholders.
The relationship between Derieux and her grandmother was pivotal in shaping her career and passion. Moving in with her at age 16, Derieux described their bond as “passionate” and said her grandmother viewed her as a “continuation.” The apartment was originally divided, with the grandmother occupying a larger section preserved almost like a museum, while Derieux lived in a smaller, more closed-off area. Following her grandmother’s death, the larger apartment remained untouched for six years before Derieux began reclaiming and renovating the space in 2009, the year her eldest daughter was born.
Though the apartment’s décor has evolved, Derieux emphasizes maintaining the original spirit instilled by her grandmother. She introduced subtle colors inspired by Renaissance frescoes, incorporating half-tones of green and blue, and decorated with elements such as pale green silk curtains by Italian maker Rubelli, French faience tiles in a bathroom, and pink floral wallpaper in corridors. She describes her style as a balance between respect for the past and personal interpretation, focusing less on specific periods and more on an intuitive connection with objects.
Derieux’s childhood was marked by summers spent at the family’s Château de Baudin in the Jura region, where she developed an early appreciation for art through her grandfather’s collection, which includes works by Fernand Léger and Robert Delaunay. She credits her grandmother for nurturing her ability to arrange antiques into “worlds,” carefully placing objects, paintings, and books to create evocative assemblies.
The apartment also reflects the presence of Derieux’s family life. She lives there with her husband Bruno, a lawyer and son of a sculptor, and their three daughters, aged 13 to 17. The household includes two cats and a chihuahua, and features numerous dog-themed collectibles inspired by their pet Volfi. Despite the unconventional décor, Derieux says raising children amid antiques has not been difficult, noting that her daughters have been respectful of the space.
Before returning to the family business, Derieux worked in publishing, an experience she says deepened her appreciation for the connections between literature and visual art. She treasures the first item she chose to keep from the gallery, a 17th-century Dutch painting by Caspar Netscher, which allegorically links poetry and painting.
Derieux continues to engage with the local community, frequently interacting with neighboring gallery owners and sourcing fabrics such as one inspired by Marcel Proust’s work for her daughter’s headboard. Textiles have increasingly become a focus for her, with plans to showcase a Maison Thévenon collection featuring embroidered floral designs by Cordelia de Castellane, artistic director of Dior Maison and Baby Dior.
Despite changes over the decades, Derieux says the spirit of Yveline remains a constant presence in both the apartment and the gallery. “People always tell me it hasn’t changed since Yveline’s time,” she says. “It really has changed, but the spirit remains the same. And I still feel Yveline, I think about her every day. I say her name every day.”